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5 Tips for Getting the Most from LinkedIn

What I’ve learned from years of using this social media platform.

By Dr. Ivan Misner

If you had any lingering thoughts that social media was just a "fad," you may want to let those go, particularly in light of LinkedIn’s recent IPO -- with a valuation of $4.3 billion.

I’ve been following the development of online business networking for several years, particularly the inception of sites like Ecademy.com, Ryze.com, and of course LinkedIn. While there are many competitors to LinkedIn, for now it has risen to the top of sites devoted primarily to business networking.

I use a variety of social networks to interact with colleagues, associates, and friends, but LinkedIn has some features that set it apart from the rest. In fact, many BNI members have used it to stay in touch with each other. As a person in the "500+ connections" category, I use LinkedIn as a way to disseminate the many articles I write every month, as well as to promote books and publications. Here's how I use it and what I recommend to others.

1. Connecting with More People
I've spoken to countless entrepreneurs who have doubled or tripled their business because of the relationships they are able to make on LinkedIn. With the ability to view detailed profiles, become connected to people via a shared acquaintance, and post updates about one's business or career for these connections to share, a huge number of the barriers to connecting with people in different geographic locations simply don't exist to members of LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is also a well-known resource for both job seekers and recruiters. The site lets businesses pay to post jobs and sells enhanced profile and services to jobseekers. Successful recruiters rely heavily on networking and LinkedIn to find candidates for open positions.

2. Participating in Groups
LinkedIn Groups is a wonderful way to meet others who share an affinity, whether an industry, cause, or an employer, and to have an online arena for exchange. Being a member of a group removes the barrier that LinkedIn ordinarily imposes that you must personally know someone to send a message or invite him or her to connect.

LinkedIn Groups is most valuable when used effectively to build influential connections. Participating in a group -- by asking questions, suggesting topics, answering questions, or recommending another member's answers -- is a way to build a more personal connection. For example, I mentor a large number of BNI members, entrepreneurs who want to better their business writing skills, meeting with them on a regular basis via telebridge. These "mentees" have also formed a group on LinkedIn, where they can share writing opportunities, and receive reviews of their work.

Participating in groups can take as much or as little time as you choose. For maximum impact, choose group discussions that are highly popular, judged from the number of responses.

3. Capitalizing on Search Engine Optimization
LinkedIn profiles show up very high on search engine results. The more links you add to your profile, the higher one's ranking may be in search engine results. LinkedIn allows you to incorporate two very important links to a profile: web sites and a blog. Adding these to your profile not only builds your profile's link count, but also lets you promote your site(s). I use this feature to highlight my own web site, BusinessNetworking.com.

4. Tying in a Twitter Connection
LinkedIn dovetails with Twitter. Indeed you can adeptly integrate Twitter with several social networks using Twitter's application programming interfaces: I cross-promote content I have written across my various social networking accounts. Every article I write can be seamlessly shared via my Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn status postings.

Tying your Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile (achieved by clicking a box), allows you to promote your Twitter profile easily through LinkedIn.

5. Building and Enhancing Credibility
LinkedIn may well become the first place everyone will look to determine the business profile of an individual. LinkedIn allows a professional to showcase a collection of printed works or publications, recommendations from other LinkedIn users, company affiliations, and work history. When I want to know more about someone I've just met, I can learn quite a bit of information about them by reading their LinkedIn profile. I can see where they've worked, or what they've done in the business world, and I can see what others think of them by reading recommendations that others have written about them.

Since most professionals do not stay in the same job for a lifetime anymore, their LinkedIn profile can continue to capture their work history narrative.

LinkedIn also allows for profiles of companies and brands, which can be cross-connected with the profiles of the "humans" associated with those organizations – including executive management, the founders, and the employees.

These days, a professional's worth is frequently judged by the quality of his or her network. So LinkedIn is particularly vital for today's entrepreneur, demonstrating knowledge, expertise, experience, social capital, and the breadth of one's network.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author. He is the Founder and Chairman of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization. His newest book, Networking Like a Pro, can be viewed at www.IvanMisner.com. Dr. Misner is also the Senior Partner of the Referral Institute, an international referral training company.

Tags: LinkedIn, networking, reputation, September 2011 Edition, social networking

22 Responses to “5 Tips for Getting the Most from LinkedIn”

Chris Olejniczak Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Dr. Misner. As an avid fan of BNI and an early adapter of LinkedIn, I must say that the two really do go hand in hand. The art of the referral is something that LinkedIn is set up to make a simple and integrated process.

All of the rules of referral networking are as important online as they are offline. What a great article for those who are just now getting to know LinkedIn.

