In part three of this series, Enhance Your Networking with LinkedIn, I talked about how LinkedIn could be used as a way to support your offline networking efforts. Today I continue the conversation discussing how LinkedIn can expand your reach.

Your end goal on LinkedIn should be to drive new business or to monetize LinkedIn. Your ability to communicate your message to a larger number of people, expand your reach, is critical if you hope to move from “connecting” to “collecting”.

When you’re at networking events and collecting business cards you’ve got a great opportunity to take this activity and convert it into new LinkedIn connections. This is a way to grow your direct connections. Your Direct Connections, though, are not your only network on LinkedIn.

I’ve identified three networks that everyone has access to on LinkedIn:

1. Your Direct Network: These are the people who are 1st degree connections.
2. Your Group Network: The people that are in the same groups as you are.
3. The LinkedIn Network: Everyone who is a member of LinkedIn.

What makes the member of each of these a network is your ability to communicate your message to them. There are specific ways to communicate to each and we’ll touch on many of these later in the series. First we need to expand out reach. (more…)

The core of LinkedIn revolves around connecting to other business professionals, which is primarily networking.  Networking exclusively on LinkedIn, though, ignores the human element of face to face interaction.  Understanding, once again that LinkedIn is a tool, how do you use it to enhance your other networking?

I do a lot of networking in my local chamber.  When I first joined the chamber in the spring of 1996 I had not yet joined LinkedIn.  At meetings I would try to meet as many people as possible, but in a room full of 50 people and only 30 minutes of open networking it was hard to meet everyone.

At each meeting they would  photocopy all of the business cards and each attendee received a copy.   From that I could call those I had not met to try to set up a meeting.  Other than a name on a card, though, there was no connection.  I could also try again at the next meeting if they returned.

LinkedIn changed that.  I found that with LinkedIn, I could connect to those that I hadn’t had a chance to meet.  Then I could review their LinkedIn profiles to determine who were the most beneficial to meet.  I also found that if they were at the next chamber meeting, that the LinkedIn connection provided a great way to break the ice.

In the end it’s a two way street.  LinkedIn provides a level of connectivity until I can strengthen the networking relationship through a face to face meeting.  And the chamber meeting provides a fresh batch of potential LinkedIn connections.

Some of my best networking relationships have developed from simply being at the same networking event, connecting on LinkedIn, and then finally taking it offline and meeting in person.

So here’s what you should be doing.  After every networking event, send a LinkedIn connection invite to those you did not get a chance to meet.  (Here’s where you want to customize that LinkedIn invitation. )  Send the following invitation: (more…)

Last week I covered some tips to Optimize Your Profile which was the first part of the Three Basic Keys to LinkedIn.  Today we cover the second Key…Building Your Network.

You can have the best profile on LinkedIn but if your network is not significant enough it won’t matter.  You have to connect to others.  If you’re more of an open networker, you’ll find it easier to build your network.  If you’re more restrictive in whom you connect to then you’re going to have to get out and meet people.

Your Direct Network:
I’ve heard different numbers as far as how many direct connections you need to have…100, 250, 500, or more.  I’m not sure that there is a definitive number, but what I do know is that 100 connections is probably better than 50 and 500 is probably better than 250.  My thoughts are that if you get active in your community you should be able to build up at least 500 local connections.

I got lucky on LinkedIn.  When I received my first referral from another member I only had 19 connections.  That was enough to wake me up to the potential.  The spigot didn’t start flowing immediately but as my network grew little by little so did the referrals.

Another benefit I noticed was that connecting on LinkedIn added another degree of depth to my relationships within my chamber.  It gave me a point of reference and an immediate ice breaker the next time I saw the connection.

During the next year I grew my network by sending connection invitations to everyone that attended the networking events I attended.  In the invitation I simply said, “Our paths crossed today at the Chamber meeting.  We didn’t have an opportunity to meet but I am using LinkedIn to enhance my networking.  I’d like to extend an invitation to connect”.

If I actually met them then I added a note about our conversation.  Personalizing your invitations will increase the likelihood of it being accepted.  Avoid using the canned LinkedIn invitation, it doesn’t say much about you or why you want to connect.  It makes a difference.

