Hi There!

Are you ready for my Week 28 tips? I have some "real thinkers" here for you.

Profile Tips

Have you thought about being strategic about the group logos you display on your profile? Well, you should be. Like all other things on your profile, it is your online “resume on steroids” as I often refer to it, and it is all about your story and your credibility. So, be thinking about each of those (you can have up to 50 groups) and whether putting it in your profile adds to your story or your credibility or is it just NOISE. I am not saying you should drop the group membership if it is helping you in some way. I am simply suggesting that you think about whether you want to display the logo on the most important internet displayed document you have. You may also consider not displaying a group logo when you are concerned that the group you have joined may offend or turn off potential customers, suppliers or employers, such as political or religious affiliations. This is may be a philosophical hot button with you and the person you are trying to connect with. All I’m saying is to think it through and be strategic. You can also rearrange the order in which your groups appear on your navigation page, but as of this writing you cannot rearrange how the groups show up to the public on your profile page. Bummer. I hope they change this some day.

Connection Tips

Are you still seeing or, worse yet, using “Join my network on LinkedIn” or “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn” to invite people into one of your most trusted assets - your network? In order to be able to craft a personalized invitation, which I highly recommend you have to invite people through the “add as a connection” click on the profile of the person you would like to add. I know this may be an extra step but it is worth it, I’m sure of it. Here is why I am so adamant about this.

1. If they are not on LinkedIn, they may not have the foggiest notion what you are talking about and think you are nuts for inviting them. If that is the case, you have missed a great chance to be a hero in their business development lives and bring them over to your office for a “take-in” lunch and show them what LinkedIn has meant to you and how you use it. You could make a friend for life!

2. If they hit the key “I Don’t Know Them” (because you didn’t explain anything in your invite) and you get five of these in your history on LinkedIn, you will be on restricted privileges on LinkedIn, and you do not want that.

3. Even if you are sending out a batch of invitations from some file you uploaded or that LinkedIn gathered for you, you will still want to think of something personal to say to them. At least you can say “Go Packers.” You get the point.

4. Here are the two things a great invitation should have in it: Here is how I know you. Here is why it would be beneficial for you and I to connect. With this simple, “to-the-point,” professional approach, you will look so much smarter, and your new online relationship will be off to a great start.

Wildcard Tip or Question

Currently there are three free live scheduled webinars offered throughout the month on LinkedIn’s Learning Center, which you get to at the bottom of the page at “Learning Center.” The topics include basic tips, job- seeker tips, how to manage your groups, and how to get the most out of your premium account. They also have many e-learning modules which you can view 24/7. Pretty good stuff.

Miscellaneous News and Notes

Here is my upcoming schedule for teaching/speaking so you can share with friends, relatives and business associates. Follow link for additional details and registration information.

Thurs April 15, 2010 Caffeine & Connections (Free coffee and LinkedIn help) Gravity Connect, 704 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee; 6:00am-8:00am http://budurl.com/zh2j

Wed April 21, 2010 Wayne's LinkedIn Power Formula Training for Beginners M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 pm-7:00pm http://budurl.com/4hxu

Mon May 10, 2010 Wayne's Intermediate LinkedIn Power Formula Training M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 pm-7:00pm http://budurl.com/89ft

I hope to see you out in the “real networking world.” If not, let’s meet virtually!

Wayne

Wayne C. Breitbarth

President

M&M Office Interiors, Inc.

W233 N2833 Roundy Circle West Suite 100

Pewaukee, WI 53072

office 262-781-2600

cell 414-313-7785

http://www.mmoffice.com

http://www.Linkedin.com/in/waynebreitbarth

http://twitter.com/WayneBreitbarth