You Can Get Business Being Active on LinkedIn, I"m Proof Positive
I know what you're thinking.
Seeing any LinkedIn activity by your contacts usually signals somebody who's looking for a job or about to lose their job.
If you're more of an optimist like me, you may perceive those updates as a positive job changing event -- a promotion, move to a new company, etc.
It's much more than that -- in fact, I'm proof positive.
After finding myself with some free time in 2008, I too joined the bandwagon by setting up my LinkedIn profile at a time of a professional life-changing event.
It was interesting how I simply copied and pasted my resume into the profiles.
I thought, "Wow, that's cool, an electronic resume.
" But, as I connected with more and more former colleagues, college friends, networking buddies and even teachers and authors, I started to appreciate the fact that I was building a network.
These were business-minded professionals that I was reconnecting with, ones that know it's about business and friendships and idea-sharing.
I connected with colleagues of colleagues, I made recommendations, I joined groups, and I made status updates that informed my network about my plans for my business.
It was a perfect way to share what I was up to, professionally.
It wasn't long before those connections were leading to business opportunities.
Not just a few -- more than 80% of my consulting business in 2009 was a direct result of being active on LinkedIn! In fact, my first consulting project was to optimize a LinkedIn profile for a dear friend and mentor.
When she started to reconnect with her contacts, exchange messages and see heart-felt recommendations flood her profile, it was simply magical.
There's no better way to broadcast your professional experience than LinkedIn.
Give yours a boost and be proactive with it -- you may just find it leads you to opportunities too.
Interesting footnote -- I heard this on Twitter today: "LinkedIn is not a reunion network, it's a business network.
" Indeed.
References My absolute favorite expert on LinkedIn is Lewis Howes, Author of LinkedWorking.
I had the pleasure of hearing him share his expertise on the Social Media Success Summit call which "may" have prompted the shutdown of the service while the over 2000 participants all went online to update their profiles at the same time...
amazing.
Seeing any LinkedIn activity by your contacts usually signals somebody who's looking for a job or about to lose their job.
If you're more of an optimist like me, you may perceive those updates as a positive job changing event -- a promotion, move to a new company, etc.
It's much more than that -- in fact, I'm proof positive.
After finding myself with some free time in 2008, I too joined the bandwagon by setting up my LinkedIn profile at a time of a professional life-changing event.
It was interesting how I simply copied and pasted my resume into the profiles.
I thought, "Wow, that's cool, an electronic resume.
" But, as I connected with more and more former colleagues, college friends, networking buddies and even teachers and authors, I started to appreciate the fact that I was building a network.
These were business-minded professionals that I was reconnecting with, ones that know it's about business and friendships and idea-sharing.
I connected with colleagues of colleagues, I made recommendations, I joined groups, and I made status updates that informed my network about my plans for my business.
It was a perfect way to share what I was up to, professionally.
It wasn't long before those connections were leading to business opportunities.
Not just a few -- more than 80% of my consulting business in 2009 was a direct result of being active on LinkedIn! In fact, my first consulting project was to optimize a LinkedIn profile for a dear friend and mentor.
When she started to reconnect with her contacts, exchange messages and see heart-felt recommendations flood her profile, it was simply magical.
There's no better way to broadcast your professional experience than LinkedIn.
Give yours a boost and be proactive with it -- you may just find it leads you to opportunities too.
Interesting footnote -- I heard this on Twitter today: "LinkedIn is not a reunion network, it's a business network.
" Indeed.
References My absolute favorite expert on LinkedIn is Lewis Howes, Author of LinkedWorking.
I had the pleasure of hearing him share his expertise on the Social Media Success Summit call which "may" have prompted the shutdown of the service while the over 2000 participants all went online to update their profiles at the same time...
amazing.