As far as business is concerned, the Social Media site the professional networkers are using least is LinkedIn. So dig right in, set up a thorough profile, invite your existing network and Leverage their sphere of influence to take it to the top!

Thanks Dr. Misner for another high quality article…

Freedomsville Awaits,
Chris Olejniczak
http://www.chrisole.com
Thomas Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 9:40 am
I would like to get more information. Thanks for the information you sent.

Thomas
Penny Parker Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Too bad you don’t provide ‘share’ links on your blog articles so we can spread your word to our own LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter connections.
Andrew M. Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Good morning, Penny

Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I believe the “share on” links are contained in the box just beneath Dr. Misner’s picture. You might need to click on the “more” link to see the full list of services that are available, such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

Hope that helps.
Linda Parkinson-Hardman Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:39 am
As a heavy user of LinkedIn I can only endorse what Ivan has shared in this post. However, there is one area where I feel a little more information is required. I have a large network and I’m an open networker too (which means I am happy to connect with people I don’t know). In some ways people perceive me as an easy target and as a result I receive many requests to connect every day. Most of these are the canned LinkedIn requests of the ‘I’d like to add you to my professional network’ variety and my response is inevitably – actually you wouldn’t, because if you did you’d have taken the time and trouble to tell me why you thought it was a good idea and what we could both do for each other. I spend time responding to every one of these requests encouraging people to give me more information and so begin the process of building a true business relationship – unfortunately nearly 80% never bother replying which makes me think they were only ever interested in a numbers game and not genuine networkers at all. I would like to urge everyone who regularly sends canned LinkedIn requests to think before hitting submit and to personalize the message to say what you think will be valuable for both you AND the recipient in the connection. If yo are interested, you can read more in my blog rant (written when I was getting particularly irate !!)at bit.ly/mYBGWa
Carl Bobb Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:12 am
I set up a Linkedin account over a year ago. Built a small group of under 100 connections, read the posts of my network on a regular basis and tried to update my account at least a few times each year. It is likely my spotty use of the system and my group of connections that led me cancel my subscription. I found absolutely zero upside in maintaining the account. When I posted an open email to my group asking how Linkedin has helped them……….nothing, nada, zero, zilch. No one could share anything of value that encouraged me to keep reading the updates. I’m sure the fans of Linkedin would say that nothing happened is a description of me and my network. From my perspective Linkedin is like saying hello to a neighbor in the street. It’s a friendly and sincere exchange, but that’s about it. So can someone show me some statistics of how it helps to be Linkedin, just like BNI can boast of real numbers?
Marti Reeder Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:36 am
The best thing about LinkedIn, is that it’s actually an online Resume. I think everyone should have one. I’ve even suggested my 20 year old daughter start hers, because, as has been noted, no one stays at the same job forever anymore, and it becomes an online Resume over time.

Now, she’s not likely to get many recommendations from her current job, nor is she likely to have any relevant postings. BUT, she can begin her network. So in say, 5 years when she needs a job, she’ll have a network to reach out to.

For me – if you go to my LinkedIn page, you’ll note that I have over 50 recommendations from past Clients and those active in the Community, whom I work with via Kiwanis, the Chamber, our Downtown Partnership, etc. When someone is looking for a local realtor, and they view my LinkedIn Profile, they’ll find a wealth of information about ME, my qualifications, etc. AND they can see that I have earned my stripes and am a full-service, full-time, highly recommended Real Estate Broker.

I LOVE LINKEDIN and recommend YOU get started building your network NOW or you’ll be left in the dust!
Marian O'Neal Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Thank you for all the valuable information. I have been growning my Linkedin connections but have much to learn about networking and sharing on my site.
Steve Rees Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Great article! We recommend LinkedIN to everyone we write Marketing Plans for. I am amazed at how many business people don’t yet have a LinkedIN profile when we audit their marketing. Articles like this help educate people, well done Ivan Misner and BNI.
Ann-Marie Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Great article and great comments/discussion as well. I think that LinkedIn is an awesome tool for meeting people, updating your professional profile and getting yourself “out there.” Admins should also consider this as an important tool for building your “personal brand.” I really love meeting everyone via LinkedIn and seeing the interesting connections that we all have… It’s a really valuable resource!
Kay Wallace Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Ivan is spot on with this article! As a Linkedin trainer and social media specialist I can say most people underestimate the power of the platform. If you think of Linkedin as a search engine for your business much like you use “google” for everyday searches you will get better results. Every Fortune 500 company has at least one high level executive actively using Linkedin. I have connected with and met high level professionals just by “being found” in searches.