I currently have about 2,800 direct connections and about 800 of these are local.  Some of these connections I know some are simply part of a network.   I’ve heard the arguments that connecting to those you don’t know devalues your network.  I simply disagree.

Last week I introduced a connection I didn’t know to another connection I didn’t know.  I was simply the hub in the process but the introduction was made.  The value of that introduction remains to be seen but an opportunity has been created.

How you choose to connect is a decision you have to make.  For me openly connecting has been a good decision.

Your Group Network
Most people are aware of their Direct network but don’t realize that they have a Group network as well.  The people that belong to the same groups as you represent a network.  I define a network on LinkedIn based on my ability to communicate a message.  Groups allow you to do that.

If your primary reason for being on LinkedIn is to network then the only value in groups is their ability to help you find more people to connect to.  If you’re on LinkedIn to make money, and you should be, then you’ll realize that the value of groups is that they extend your reach.

I may have 2,800 direct connections but the 50 groups I’m in now have over 800,000 people.  Locally the groups I’m in extend my reach from 800 local professionals to over 30,000.  That’s a healthy extension of my reach on LinkedIn.

The beauty of groups is that they are formed around a uniting factor.  It could be a location such as Linked Georgia (have to be a resident of Georgia), a type of employment such as Self Employed Atlanta (be self employed and live in the Atlanta Metro), an alumni group such as Georgia southern University (graduated from the University), or even based on LinkedIn recommendations such as Top Recommended People (have 10 recommendations or more).

You simply need to identify the groups that your prospects belong to and join.  Then begin interacting and communicating with them.

Wrap Up:
Your networks represent opportunity.  Each person in your networks is a potential client, referral partner, business alliance, or simply a hub that could help you connect into an opportunity.  They also provide a larger audience to provide value to.  You determine the size and scope.

Next week we’ll talk about how to start leveraging LinkedIn to take advantage of your “killer” profile and the network you’re building.  What’s your connection strategy?

**If you would like to learn more about how to use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and Business Blogs to grow you business, SONAR Connects offers two options:

1. Social Media Training that teaches you how to optimize your accounts, build communities of friends, followers, and connections, and how to monetize social networking and social media.
2. Social Networking/Media Management: We take on the responsibility for managing your social media accounts including creating and writing your business blog.

For more information contact me at (404) 939-7186.  Have a great day!

Sean Nelson

In writing this blog I’ve discovered one of the secrets of blogging…People love lists.  So here we go with another list showing 13 Action Steps you can take on LinkedIn.  This is likely one of the last lists for a while so I hope you enjoy it and it provides some value.

1. Optimize Your Profile

When most people hear the word optimize they think of optimizing a website to be found in more relevant web searches.  This is much the same thing.  You want to optimize your profile so that you increase your chances of being found, and once found, are found credible.  You want a “Sticky Profile”.

You want to make sure that your profile is detailed with as much information so that your viewer isn’t left to wonder and fill in the gaps.  Your Photo, summary, past work experience are important.  Add applications to share information via presentations, white papers, or video.

The keywords you use in your profile will help you be found in more relevant earches based on your industry, product, or service.  Use a keyword search tool to see what terms people are searching and then populate your profile with these words.

Finally, your Title/Tag line could have an impact on your ability to consistently communicate your message.  I would recommend using the Tag Line to create a message.   You can use up to 140 characters.

2. Build Credibility

Without credibility you may be well known and well liked, but you won’t be in business long.  On LinkedIn if you want to develop potential opportunities you will have to be judged credible.  Credibility is built on how you interact, the information you share, and what other’s say about you.

You can take control by presenting a detailed profile, participating in Answers, securing recommendations, and providing value to your networks.  A blog is a great way to build awareness and build credibility.  My success on LinkedIn has in a large part been supported by my blog.

3. Grow Your Connections

The more connections you have the more likely you are to encounter “Unexpected Opportunities”.  There are those who argue that a large network, with people you don’t know or don’t know well, will have a negative effect.  While I respect that they can choose how they want to utilize LinkedIn, I couldn’t disagree more.  I’ve experienced the difference in opportunities that occurred after I switched to a more open networking philosophy.

