LinkedIn Was Built For Business & Building Your Network
Building your network is one of the most important assets you can have…
LinkedIn was the only social community that was started for business. Facebook, Myspace, Blogs & Twitter were not designed for business specifically.
If you are not on LinkedIn and you are a business person, get on there… It is free to join and requires only an email and password to get started.There is over 40 Million People on LinkedIn and 90% are professionals and over half are decision makers for companies.
Too many people wait to build their network when it is too late…
They do it when they need it. You have to add value to your network. You have to get out there and plow the fields, plant the seeds, water it, give it sun and help them grow first. Once that happens, then when you go to them for help, they will be happy to reciprocate.
Before Social Media, I was very locked to proximity and had no idea who my connections knew…
I had a very small reach. Another obstacle was it was very hard to connect with people I didn’t know. I had to revert to cold calling and garnering trust in very difficult ways.
LinkedIn takes down those walls… They can go to my profile and learn a ton about me, see who we might both know. See that we have common interests, see that I am truly an expert in certain fields, see social proof that other people consider me an expert by my recommendations.
What is great about Social Media is now your connections are “recorded”… You have your list of connections, but what is more powerful is you can see who your connections know. It makes it that much easier to reach out to new people with a warm lead.
As we have discussed before you can virtually connect with anyone worldwide. I have made connections with people never thought possible.
There is a very specific process to building your network.
Step One - Build Your profile
Step Two – Create Content (can do this while doing your profile)
Step Three –Build Your Network
Step Four - Engage In Dialogue
Look forward to exploring and working with you to build your network on LinkedIn
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I just starting linking inti this forum. Very interesting, but underutilized. I just need to spend more time to expand my “network”. I thought I had my network in place after working 25 years in this industry; however, so many other networking opportunities. Later Keep in touch
I started with LinkedIn about three years ago and for a long time, I did very little with it. But about six months ago, after attending a workshop on using LinkedIn, I realizes that I was the one missing out because I wasn’t utilizing it as a resource.
Now, I use LinkedIn as a database, a potential referral network, a PR tool and a marketing tool. I have over 300 contacts, who I personally know, and over 30 clients have recommended me using LinkedIn.