Happy Thanksgiving!

Just saying that makes me hungry. I can't wait for turkey, mashed potatoes, and, of course, pumpkin pie with a generous portion of whipped cream.

But in addition to hungry, the word "thanksgiving" makes me think of how thankful I am for all the people who have helped me throughout my lifeand this includes you! Thank you for faithfully reading and sharing my weekly LinkedIn tips.

So, in sticking with the thanksgiving/gratitude theme, I thought I would highlight some of the specific LinkedIn features and tools you can use to show your gratitude to those nonprofit organizations that are important to you.

These features are grouped by expected time commitment, from good (takes just seconds; one turkey drumstick ) to best (takes about ten minutes; three turkey drumsticks). These actions will give your friends some LinkedIn love that will increase their exposure on the LinkedIn site but may also lead to your next great opportunity.
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  • Follow the organization's company page.
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  • "Like" one of the organization's company page status updates.
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  • Connect with key people on the organization's staff.
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  • "Like" a status update or published post made by a staff member about the organization.
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  • Add to your profile the special section Volunteer Experience and include not only detail about the nonprofit but promote the general cause as well.
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  • Engage in a conversation posted in a LinkedIn group by a staff member about an upcoming event or activity.
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  • Comment on one of the individual status updates or published posts from the staff.
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  •  Comment on one of the organization's company page status updates.
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  • Share with your network some of the organization's status updates that highlight upcoming events or volunteer activities.
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  • In the Experience section of your profile, list as a current job your title and/or involvement along with the name of the organization. You then have 2,000 characters to explain the organization's mission, accomplishments, and needs.
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  • Add media to your profile to highlight their mission and programs. Include video, slide presentations or documents. This screenshot shows an example of how I've done this on my profile.
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  • Use one of the three websites LinkedIn allows you to list on your profile for a hyperlink directly to the organization's website.
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  • Include in your Summary section a special paragraph to describe why this organization is important to you.
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  • Use the LinkedIn Advanced Search function to find out who in your network knows people at the significant foundations and companies in your marketplace. Then facilitate an introduction to the staff of the nonprofit organization.
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  • Share a status update, publish a post, or start a conversation in your LinkedIn groups to:

- Publicize an event
- Recruit volunteers
- Share results and accomplishments
- Find donors, volunteers, employees, suppliers, and/or vendors for the organization

These actions will give your favorite nonprofit some LinkedIn love that will increase their exposureand it may help you as well. People will see your passion for organizations in your community and around the world, and people love doing business with people who help others.