If you’ve been limiting your connections and have not found more success, maybe it’s time to open things up. (more…)

Your goal on LinkedIn is to first “be found”, and second “be found credible”.  With that in mind, you want to do everything possible to enhance your profile.  This includes the content you place on your profile page and the ways that people find your profile.

Here are 9 ways to create an effective profile moving from the top of the profile page to the bottom.  These simple changes can make a difference in the effectiveness of your profile.

1. Replace your Title with a Tag Line

At the top of the profile page just under the member name most people include their title…project manager, insurance agent, president.  While I guess your title says something about you it likely doesn’t say anything about how you can help others.

My job is to help people find the best health insurance plan for them in terms of coverage and price.  It’s what I do that provides value.  My title is Insurance Broker.  It’s what I am but doesn’t necessarily catch anyone’s attention.   Each time I answer a questions, post a discussion question, or add a news article in a group a mini profile is displayed including usually my name and title/tag line.

Let’s take a look at using a title verses using a tag line.  Which is more likely to be noticed:

Sean Nelson
Insurance Broker

Or

Sean Nelson
Helping individuals and small businesses in Atlanta save up to 60% on their health insurance and employee benefits

Using a tag line is a great way to communicate a quick message to anyone viewing your profile.

2. Personalize Your Web URL’s

If you look at many profiles you will see that many people add a link to their website to their profile.  Most often you see this listed as My Company, My Website,  or My Blog.  You want to make sure if you list your websites that you personalize the name

To personalize your web URL’s click on the [ Edit ] link next to your websites.  On the drop down box for type of link there is an option for “Other”.  Choose this option and you will be able to add a customized name for each link.

3. Personalize your LinkedIn profile URL

The first thing to do is to update your profile URL.  The default URL consists of random numbers and letters.  Change this so that it incorporates your name.  There are many people with the same name so you may find that your name is not available.  Use your middle initial or some other variation. (more…)

Connecting is a contact sport.  If you want to build your network you need to be active on LinkedIn, seek out others to connect, and utilize offline networking to meet others.

The North Fulton Chamber of Commerce has been my best source to find connections.  LinkedIn in return has helped me build deeper relationships in the chamber.

Offline and Online networking are a great compliment to each other.  It doesn’t matter if you are a LION, a Turtle, or a Hound Dog, if you want to be exposed to more opportunities you need to expand your network.

Expand connections…contract wasteline.  Well, batting 500 in baseball would make me a superstar.

How about you?  What has been your best source for finding new connections?

In November I wrote a post about the ways you can use LinkedIn.  From that post I followed up with a post on 9 areas of using LinkedIn.  Part 10 was released last week.  Even though all 10 post are on the blog I still tend to get a couple of requests for links to the other articles.

Here are all 10 parts of the series.  LinkedIn has changed since this series started, but most of the articles should still be very relevant.  Enjoy.

LinkedIn Part 1: Can LinkedIn Work For You? - November 29th, 2008

LinkedIn Part 2: Enhancing Your Networking - December 14th, 2008

LinkedIn Part 3: Establishing Credibility - January 15th, 2009

LinkedIn Part 5: I Highly Recommend Recommendations - February 17th, 2009

LinkedIn Part 4: Connecting Your Offline and Online Brand - February 2nd, 2009

LinkedIn Part 6: A Stage to Engage Your Audience - March 3rd, 2009

LinkedIn Part 7: Research Potential Partners and Alliances - March 8th, 2009

LinkedIn Part 8: Find a New Job - March 10th, 2009

LinkedIn Part 9: Be found - April 20th, 2009

LinkedIn Part 10: Providing Value to Your Network - April 27th, 2009

I was looking through my stats today and the number of countries represented by those who have visited this blog blows me away.  49 countries have had someone visit this blog.  The countries are listed here in order of the number of visitors from each country:

United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Japan, Netherlands, China, Australia, India, Brazil, Sweden, Belgium, Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Indonesia, Chile, Kuwait, Greece, Slovak Republic, Portugal, Egypt, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, Philippines, Romania, Costa Rica, Denmark, Thailand, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Mauritius, South Africa, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Hungary, and Poland.

I wish I had something intelligent to say about what it all means but I don’t.  The best I can do is to say I think it’s pretty cool.  

I don’t know much about LinkedIn’s presence in other countries but I guess networking is a ubiquitous activity.  