Linkedin and BNI are very similar philosophies of the “Givers Gain” mentality. If you use them to make sales and pitch your product or service they probably won’t work for you but if you offer value to your network you will receive that value in return 10 times over.
Ivan Misner Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Penny – Andrew is correct. There are SHARE buttons just under my photo on all the articles I’ve written here on SuccessNet.

Thanks.

Ivan
Joyce Shimetz Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
I have used LinkedIn as an online resume for years and as a way to reconnect with co-workers from previous employers.

Currently I used LinkedIn every time someone in my BNI group asks for an introduction to a specific person. I check my network to see if someone I know can make that introduction.

A few weeks ago I posted that my BNI chapter was looking for someone in a specific category. I did receive responses from my network with people I could invite or a specific introduction.
Rick Itzkowich Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Ivan,

I’ve been a BNI member for nearly 13 years now and I’ve lost track of the many times I have received the Most Notable Network.

There are two main reasons that I attribute for my success in giving so many quality referrals:

The first is that I’ve been trained very well by BNI and The Referral Institute. The second is because of LinkedIn.

LinkedIn + BNI = Networking on Steroids. The principles for successful networking apply both online and offline. LinkedIn is all about building VCP and paying it forward (giver’s gain.)

When one of my chapter members asks for an introduction to members of a particular profession i.e. CPA’s, Attorney, etc. I always do a search for those keywords on LinkedIn. So instead of giving one or two referrals, I often give 5-7. And that is because LinkedIn makes it easy for me identify, connect and communicate with people in my network.

Just this morning one of my members asked for a specific introduction to an individual who owns an event planning business. I searched for them on LinkedIn and they happen to be a 2nd degree connection of mine. And the mutual connection is a former BNI member. I called the former BNI member and asked if he would be willing to facilitate an introduction. I just received an email saying the meeting has been set. That’s the power of BNI + LinkedIn in action.

Thank you for writing this article and for recognizing that LinkedIn is a tremendous ADDITION to BNI. The more BNI members who get this the more we will all benefit.

By the way, I always welcome connections from other BNI members. If any of you reading this would like to connect, please send me an invite to http://linkd.in/Connect_with_Rick
Umesh Rao Says:
September 7th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Thanks for the valuable information. Currently I am building contacts and I will use your tips and LinkedIn as a useful tool to connect with people.
Francis West Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 6:13 am
10 out of 10 Ivan

Everyone in BNI chapters around the world should setup a LinkedIn group for their chapters and see how their chapters will grow, not to mention their own businesses.

Thank you for pushing this top down.

Francis West
Anna Woolliscroft Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Great article referencing some of the key elements to LinkedIn. I love the networking site and use it for research for clients and my own business, publicizing events and connecting and referring colleagues and associates.

I find that the vast majority of businesses simply do not utilize the benefits of LinkedIn, failing by ceasing activity once connected.

It is hugely informative and a powerful tool that should be in the marketing mix of every business.

Thanks again, Anna.
Fred Powers Says:
September 8th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Ivan
A great use of Linked In is to take notes at your meeting and then go back and enter names requested to meet that you do not know and run a search. You may find one of your connections knows this person and ask then if they can put these people together. Don’t just put names aside because you do not know them. cna help more people this way.
Fred Powers
AD WorcesterCounty
Mass
Teddy Burriss Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 7:24 am
Thanks for a good article. I teach that LinkedIn is one of the best social streams to Contribute, Collaborate, Connect and Cram (research) for business, community & charity. Keeping your activity Transparent, Honest, Relevant and Focused is how you build both an authority and awareness of who you are and what you have to offer. Give thru groups and individual profiles will create relationships that then give back to you.

Thanks again
Julie Masson Says:
September 9th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Thank you for the article. I make it a point to ask every contact I meet if they are on LinkedIn and if they are not, encourage them to join. I find it’s a great way to keep in touch and be aware of all that is happening in various industries. I take this time to invite all of you to join my network. Opportunity knocks! I will be answering! Have a great week-end! Sharing = growing
Rod White Says:
September 21st, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Carl Bob – one great way to use LinkedIn is to search by company name… in one example; I had been trying for months to “get into” a particular company… I searched the company on LinkedIn and found a name of a gentleman that I had worked with 15 years ago at a different company.

I connected with him and he got me in… today we still play golf together and I even connected him through linkedIn with a Financial Adviser friend who invested his retirement fund…

Don’t give up… stay connected! LinkedIn is just like anything else, if you don’t use it…
Rajan Baliah Esq Says:
September 29th, 2011 at 1:27 am
Thanks Dr Ivan Misner for the great article on LinkedIn.
I’ll be trying out your tips and I’m sure they will work!

Best Wishes,

Rajan Baliah Esq
DR Heart
MALAYSIA

22 Responses to “5 Tips for Getting the Most from LinkedIn”

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