Understanding LinkedIn

December 7, 2009 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under technology, work

I remember signing up for LinkedIn. I filled in my biographical and career information. I joined a couple of networks, made “connections” with a few people I knew. And then I didn’t log in again for almost six months.

After the initial “something new” it seemed to be overwhelming to navigate. My social networking dance card was pretty full with blogs, Facebook, and Twitter. I didn’t think there was much more of me to share. Plus Facebook was getting some professional cred as a way to network with business colleagues.

But there is still incredible value in figuring out LinkedIn. Pink Magazine outlines a couple of “how to figure out LinkedIn” links including:

Bnet.com provides a step-by-step guide to setting up your account effectively – from what keywords to include, to whom to connect with, to getting recommendations.

Make your account pop up higher on search engines when someone Googles your name with these suggestions.

If you’re looking for a job, here are eight things you can doto get work using LinkedIn, one of the top 10 most effective websites for job searchers.

Writing on Pink Magazine’s blog, Susan Colantuono, CEO of Leading Women, notes that LinkedIn is the social networking too she uses the most:

Of the social media sites, the one I use almost exclusively is LinkedIn. It makes it easy to connect with other professionals for professional news, discussions and more. Recently a colleague asked me about how LinkedIn functions and while I’m no way near an expert, here are 7 ways I’ve used LinkedIn to nurture and extend my network and cultivate my online professional brand.

Okay, perhaps I’ll sign in, at least once a month to start. That’s progress!

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Tags: professional development, technology, work

matthewdlyons

LinkedIn is the #1 "social media" site for a number of professionals I know. I, too, am struggling with juggling (sorry for the consonance) multiple social media portals and interfaces. In a recent posting ( http://garyvaynerchuk.com/post/256065342/early-... ), my friend Gary Vaynerchuk talked a little about getting more into LinkedIn in the coming year. The comments below his post have some good info and suggestions on maximizing LinkedIn.

In the end, I see LinkedIn as an extension of good, old fashioned, face-to-face networking. One cannot work without the other. I have friends who are quite adept at networking, but I am not fond to constant flesh-pressing. Some of it seems meaningless. However, you just never knew who might be that "3rd degree" connection that turns out to be someone you need to know. I imagine that as I get my photography business growing, I will need to rely on making more, and more connections. In business, connections often translates to referrals.