I first heard about LinkedIn when it was founded in 2003. At the time, I was working as a marketing manager for an Internet incubator. The Internet was a relatively new thing and everyone was caught up in the .dot com era. It didn’t take long for that bubble to burst. Many companies didn’t survive, including my employer. LinkedIn, however, thrived. There was no twitter, no Instagram and no Facebook. LinkedIn WAS social media…we just didn’t know it yet.
According to Digital Marketing Ramblings, today there are 380 million LinkedIn users, 107 million in the U.S. alone. About 56% are male and 44% are female. About 76% of Canadian social network users utilize LinkedIn monthly and two new members join LinkedIn every second. Wow! If you’re a business professional, chances are you have a LinkedIn profile. If you don’t, stop reading this and create a profile now.
Still need convincing? Over the years, I’ve used LinkedIn to connect with former colleagues, find jobs and earn money as a consultant. Whether you’re in sales, marketing, senior management or a student, there are ways to make LinkedIn work for you. Here are some examples:
- LinkedIn is a great way to research prospects. Take a look at their company page, find out who’s in your direct network and you’ll discover connections you never realized you had.
- There are currently 3 million active job listings on LinkedIn and 94% of recruiters use it to vet candidates. Spend the time mining not only your network, but the network of key influencers within your network. Ask for introductions with carefully crafted emails. Using the boilerplate “I want to connect with you” won’t cut it if the recipient has no idea who you are. But if you reference mutual connections, and are honest with your objectives, you’ll be surprised at the positive responses. I know I was!
- Looking for consulting gigs? Find out who’s hiring and offer to help while they continue their search. Not everyone will be open to this approach. Some only want a full-time employee. Thank them and leave the door open. When I was a consultant, I would even get calls two or three months later because the company still hadn’t filled the role. Once, my “temporary” contract lasted nearly a year!
- Are you a student looking for your first job? Perhaps you’re seeking a mentor. It’s never too soon to start connecting. Find the companies that you’re interested in. Craft a professional introduction letter. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. There are some great resources to help you. Here’s a link to just one: http://burnsmcdmedia.com/careersblog/2013/06/21/use-linkedin-to-find-a-mentor/
- Always be networking. Keep making connections. Know where your connections are, what they’re doing, and who they know.
Now that you have a taste for what you can achieve by leveraging your network, here are some tips to help grow that network:
- Ensure your profile is up-to-date with a professional photo of just yourself – not your kids, not your pets and not you partying. This isn’t Facebook or Instagram. It’s LinkedIn. Also, ensure your current position/title is apparent so when people receive your invitation, they can easily determine who you are. Don’t make them have to search your profile – which brings me to point 2.
- Only invite people you actually know to connect. It sounds obvious, but I’m constantly surprised by the number of invitations I receive from people I’ve never met. That’s not to say I won’t connect with them, but a little context goes a long way – which brings me to point 3.
- Personalize your invitation. Unless you’re 100% certain the person on the other end knows you by your name and picture, take a few minutes to customize the “I’d like to connect with you on LinkedIn” text that is auto-generated. It doesn’t have to be lengthy either. For example, I recently attended Graph Expo and collected a lot of business cards. If I wasn’t certain the person would remember me (hard to believe, I know) then I wrote: “It was great meeting you at Graph Expo at the Xplor Breakfast. Let’s connect. This brings me to point 4.
- Never use your invitation to pitch someone – EVER! It won’t be accepted and the recipient may just report you!
The next time you wonder where to find leads, where to make contacts, where to find a job, or simply where to begin, spend some time on LinkedIn – the original social media network.
