As I reflect on the many conversations I had, I am still amazed at how few people know how to use LinkedIn as an effective business tool. I know each day we are all learning new features and tools, so it is an ongoing journey. But if you can say you use LinkedIn on a consistent basis to help grow your network and your business, congratulations--you are in the smart minority. And the good news about this is that there is a good chance your competitors are in the not-so-smart majority. Good for you!

 

Let's get started with this week's Tips & Helps in hopes that you pick up a couple things to make your LinkedIn time even more productive. 

 

Beginner Tip

Are you printing or at least viewing the profile of the person you are going into a meeting with for the first time or each time early in a relationship or potential relationship? This is such a powerful tool to help you learn something about the person before you meet him/her. Remember--they decided what information they wanted to include in their profile; this is what they want YOU to know about them. 

 

Think about all the opportunities you may have to do this outside of just the meeting with a potential client, like:

  • Networking events (before or after)
  • Committee or board members
  • People you meet at your church, synagogue, clubs, etc.
  • Candidates you are interviewing for jobs
  • The person who is about to interview you  

 

Advanced Strategy Help

 

How would you like to listen into LinkedIn conversations taking place all over the world, conversations about things like:

  • Your products
  • Your company
  • Your competitors
  • Your industry
  • Your hobbies
  • Your favorite personalities
  • Your employees
  • Even........You!
If that sounds appealing to you, then LinkedIn just added a feature that I will affectionately call "Your LinkedIn Window to the World - Searching Status Updates." 

          window to the world

With very little fanfare, LinkedIn placed on each of our home pages a new little box right below our status updates. They currently have the word "New" right next to it so even people like me can't miss it. The words inside this box say "Search Updates," and that is exactly what it does. 

Get started by typing a word in the box (like "LinkedIn") or a phrase (like "office furniture") and then hit "Enter." You will then be taken to the next page, where LinkedIn will show you everyone--yes, I mean all 90 million of us on LinkedIn--who has used that word or phrase in any of their status updates in the last two weeks. 

You can further refine your search by level of network, company, industry, even region, and lots, lots more. There are too many options and filters to go into here, but you've really gotta try it. 

Also, like so many other places on LinkedIn, they designed a "save" feature for your search. This is located in the upper right-hand corner. So you don't have to remember the most important ones. They will be waiting for you the next time you want to take a new peek into "Your LinkedIn Window to the World."

Be sure to let me know how you are using this new feature, and I will share that information in one of my future posts.