21 Ways to Make Better Use of LinkedIn

By Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR

Do you have a LinkedIn profile, but you haven't done much with it? If so, here are 21 ideas for making the most of your presence.

1. Make sure your profile is filled in completely.

2. Publish your personalized LinkedIn URL everywhere, including: business cards, e-mail auto signatures, your website and/or blog, marketing collateral, press releases, newsletters, etc.

3. Join more industry and alumni groups. Create direct connections with members of each group.

4. Leverage free widgets that will automatically update your status across multiple social media sites.

5. Ask and respond to questions.

6. Use LinkedIn's featured applications to share presentations, track what people are saying about your company, share your favorite books, manage important files, automatically post your blog updates and read the blog posts of those you're following.

7. Post job opportunities.

8. Scan weekly updates from your connections. Respond to what others have posted by asking them a question, offering congratulatory remarks or sharing something helpful.

9. Locate subject matter experts and invite them to contribute to your blog, newsletter, etc.

10. Write recommendations for others. Ask others to write recommendations for you.

11. Make it a point to add at least five new connections per week. Ask others to introduce you to their contacts.

12. Start discussions in your groups.

13. Conduct market research using LinkedIn polls. Share the results.

14. Share recent examples of your work.

15. Create a group or fan page for your product, service or business.

16. Link to interesting articles or to articles you've published.

17. Update your status at least once per day during the work week.

18. Ask for recommendations on vendors, contractors or joint venture partners.

19. Introduce people who you think would benefit from knowing one another.

20. Attract more potential clients or customers by editing your summary so that it addresses the reader's needs -- not as though it's a boring summary from the top of a resume!

21. Send LinkedIn invites within 24 hours of a networking event. Include a personalized note reminding them who you are.

Copyright © Bon Mot Communications LLC 2009

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