How To Use Linked In To Grow Your Business
- 1. How to Use LinkedIn to Grow your businessBy Greg AlbrechtM& A Executive Search, LLCLinkedin.com/in/galbrechtmaexec
- 2. History of LinkedInFounded in 2003
- 3. Currently has over 40 MILLON users worldwide
- 4. Growing exponentially- Expected to have over 100 MILLION users by 2010
- 5. #1 Professional Networking site in the WorldGetting Started Steps to follow on to do list: set up your profile-sign up at www.linkedin.com
- 6. Add Contacts & Connections
- 7. Search your past jobs, schools, associations
- 8. Search your outlook contacts
- 9. Invite people you know & trust
- 10. Always provide value & customize your invite
- 11. Set a goal to have 500 contacts in 6 monthsComplete your Profile * Add all your past jobs * List all the schools you attended and degrees * Add Groups that you belong to or are associated i.e. TCHRA, FEI, CPA Society, Eden Prairie Chamber, Rotary, Fitness Clubs, Lions, etc. * Add alumni associations, UMAA, CSOM, Dominican University, St. Thomas, Harvard, etc. * List interests and Honors i.e. Mentoring, coaching, SEO, Awards * Complete like on-line resume * Request recommendations from clients, vendors, past employees *Make recommendations for trusted colleagues
- 12. Promote your ProfileChange your LinkedIn address to your name i.e. www.linkedin.com/in/galbrechtmaexecPut LI address on your business cardPut your LI address on your email signatureAdd to your blog, resume, FB, Twitter, etc. Display on your resume & part of email addressMake sure people know how to find you on LI
- 13. Build your Contacts Search past companies, current company, past schools, current organizationsSearch groups for ones you belong: Alumni Associations, Business Groups, Professional Associations and search for members who also belongWhen you meet someone ask for their business card and if you can invite them to join your network on LinkedInJoin Open Networking groups: LION, OPEN Networkers, etc.Upgrade your free membership to Business Pro- Business investment if in salesWhen you get a new contact- search their contacts for people you know-invite themBrowse the right hand side of the new contact for other people who have viewed contact’s profileWeekly check your upper right hand side of your Home Page for ‘Contacts you may know’ Send “Intro requests” to people you would like to meet through your contacts
- 14. Join GroupsIn the search mode Click on Groups and search for professional groups to join. Hint you can join up to 50 groupsSet parameters for industry, function, profession & type in the advanced search modeIdentify Groups you want to join and search who you know in those groups- invite others to joinAnswer questions and become subject matter expert-provide advice Search for Groups by what you do, your location or what you sell or market Set the settings for how often you want to receive emails Set up your own groups i.e. Rotary Club of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, TC Alumni Assoc of AKPsi Business Fraternity
- 15. Business IntelligenceUse LI to find info on competitors’ employeesCheck their LI profile to find out about themFind out about their past jobs, education, groups, honors and awardsThe more info you know about a competitor, the better you can position your product or serviceCheck out their recommendations and referrals Learn about their workforce demographics
- 16. ResearchUse LinkedIn to research companies – click on company in search mode or put cursor on ‘Company Name’ to pull their profileFind out number of employees, locations, size, company history, background on product or service, company officers, employee backgrounds i.e. where most likely affiliatedFind who in your network is connected to the company or used to work there – great source
- 17. Network, Network, NetworkConnect with people you know through what you do & how you are connected to others: associations, church, social clubs, athletic clubs, golf club, softball teams, music, kid’s sports, etcThe more people you connect with the greater your network and the more people know about you and your companyUpdate your “What are you working on” slot on your home page/profile with your objective: ‘Promoting new release of SAAS software to provide dashboard metrics to C-Level Executives”Add applications : Reading Lists, Trips, Blogs, Questions/Discussions- update weekly or monthlyUse ‘Working on’ slot to update seminars you are attending, presentations you are making, conferences, and events
- 18. Treat People Well“you may never know how important you may be to someone you meet, someone you may never dream of, for you leave a part of your self with every body you meet” Mr. Rodgers‘Use perpetual diplomacy with everybody you encounter for you never know when your paths may cross again’ Mark Sathe
- 19. FacebookBackground Info:Over 50 million usersFastest Growing – 35 to 55 age groupTop Social networking site for friends
Editor's Notes
- #2: Complete your Profile: