LinkedIn Tips For Your Business

LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your work history. If can be used to help grow your business and make you more valuable to people in your vieweing area and all over the world. Here are a few suggestions for you:

1. Keep your profile up to date. When something happens that is significant to our industry, your television station or website notify your contacts by updating your profile.
2. Connect with people you want to meet! Think of it as a gigantic networking event where you have the chance to meet anyone and everyone important to your future. Use the People search and the Company search in the upper right corner of LinkedIn.
3. Connect with former colleagues and let them know what you’re doing and who you would like to meet. Most people are very helpful if they sense your sincerity. Be sure to offer to help them as well. Remember, this is “social” media and that means giving as well as taking.
4. Do not be afraid to reach out to people you would normally never have the chance to meet. CEOs from most all of the huge companies are on LinkedIn and you never know where those relationships will lead – especially if you have information that will help them do their job better.  Give them a special offer of some kind – even a round of golf if you live in a city with a great golf resort! You never know where these relationships will lead.
5. “Connect” means “CONNECT!” Correspond with your connections! Just because they are on your list doesn’t mean you have “connected.” Learn about them; reach out to them, offer assistance if you can.
6. LinkedIn is a great place to do research before an interview or proposal. Learn about the company, the people at the top and the person who will be interviewing you. Reach out prior to meeting them in person or applying for that job.
7. Here’s a do NOT – do NOT immediately ask for something from a new connection. You wouldn’t do that at a cocktail party would you?! Always remember, it’s all about THEM. What can you offer them that would be meaningful and non-threatening? Maybe access to some of your contacts and connections?
8. Your contacts are valuable (see #7). Be considerate of them and make sure when you connect them you are doing so wisely. If done right, they will be grateful. If done wrong, they will be angry!
9. Join groups of people with like interests and PARTICIPATE. As a broadcaster there are several groups you may be interested in joining. Use the Group Search in the upper right corner to find groups of interest to you. It’s amazing how many use these groups “wrong” but you will find those who “get it” and you will learn and grow.

LinkedIn can be a terrific tool if used properly. Dan Schawbel wrote a good tip article you may enjoy. Tell us how you use LinkedIn!