LinkedIn Primer

A LinkedIn Primer
By Kenneth Lang

Most people have heard of LinkedIn, but it’s just as important to know how it can help you as well knowing what it is. Before using LinkedIn, it is recommended to have an updated resume and know proper email and phone etiquette.

LinkedIn (http://www.LinkedIn.com) is a professional networking website where members search and connect with other people to find people, jobs and business opportunities. It’s primarily focused on the business community. You create an individual network of your immediate connections, and two other levels of people connected to any of your connections. There’s no fee to join but you can upgrade your account to access other features.

Let’s get started.

You build a profile of yourself, what you do, who you work for, etc. Consider this like an online resume builder. It is worth spending some time to fill out your profile fully, because you never know who you’ll find you online – a business contact, ex-colleague, prospect or even a potential employee.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when joining LinkedIn is that they sit back and wait for something to happen, which is only natural. Any form of networking needs you to be proactive to grow your network. LinkedIn makes this very easy for you to do.

Here are some basic ways to start growing your LinkedIn network:

•    Take out your business card collection, or use your email contact list. Go through each one and do a quick search on LinkedIn, and if you find them there, contact them first and ask if you can send them an invite. Make sure you personalize the invitations.

•    Spend some time and think of people you have worked with during your career, and if you find them, link to them. They may have gone to the same school, college or university, or perhaps you worked with them at your current or previous organization. You might be surprised at how many of these people are on LinkedIn.

•    Each time you get a request to join a network, either accept it or archive it. If you choose the response ‘I don’t know this person’, this will count against the member. If a LinkedIn member receives five of these type of responses, their account is Restricted.

•    If you do find someone in your expanding network who you would like to connect to, but don’t have an email address for, then you can still contact to them by requesting an introduction through someone in your network who is connected to the person

•    Ask current colleagues, ex-colleagues and business partners, etc for recommendations on LinkedIn. That will help build your profile further.

Future articles will build on the basics of LinkedIn and other business networking websites.

Kenneth Lang is a Social Networking Project Manager based in New Jersey who develops clients’ on-line profiles and business plans. He has more than 15 years of Information Technology experience working for Fortune 500 companies, non-profit companies and small businesses. Kenneth can be reached at kennethlang@optonline.net or view his LinkedIn profile at http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/langk .