After I signed-up for LinkedIn.com, it took me three years to begin using it – three years I will never get back. When I finally started to use it I had fun reconnecting with friends and colleagues I had made during my career; now I connect with people from all over the world who share my interests.
LinkedIn is a professional identity on the internet. Blogs or websites are a great way to groom a persona, but by completing a profile on LinkedIn, a virtual resume is created. In addition to the resume, colleagues, former supervisors and clients can provide recommendations of your work, an Amazon application allows you to talk about the book you are reading, and with the SlideShare application, you can to show off your expertise with a PowerPoint or Video. Also if you click on Moore in the toolbar and go ANSWERS you can show-off your expertise and may even be chosen as best answer!
The best place to spend time and energy on LinkedIn is by joining and participating in groups, this is where the power of LinkedIn resides. There are thousands of groups covering the spectrum of industries and interests. Participating in a group helps to build your reputation and increase your knowledge. Discussions range from where to get your car engine steamed cleaned, notices of seminars to networking opportunities. In addition to discussions, groups also offers a place to look for a job or post news.
Joining groups also affects the ability to add connections, this is because belonging to the same group indicates a shared interest and requests to connect are allowed – even if you do not have any other connection with that contact.
Though joining groups is important, creating a group is probably the most powerful way to meet the perfect client or connect with colleagues. I created a group on LinkedIn called Non-Profit Organizations of New Mexico so that I could keep in touch with friends and colleagues especially if they moved from one organization to another. The bonus was a business joined my group and contacted me looking for an organization in New Mexico to support. I, of course, suggested my organization and a great partnership formed.
LinkedIn is growing more than 70 million professionals are on LinkedIn, including executives from all five hundred of the Fortune 500 companies, as well as a wide range of household names in technology, financial services, media, consumer packaged goods, entertainment, and numerous other industries. LinkedIn’s usefulness continues to grow and new applications are added frequently. My favorite new application allows me to find out if the person who is emailing me is on LinkedIn and connect using LinkedIn Outlook Connector.
Be curious…Be real…Be generous…
Barbara C. Lemaire, PhD has more than 20 years experience in marketing, public relations, publishing, strategic planning, sales, organizational management, project management and business coaching. She is Assistant Chairperson of Professional Coaching & Human Development Department at the International University of Professional Studies. Co-Founded Strategic Networking a business networking forum, served on the board of Trustees for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New Mexico / El Paso Chapter and Edited and Published the 2008 Comprehensive Non Profit Directory of Albuquerque.
In the last few years Barbara has turned her sights onto Web 2.0 - Social Networking and Social Media Marketing. With Social Media Made Simple she has developed a system to make this part of the Internet accessable to busy people.
Dr. Lemaire has dedicated her life to self-actualization and peak-performance, and the profession of coaching. She is passionate about creativity and uses her creativity in her daily work and her painting.
Barbara’s biggest personal challenge was walking 26.2 miles in the Honolulu Marathon to collect donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; its no surprise that her favorite quote is:
“A journey of a thousand miles starts under one’s feet”
Lao Tzu
More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook