9
Apr
'Linked In' - Social Networking for Business - Top tips for growing
your network
Whilst
there's much hype surrounding the social networking boom, main
stream media focus is inevitably on personal social networking
normally associated with the likes of 'Facebook', 'MySpace', 'bebo'
etc, etc... There is however, an equally booming interest for
social networking within the business community, 'Linked in' being
one of the fastest growing business networking communities, and for
the unenlightened, don't under estimate its influence and huge
potential...
According to Nielsen Online, in June of last year the 'Facebook'
site's traffic grew to 29.2M (that's Million) unique visitors, up
more than 10 percent from May. Meanwhile, LinkedIn's site traffic
grew more than 20 percent month-on-month to 9.5M unique visits.
Year-on-year, that represents 77% growth for 'Facebook', and 187%
for LinkedIn and the trend continues.
Many businesses have, and continue to ignore 'Social
Networking', believing that it's something their children do, and
whilst this certainly has been the case, growth within the business
community with the benefits it brings is a compelling argument,
there is now a huge weight of evidence in support of the ever
increasing phenomenon of 'Social Networking'. Businesses, ignore it
at your peril.
Those already persuaded will be only too aware that the signing
up process is just the beginning of the mine field... But help is
at hand.
Here are our top 5 tips for making social networking work for
you:
1). Build your profile: Include as much information about
yourself as possible, include previous job posts, education,
information about your current business interests and don't forget
to add your company and business web sites. This will help people
find you and help your network grow.
Top tip - Make sure your profile is set as
display 'Public' - your profile is then available to everyone.
2). Build your Connections: Go through your address book and
search 'Linked in' by name and company, invite as many positive
friends, relatives, co workers ex colleagues and as many potential
business contacts as you can find, then see who they're connected
too and link to those you know. The whole point is to build a
network - don't be afraid to ask for an invite to connect!
Top tip - Try to add someone new each week.
3). Ask for Recommendations: There's no better way of growing
your business than from personal recommendation, so once you're
connected, ask previous employers, colleagues, clients new and old,
and reciprocate the favour, those people that you have had good
service from, recommend them.
Top tip - Add your 'Linked in' URL to your
email signature
4). Join Groups: Within reason join as many as possible, make
sure that they are relevant to your interests, industry, and
background. LinkedIn lets you join 50 groups. If the group has
little discussion, dump it and find a new one." Discussion boards
within groups are a great tool for learning and for generating key
contacts through 'Linked In'.
Top Tip - Participate in group discussions and
add something of value
5. Update your profile daily: You can change your status text,
upload a new photo, add a contact, change your work experience,
etc. Perhaps even add to the 'What are you working on now' section,
any investment or developer type property, with links back to your
own web site. When you update your profile, you show up on the home
page updates of every one of your LinkedIn connections.
Top Tip - NEVER select "I don't know" when you
get an invite to connect. Instead, if you really don't want to
connect with that person, select "Archive." When you click "I don't
know", you're putting a red flag on that account. At the same time,
when you invite someone else to connect, make sure that you tell
them to select "Archive" if they don't wish to connect. You don't
want red flags on your account either.
For help and advice on making the most social networking, email
- troy@restech.co.uk
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