LinkedIN ~ Relationships Matter

Making the Most of Your Professional, Global Network!

If you’re shy about diving into the “ocean” of social networks and are concerned about keeping your professional and personal lives separate…
dip your toes in LinkedIN!

• Setting up a detailed profile using descriptive keyword titles, links, and phrases and adding a professional photo of yourself should be your first step.

• The next step is to import your existing contacts from your email client (Outlook, Gmail, etc,) and/or to search for contacts that you would like to make a connection with.  Be selective!!  Don’t connect with anyone that you wouldn’t be happy to have a conversation with.  Controlling your connections helps you control your network.  Controlling your network will keep your inbox clean and free of unwanted “spamy” messages.

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• Managing and communicating with your connections is easy with the “My Connections” tab!  From this tab you can organize & “tag” your contacts, gain quick access to your contacts’ information and view their connections, or choose individual contacts, groups or tag categories to send messages to.

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• Once you’ve started making connections and communicating with the “met” people in your sphere of influence, it’s time to MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE! Finding and joining LinkedIN GROUPS is a simple process.

• On the home page, click on the Groups tab…. search by category, key words, use the “groups directory” or… start your own group!

• ASK & ANSWER!! Once you’re a group member… start asking and answering questions.  Get involved in your group/network’s activity!  LinkedIN Groups can help you brainstorm, problem solve, and show off your brilliance in a particular area or with a category or subject.

Ask questions to:

1. Get advice.
2. Gain perspective.
3. Create “buzz” for a topic you’re interested in or proficient at so that you can interject “tidbits” of wisdom” into the discussion that will illustrate your “value” as a “go to” resource for that topic or business category.

Answer questions to:

1. Establish trust and credibility as an expert for your profession.
2. Strike up a conversation with people that you want to add to your network.
3. Strengthen your brand.
4. Help someone solve a problem!

• The “follow” feature allows you to follow discussions or people within your groups.  If you contribute to an existing discussion or begin a new one… the follow feature with let you know when someone else makes a contribution to that discussion.
• You can also see available job opportunities on the “My Groups” tab.

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Now that you’ve got your “Group Groove on” it’s time to think about your LinkedIN reputation. It’s all in the rep! Be generous… Give recommendations to people that you’ve had positive business experiences with.  Don’t be afraid to ask for endorsements for yourself.  Endorsements serve as “testimonials” to others viewing your profile.

• Recommendations build credibility and trust for your LinkedIN profile.  A good way to get started is to make recommendations for people in your network with whom you’ve had positive business experiences and interactions with. Creating goodwill by GIVING will go a long way when it’s your turn to ask for an endorsement!
• LinkedIN makes it easy to manage, request recommendations, & track sent and requested recommendations.

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Now that you’ve built yourself a nice SEO enhanced profile, made excellent connections with quality people, built a great reputation & credibility by giving and receiving recommendations and endorsements, and are known and active in several LinkedIN groups… Your dream job may be waiting just around the next LinkedIN corner!  Check out the “LinkedIN JOBS TAB.”

• You can search jobs by keywords, location, company name, job title… or use the “Advanced Search” tab for even more customization.  LinkedIN will even give you job suggestions based on your profile information!  If you apply for a job, the “My Jobs” tab will track the history of your application.

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• You’ve built your network with quality connections… categorized and tagged all of your connections, and are actively “ASKING & ANSWERING” in groups, and have prospects for your “DREAM JOB!”  It’s time to talk about the LinkedIN “BRAIN CENTER” for communications… the INBOX! The INBOX is the place that holds current as well as historical information for all of your communications with individual connections, groups, recommendations, jobs, connection invitations, and introductions.  This is a hugely valuable tool in “LinkedIN Land!“

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Last… but certainly NOT LEAST… LinkedIN statistics. Click on the “CONTACTS” tab and you will find:  NETWORK STATISTICS.  As Real Estate professionals, we all know how important statistics are in evaluating and ensuring the success of any marketing campaign.  It’s no different with LinkedIN success! Use your stats to help you plan, and execute your LinkedIN strategy.  LinkedIN statistics also gives you a snapshot view of other industries that are “LinkedIN” to your industry.   This information will allow you to make broader connections.   LinkedIN statistics is a valuable strategy and planning tool that you should use and become very familiar with… It’ll help you become a “LinkedIN ROCKSTAR!”

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SOME PARTING WORDS OF ADVICE:

• LinkedIN will complete your “Social Media Circle.” Find people you have friended, liked, buzzed with, tweeted at… to connect with on LinkedIN!
• Make sure to connect with people in other companies… not just your own.  This will help you broaden the scope of information and ideas shared.
• Use LinkedIN to “research” people, business challenges, and bright ideas!
• Research a new client, potential employee, employer, or business partner before meeting with them.  Their profile information will give you a “snapshot”  of their business persona, giving you things to discuss that will help you find “common ground” to solidify and strengthen that connection!
• Be a “Voyeur!” Watch who others in your network connect to and interact with to help you find new “link worthy” people to start relationships with for yourself.

LinkedIN TRAINING VIDEO RESOURCES

WHAT IS LinkedIN?
CREATING A PROFILE
COMPLETING YOUR PROFILE
GIVING OR RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS
YOUR LinkedIN INBOX

Authored by ~
Wendy Herndon ~ REALTOR / Marketing Specialist
for THE SERENA GROUP of Keller Williams Realty
www.Bradenton-Florida-RealEstate.com