LinkedIn – increase your networking
LinkedIn is a career focused network. I have been an active user for the last few years, and giving it more attention since I have become self-employed. In this post I’ll review some of LinkedIn’s advantages that have been effective for me.
I’ll start by advising anyone who isn’t a user yet, to sign up now. Even If you are not looking for new business opportunities, or looking for a new job, you should consider using this social site. The first and obvious reason is it takes time to build a substantial and meaningful user on any social site whether it’s Facebook, Stumbleupon, a new blog or even Twitter. Linked in is no different in this case. When you will need this application for any professional cause, you would want and need your user to be already active, strong and meaningful so others would want to be connected to you and help you in your business actions.
Well, the first thing after setting your user, is getting connected. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, you start off with the people close to you. Although most of these people are your day-to-day connections that you meet even weekly, they can become a path to new connection. Start by adding your co-workers as connection, other people you know from places you worked for. You can then add friends and family, for example, I had my mother join Linkedin,and become a connection, and now she is using Linkedin for her coaching business. From here on you’ll have Linkedin suggest new connections you might know weekly. Don’t be afraid offering people interesting to you to become a connection, even if you hardly know them. You never know who would need or want to become your connection.
LinkedIn Groups- One of the things I really found useful is the groups you can join, participate in, get information and read on Linkedin. there are groups on a wide range of topics, issues and subjects. from technology to HR, Sports, SEO ,medical issues though legal groups you will find the group right for you. I would advise not to join to many groups, but join the ones related to your field of work, or topics you want to learn about. pic 2-3 groups at first(you can add more at anytime you want) and start reading what other professionals are saying, get to know the people and even add information of your own. This is a great place to know people and make connection far from your local network.
In my next posts we will review more features that can serve your network of LinkedIn such as recommendations, applications and upgrading your profile.
