Before Blogging: 7 Ways to Use LinkedIn
In the last few weeks several small business professional folks asked, "Can you write my blog for me?"
When I asked what they were looking to have happen as a result of their blog, they expected a bunch of followers and a vibrant dialog.
My response "Oh, you mean like on a good LinkedIn Group?"; theirs ... "
What's LinkedIn?"
While LinkedIn started as a professional network for recruiters and job seekers (note: see
what makes a good LinkedIn profile), it's become a powerful and very targeted tool for connecting and knowledge sharing. It's definitely opened some doors for me! To get you started, here's
7 ways to use LinkedIn....
- E-introductions
LinkedIn makes it easy to professionally match-make peers. Send their LinkedIn profiles to each other with a brief explanation of how you know each person and why you believe they'll benefit in connecting. The LinkedIn profiles do the rest. In the land of good karma, this is likely to come back to you, and if it doesn't it's just the right thing to do.
- Finding an "in"
Let's say you're bidding a piece of business or applying for a job. LinkedIn makes it easy to explore the adage "It's who you know." Type in the company you're looking into and there's a reasonable likelihood someone you know directly or just a degree of separation or two away, knows someone there. Suddenly, you're much more likely to have insider information.
- Testimonials:
It's much more comfortable to just hit a button asking a colleague, boss, or client for a recommendation. It's nor much harder for them to give you one this way. It's visible once you accept it and then fair game to use your testimonial in other materials, like your website. It's also pretty easy to return the favor, or initiate the recommendation yourself, regardless of whether you expect one in return. For other ideas on testimonials, feel free to ask for 3 Terrific Testimonial tips.
- Collaborating
Type in your professional area and there's a reasonable chance you'll find several groups full professionals who are interested in learning from each other. For example, I've learned a lot from a number of lively LinkedIn on-line discussions amongst divorce professional groups, joined a mastermind group scattered across the country where we're supporting each other's progress and have discovered a number of other great resources which my clients find valuable.
- Problem-Solving
There's an expert section that's perfect for seeking advice. It's simple. You ask a question on LinkedIn, such as, "What web software should I use for my next website?" Or, "What steps do I need to take to fire my employee without getting sued?" Experts will answer. Free. Maybe you get what you need, maybe you realize you need more help and they might be just the ones to go to for it.
- Establishing Credibility
You might want to consider positioning yourself as the expert on LinkedIn that solves others problems in your field. It's a good way to give them a test-drive of your expertise. Maybe they'll hire you, or maybe someone else will based on your answer. It is a good idea to know a little bit about LinkedIn etiquette in this area first, and not just blatantly self-promote.
- Research
Linked-in one-question polls can be quite useful. For example I asked a multiple choice "why would you use...?" question. The answers convinced me to change the benefit approach in my website based on what what most important according to my respondents.
In my book, LinkedIn is so much more navigable in niche areas than blogs. If you're a newbie to blogs, try LinkedIn first as a warm-up. You might not need more than that. And if you do blog, LinkedIn can reinforce your presence by offering more ways to be found, for followers to find out more about you, and to post your blogs on your LinkedIn profile.
