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LinkedIn - Worth It??

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oliver3487

Free Member
Jul 29, 2009
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Hi Everyone,

Just set up a profile on Linked In, is it a waste of time or has anyone had success using it?

(People seem to have 500+ connects but i only have one and can't think of anyone esle who uses it).

thanks,
Oliver
 
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Hey Oliver,

It is a business networking site - you will meet new friends, connect to businesses in the area and socialise.

So depending what you are looking for - it may be worth the time and effort.
 
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To be honest, don't expect to get lots from it, its a business facebook, if people have time to mess about on these things then they can't be busy, if not busy then no money and hence nothing to spend.. well that my view..
 
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Depending on your industry, Linkedin is a very valuable business networking tool. It is certainly worth having a well presented, fully completed profile, even if you dont go on there much. Many people who look into you and your business will start off by trying to find information about you on Linkedin.
 
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Like any networking tool, you will get out what you put in.

I've had a Linkedin presence for about 2 years and quietly amassed about 300 contacts and precisely no business.

I am now treating it as a database - I have deleted contacts who are not likely to be relevant and am actively contacting those who might be relevant.

I also try to contribute to group discussion if I feel I can add value.

Early days, but I can see it adding value, and it is a lot easier than cold calling!
 
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Depends on the sector you work in.

I used to work in an HR related field and everyone was on Linked-in wioth lots of groups to join-up with and network with.

Now supply products and services to Facilities, Warehousing, Engineering and Safety Managers. Virtually no-one I now deal with is on Linked-in.
 
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A LinkedIn profile doesn't require much work, you can treat you personal profile like a CV and create a page for your business in an hour.

You can use it to find contacts YOU might find useful, and just see if anything happens. Worth an hour of your life.
 
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Linkedin is a great tool, I have done endless amounts of business using it. Build a profile, find your customers on there, get them to recommend you, there network see's you have been reco so on......

Send me your profile link
 
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oliver3487 said:
Hi Everyone,

Just set up a profile on Linked In, is it a waste of time or has anyone had success using it?

(People seem to have 500+ connects but i only have one and can't think of anyone esle who uses it).

thanks,
Oliver
Click to expand...

I find it useful more as a reliable way of verifying peoples career details. The testimonials are particularly useful if there are many and you can see that reputable people left them etc. I think my linkedin profile helps people have a more reliable over view of me for example.
 
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Like social media or not - the reality I'm finding is that people are using it because it's THERE...

The 21st century version of the phone book IMO... if you're not there, they can't or won't try to find you... makes it easier to be found...
 
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Hi, interesting question. I think it is useful if you start an interesting topic. I say this as I get emailed with topics from my 'groups' I always glance at them due to outlook settings, and if there's something of interest I click the link and join the conversation.

On the downside, a friend of mine is a recruitment consultant and has lots of contacts on linked in, but they're mostlly people looking for work rather than clients.
 
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It's free and there are no downsides, so you should be there if you're looking to progress. But I don't accept new contacts unless I know them already. Very good way of keeping tabs with former colleagues and very good to see who 'knows' who.
 
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peebles said:
On the downside, a friend of mine is a recruitment consultant and has lots of contacts on linked in, but they're mostlly people looking for work rather than clients.
Click to expand...

I do some of that (recruitment), and IMO if the ppl getting in touch turn out to be quality, then it's good... getting clients is only 1/2 the battle... you also need good candidates too...

Trawling through the chaff to get to the wheat is necessary, no matter what medium you use...
 
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Geoff T said:
I do some of that (recruitment), and IMO if the ppl getting in touch turn out to be quality, then it's good... getting clients is only 1/2 the battle... you also need good candidates too...

Trawling through the chaff to get to the wheat is necessary, no matter what medium you use...
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree, she needs good candidates. But all I'm trying to say is it's easy to get 'suppliers' and more difficult to get sales. I think that's true in any business and any medium, but I don't think linked in helps in that way - not for her anyway.
 
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Im on linkedin and have few contacts my brother in law of Kingston University a very clever chap indeed always advises go for quality and not quantity .
This means the quality of your profile looks better. While we are not actully searching for a job but customers this may not always apply but your better off being linked to a group of CEOs as opposed to a bunch of premiership footballers
 
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I think powerful linkedin profile is best for getting business. You can also use online entrepreneur forum on that.
 
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it can be one of the most effective sales prospecting tools avalable and dramatically reduce the number of cold calls required, by connecting on LinkeIn instead of calling. Also, if used in conjunction with calls it can help identify decision makers names, and you can sometimes use exisitng connections to put you in touch with decision makers.

Highly recommended.Regards, Peter
 
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If you create decent profile for your company it will appear in search results on pretty favorable rank place.
 
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If you dont think that linkedin will be useful to you it is because you dont know how to use it.

It is a great networking tool to keep in touch with contact, and to show your expertise in your field.

It also happens to be in the top three job websites around now, and is regularly used by headhunters.
 
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It isnt an arrogant statement at all, contact are important in any business and business owners increasingly do business with people they know like and trust. It is the basis of any sales relationships it is easier to sell if you first build a relationship.

Clearly people have a choice how they get to their own market, however it is likely that people who do not use social media such as linkedin, or network do not understand how cost effective (yes it is free) and useful it can be.

If they choose not to use it, I suggest they continue to book that expensive advertising, or make cold calls or send out leaflets to build their business. Most of which will be ignored. Instead how useful would it be for a business owner wanting to sell to a prospect, to identify that persons contacts and ask for an introduction to that person from someone who you both know and trust.
 
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Rhodes100 said:
Clearly people have a choice how they get to their own market, however it is likely that people who do not use social media such as linkedin, or network do not understand how cost effective (yes it is free) and useful it can be.
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Ah, you're one of those "everyone has to use social media or they're doing it wrong" types. I don't agree - I think LI is a great tool in my space whereas FB/twitter are not, doubtless other spaces FB is king and yet others, none are particularly useful.
Generally I'd say if you sell B2B, LI is great and if you sell to the public, FB is good - but it varies massively and I still maintain generalisations that you 'should' use social media is a tad arrogant if you don't know the person's business.
It's a little bit like, there are STILL some areas where even a website is not such an obviously essential tool - one of my areas even interested parties don't bother looking at my site when I send a link, they are interested only in speaking with me and seeing the product for real.
 
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JDX_John said:
Ah, you're one of those "everyone has to use social media or they're doing it wrong" types. I don't agree - I think LI is a great tool in my space whereas FB/twitter are not, doubtless other spaces FB is king and yet others, none are particularly useful.
Generally I'd say if you sell B2B, LI is great and if you sell to the public, FB is good - but it varies massively and I still maintain generalisations that you 'should' use social media is a tad arrogant if you don't know the person's business.
It's a little bit like, there are STILL some areas where even a website is not such an obviously essential tool - one of my areas even interested parties don't bother looking at my site when I send a link, they are interested only in speaking with me and seeing the product for real.
Click to expand...

Steady on girls one of you will have a damaged handbag before long.:)

The fact of the matter is you have to look and work harder these days to get business that use to come easy before.
I dont want to be assing around with social media trying to find ways of getting new business, I want to be out in the open air and drinking whisky and cider when it gets dark !! but you have to do everything you can to surivive now.
Yes its true many people dont understand linkedin but maybe this thread might encourage those people to have a look. Linkedin may not be as user friendly as you may think because Im not sure if Im getting the best from it I dont think I even use it to its advantage completly
 
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LI does itself no favours with a clumsy interface and complex group discussions. But it still works well for some. As said it depends on the business and your customers.

I have people now who prefer to message me via LI than send an email - same with twitter.
 
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