Some LinkedIn Basics | via Tim's Strategy™

Using LinkedIn: A Few Simple Reminders | Tim's Strategy™:

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, LinkedIn is a fantastic social media platform. I use LinkedIn for a variety of uses: staying on top of industry news, making connections, and yes, even self-promotion (*blush*). I use some specifically targeted groups to stay even more informed. LinkedIn has so many features now, it's easy to forget its basic underlying purpose: making useful and meaningful connections. As Tim Tyrell-Smith from Tim's Strategy (@TimsStrategy) reminds us, LinkedIn has a simple purpose, and keeping the basics in mind can help us to realize (or re-realize) the value of using LinkedIn. Tim offers the following simple reminders:

(1) Join LinkedIn

(2) Complete your profile

(3) Connect with Friends, new and old

(4) Research your target companies

(5) Resist the temptation to connect with every group and person on LinkedIn

The first couple reminders may be obvious advice, but there might still be some naysayers out there. As I've said repeatedly, you cannot ignore social media. So, if you're holding out, or think you're resisting temptation, the first two reminders are unbelievably importnant. Join LinkedIn, if for no other reason, then to at least to have an easy-to-find (ie appearing at the top of search engine results) and accurate resume or bio. For example, my law firm bio is not as easy to find as my LinkedIn profile.

Making connections is easy, but there's an art to it. I agree with Tim, the connection standards on LinkedIn are more rigorous than other sites, such as Twitter. LinkedIn is billed as a professional networking site. As such, to use it effectively you want to build your network on trust. The easiest way to have a trusting network is to connect with people you actually know or have actually been introduced to. If you haven't been using LinkedIn as of yet, then start with your friends and colleagues, old and new. I promise that people you know are already using LinkedIn.

There are other ways to build trust too, such as by actively building your brand with contribution on LinkedIn. Join groups that interest you, and be active in them. If you're not sure which groups to join, start with alumni groups and industry specific groups. For example, I'm a member of several alumni groups for my undergrad, law school, and masters degree programs. In addition, I've joined the LinkedIn groups for organizations I already associate myself with, such as the American Bankruptcy Institute or the Illinois State Bar Association. Find groups that have active and worthwhile discussions, and try to participate in them.

Having a network of connections that know you on LinkedIn is key. You can use your connections to introduce you to the people you want at companies or businesses you're targeting. To be effective, an introduction on LinkedIn needs to have a level of trust behind. In other words, it's a virtual personal referral. Sometimes we need to remember the basics and get back to effective connecting with LinkedIn.