How to use LinkedIN Properly!

Equinox

Free Member
Aug 1, 2011
27
2
Hi Guys,

Looking through the forum, I was shocked at the amount of people trying to use linkedIN in completely the wrong manner. Just a few tips for anyone that cares.

The idea of LinkedIN is not to connect to as many people as possible. For example, a few threads on here, people kept saying, 'find me on LinkedIN, same as my username on here'......

Why would I do that? What use are you, 'Joe' from Devon, who runs a flower shop? Why on earth would I include you in my business network for no reason?

I have 100 connections. I would HAPPILY ring any of those 100 people and know they would be happy to allow 5 minutes in there schedules to speak to me.

Great example I had recently. My dad wanted a cheap tablet with a large screen, around 9-10 inch. Even though I am a web developer by trade, I still didn't know enough about some of the cheaper brands to give my dad a 100% recommendation.

So then it hit me.... I KNOW someone who works in retail. Is the manager of a IT retail store (big chain).

He attended a local 'networking' event a few years ago, and we got chatting. We connect on linkedin, and every 3-6 months I would drop him an email, how are you, how's things etc, have you got any deals on you would recommend?

As I couldn't remember this guys name of the top of my head, I looked through my 100 connections on linkedin, until I saw his name to jog my memory. I then phoned him and he was able to recommend a product.

THIS is how linkedIn and networking should work. It is NOT a race to have hundreds of connections. It should be used as a tool to cultivate and find new QUALITY connections.

I hope this helps or feel free to leave some comments.
 
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JEREMY HAWKE

Business Member
  • Business Listing
    Mar 4, 2008
    8,634
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    EXETER DEVON
    www.jeremyhawkecourier.co.uk
    Its the quality connections that you need but if you really had nothing else to do all day and you want 250,000 connections there is no harm in that

    Must go as I have a lorry load of daffidills arriving at 0800 !
     
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    Talay

    Free Member
    Mar 12, 2012
    4,170
    944
    It is a crass Americanised piece of software which is severely limited in its usage and will be of less use going forward as they try to monetise it even further. Not bad for agents and those seeking jobs but to all intent and purpose, it is a bit like an adult facebook.
     
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    A

    Anastasiya

    I totally agree with you. Contacting a huge number of people at LinkedIn will not work, unless you have a specific offer for the targeted audience. The most effective things you can do are: asking and answering the questions in Questions and Answers to show expertise without a hint of self-promotion; joining industry and alumni groups related to your business; participating in group discussions; sharing useful articles and resources; filling out your profile completely to earn trust etc.
     
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    Equinox

    Free Member
    Aug 1, 2011
    27
    2
    It is a crass Americanised piece of software which is severely limited in its usage and will be of less use going forward as they try to monetise it even further. Not bad for agents and those seeking jobs but to all intent and purpose, it is a bit like an adult facebook.

    Not sure why you think it is Americanised. I use it everyday and is a useful business tool. I never think... oh god American terminology or American methods of doing things.

    Have you actually tried it?
     
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    I agree that it is not about having numbers, but I struggle with LinkedIn. I try to use it to gain info by posting discussions and polls, but as far as I am aware, you can only do this per group and I find it time consuming reposting things across groups. Or am I doing something wrong?

    When you connect with someone, what are the actual benefits of doing so? I am trying to get to grips with LinkedIn, but I wonder if I am expecting too much from it?
     
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    J

    Jet Virtual

    It's interesting because we don't get many clients from LinkedIn but I do get people interested in investing in our company ..

    It's definitely worth being on there and building up a nice size network.

    You never know which door will open to the best opportunity.

    hmm i think i just came up with a new line :)
     
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