I’ll simply end with a Thank You for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope wherever you are that it provides some clarity and perspective, whether you agree or disagree with the points that I make.

Warm Regards,

Sean Nelson

With that title I probably violated several things that I recommend doing (act professional, be careful of what you say and how you say it, etc.).  

I stumbled on a blog that was titled “The Stupid Things People Do on LinkedIn”.  The poster then proceeded to lash in to people that violated his perception of what LinkedIn should be and how people should behave on it.  My first thought was relax it’s not your site.  You’re just  another member.  The second was that did this person realize that their post was part of their online brand.

So there are two points to discuss.  The first is about your online brand.  The second is about unwritten protocols on LinkedIn that many people may not be aware of.

Your Online Brand
Remember this:  Everything you do on LinkedIn (and within the Social Web) either “adds to” or “subtracts from” your online brand.   This isn’t some college football board where you can denigrate and abuse fellow posters if you don’t like their view or comment.  There are no cute user names to hide behind.  On LinkedIn your comments are easily associated with the person behind them, YOU.

I don’t know the person behind the “stupid LinkedIn” post, but I already have an opinion of him.  Want to guess whether it’s positive or negative?  If this were a person that I was considering connecting to, partnering with, or engaging in their service, I would walk away.  There is enough negativity in the world without having to knowingly engage in it or with it.

This may not matter to him.  But it should to the average LI user.  When you ask or answer a question, post a discussion or news article in a group, add a blog to your profile, and how you respond to those who attempt to connect all contribute to your brand.  

Consider this.  You receive a connection invitation from John who works for an advertising agency.  You don’t know John so you mark the Invitation “I don’t know this user” (when you could have simply Archived It).  A couple of weeks later you connect to Bill who runs a graphics firm that you want to develop as a client.  You get an appointment and everything looks good.  Later John, who happens to engage Bill’s firm for his advertising agency notices that you are connected to Bill.  In their next conversation, John mentions that he saw that you and Bill were connected and mentions that you recently refused his connection invitation.  And rather than Archive it you marked it “I don’t know this user”.  Now his account has been restricted.  Bill thinks “that wasn’t a nice thing to do to John” and calls you to say they’ve decided to go in a different direction.

Is this an extreme story?  Yes.  Is it a possibility? Yes.  Your actions carry implications…some positive and some potentially negative.  Act in good faith and in a neighborly fashion and your brand will benefit.

The Unwritten Protocals
Over time acceptable practices evolve as do unacceptable ones.  As a member of LinkedIn you should adhere to the acceptable norms.  There aren’t to0 many and most are common sense, that often gets overlooked due to lack of time, imagination, or knowledge.  Here are some and I’m sure there are others that I have not thought of or encountered (violated) yet.

1.  Never send a canned invitation.  Always personalize the invitation.

2.  Don’t send out mass invitations.  It makes it difficult to personalize the email

3.  Don’t send out Mass Canned invitations…see #1 and #2

4.  When participating in answers or group discussions do not blatently sell.  How you phrase a sales pitch can be seen as spam or an interesting question or post.  Which of the two following statements is likely to be viewed as spam?

A.  Mortgage rates dropped to 4.5%, call me if you are looking to refinance; or
B.  With mortgage rates dropping to 4.5%, how do you determine if it’s a good idea to refinance your loan?

5.  Respond to all messages in your inbox.  If you don’t want to connect send a brief explanation as to why (see my post:  http://linkedintuition.com/blog/no-thanks-the-right-way ) .  Don’t feel comfortable providing a recommendation or passing on an introduction reply with why.

6.  Don’t ask for recommendations from people who don’t know you very well.  Recommendations should be appropriate and sincere.  It’s rude to ask when there’s no basis for one.

7.  Don’t expect everone to have the same approach that you do on LinkedIn.  Some are open networkers and some are closed networkers.  Each person decides what works best for them.  No one has a monopoly on the right way.

8.  If you do not want to connect, “Archive” the invitation.  Don’t select “I don’t know this user”.  Doing so gains you nothing and it can negatively impact another member.  Is it such an evil thing to want to connect to another that you do not know.  Isn’t that what networking is about.

