Leveraging Linkedin 101 Top 10 Tips for Beginners

Select a photograph that represents you well. Note how this photo conveys business, relaxation and academic background in one well selected shot. Usually members select a formal corporate headshot. But - Doesn’t have to be a corporate headshot; shouldn’t be rowdy but doesn’t have to be constrained, unless you are.

1. Add a fitting photo.

For examples of terrible photos see: http://bit.ly/terrible_linkedin_photos

Your summary is your elevator pitch. Make it concise, write it well, make sure not to leave anything important out.

2. Write a stellar elevator pitch

The value of your network is directly proportional to the number of connections you make – up to a point. Irrelevant connections are useless. So - try to keep connections relevant – either people you know, or people with whom you have relevant things in common.

3. Make connections

The value of your network is directly proportional to the number of connections you make – up to a point. Irrelevant connections are useless. So - try to keep connections relevant – either people you know, or people with whom you have relevant things in common.

4. Complete your profile

Your life evolves, make sure your Linkedin profile evolves with it. Keep your job description up to date, don’t let your profile go stale.

5. Keep profile up to date

Can’t stress this enough. Your Linkedin profile is how you present yourself to the world. Make sure to spellcheck, avoid typos, watch your grammar, complete your sentences, pay attention to details!

6. Maintain professionalism

Now that you have a Linkedin profile, you’ll want to make sure the world knows about it. Use every conceivable medium to promote your Linkedin profile, from your business card to your email signature to your twitter page, blogs you write, comments you post online and so forth.

7. Promote your profile

Linkedin groups provide multiple benefits. They provide an opportunity to easily meet many other people with relevant common interests, to connect with them and to stay abreast of developments in your market space and fields of interest.

8. Join groups

If you’ve paged this far, you obviously understand that your Linkedin page is an integral part of your personal brand. Same goes for your company. Few companies that respect themselves and want to create a presence either in the US or globally don’t have a company page. If it’s your company, well get to it – and if it’s not, talk to the people who can make it happen.

9. Create a company page

Ok, so we’ve read what you’ve done and what you think of yourself. Soliciting recommendations is not particularly pleasant – for most people anyway – but it is vitally important. Bolstering your image with 3rd party opinions of your performance is essential to creating the kind of image you want to project to the world.

10. Solicit recommendations

1. Select a representative photo – we want to know you! 2. Write a great summary – an “elevator pitch” 3. Make connections - increase your visibility 4. Complete your profile 5. Keep your profile up to date 6. Maintain professionalism: spellcheck, no typos, etc. 7. Promote your Linkedin profile 8. Join groups 9. Create a company page 10. Solicit recommendations

Leveraging Linkedin for Beginners Top Ten Tips - Summary

I’d signed up for Linkedin days after it went live in 2003. Have been less and more active over the years, but lately it has become the global go-to destination for business networking, and I’ve leveraged Linkedin several times to create important connections, nurture and close deals. Have wanted to put some of these notes together for years – so I’m glad to have finally done it! Comments? erik at steiner.co.il To connect: http://www.linkedin.com/in/eriksteiner

This presentation was strung together by Erik Steiner.

Most of my ramblings online are on the subject of failure. Please check out: Twitter stnr_on_failure Pinterest Anatomy of failure Linkedin Anatomy of failure Blog Steiner on Failure

All text © 2013 Erik Steiner. Images from various sources. Linkedin logo property and © Linkedin.