Not everyone will agree with every point that I made.  Each person interacts with LinkedIn based on their expectations and beliefs and that’s a good thing.  What we should be able to agree on is that acting in a friendly and respectful manner will always do more good than harm.

What do you think?

It could be argued that much of your LinkedIn experience derives from your LinkedIn strategy.  Do seek to connect with pretty much anyone, like a Lion?  Do you only connect with those that you know very well, like a Turtle?  Or do you connect with those you know and those you would like to know, like a Hound Dog?

If you read this blog on a regular basis you’ve noticed that I keep coming back to these three strategies.  There’s a reason for that.  I find my self changing strategies after almost three years on LinkedIn.  

Here is what I used to believe.  I believed that protecting the value of your network required that you know or have plans to get to know those that you were connected to.  I believed that it only made sense to add new connections as I met people within my chamber or other offline networking events.  Since my prospects are in Georgia I believed that there was limited value in connecting to others outside of the state.

Here is what I believe now.  I believe that opportunities are not constrained by boundaries.  I believe that those in my network can benefit from connections that I do not know or have never met with or spoken to.  I believe that there are opportunities out there among people that I do not know.  And finally, I believe that 99% of the time a larger network will provide more value than a smaller network.

It wasn’t one particular thing that changed my perspective.  It was a combination of things and the change occurred fairly quick.

 1.  I actually started prospecting using the LinkedIn Companies search to prospect.  My target was simple; companies in Atlanta with 11 to 50 employees, in creative or technology industries.  In my search I identified about 150 companies that fit my profile and realized that I was connected to less than 50% of these opportunities.  Clearly with more of the right connections I would have a higher percentage with employees in my network.

 2.  LinkedIn made significant changes to Groups.  Adding the ability to have discussions and post news articles immediately expanded my reach based on the number of members in the groups I belong to.  Each group represents a collection of individuals with a common interest.  In essence they are a specific target. 

The next logical step was to identify the groups that my target market belong to and join these groups.  I can now participate in discussions and post news articles to introduce myself.  And I can contact these individual and extend connection invitations without having to use InMail (which is only available on paid accounts and the number available is minimal)

Today I connected with three individuals in my target market.  One was the President of one of my target companies and the other two are simply connected in the target industries.  The first will allow me to have a warm approach to attempt to secure a meeting.  The other two help me connect further into my targetted industries.

In my invitation to all three I simply let them know that I was looking to build my network within the creative community in Atlanta.  I included the names of some common connections.  And I mentioned that I wrote a LinkedIn related blog and that if I could ever help them with LinkedIn to let me know.

The worst thing that can happen is that my connection invitation is ignored.  While I know that I will not have success with every connection invitation, there are a couple of things that are working in my favor.

First people want to help where possible.  Second, people are looking to build their own networks.  Third, the use of common connections established a baseline of credibility.  Fourth, by writing a LinkedIn blog and offering to help them I’m providing value.

About a year ago I started a group based around the county that I do most of my networking.  Over time this group has grown to about 300 local business professionals.  This week I sent an invitation to connect to each member of the group that was not in my direct network.

In this invitation I introduced myself as a fellow member and manager of the group.  I simply stated that I started the group to help people connect and in that spirit I was extending an invitation to connect.  Then I added the value.  I let them know that I was organizing an offline networking meeting for the group and would appreciate any suggestions for a location.

In two days I’ve added over 100 new connections, had several ask me to help them with their health insurance, and received numerous thanks for reaching out to connect.  Each of these connections is in Atlanta.

Little by little I’m building a strong local network. 

I had lunch with a new connection that I met in another group (I’ll post the story next week) who is an active open networker.  He doesn’t post his email in his profile, but he uses groups to actively connect to folks all over.  Last week he launched a blog and posted a link to it in each of his groups.  He had over 300 unique visitors in the first day and his blog has grown to over 800 visitors a day.

His content is good and that keeps people coming back.  But it was the membership and participation in groups that allowed him to gain exposure and the initial visits.

I used to believe that there was no right or wrong strategy on LinkedIn.  Now I believe that if you’re not actively growing your network you’re missing the point.  The point is that opportunities are out there and the more connections you have the more likely you are to find them.  Or have them find you.

Detail your profile, join groups, and expand your connections.  A simple strategy to make LinkedIn more effective.