Having a LinkIn Profile is NOT a strategy

Any business that offers services to other businesses should understand the value of the LinkedIn social network. I know many people who network, go to BNI meetings and don't have a clue about LinkedIn. If you're just starting out with linked in, heeding the advice below might just well get you hooked...and Linked In.

COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE LinkedIn is not about entering your profile and you're done. But if you're going to use LinkedIN, take it seriously and take the time to complete your profile. A half completed profile doesn't say much about you or your company.

ORIENTATION Pick up "LinkedIn For Dummies" if you have to. There are quite possibly hundreds of online tutorials about LinkedIn as well. It's not required. LinkedIn is not all that complicated. If you don't know anything about LinkedIN, login and look around. It's about that simple. Just be aware of all of the features available to you for free! If LinkedIn were not free and I approached your business with this great marketing tool, you'd want to buy it! And perhaps the perception is that because it's free, it's not worth your time. Nothing could be further from the truth. Get to know LinkedIn!

ENGAGE OK, so now you have a complete profile and it's just sitting there. Well, your business didn't grow without reaching out to the public did it? One of the things you should do is search groups for those that you might want to be involved with.

Pay attention to the "Answers" section on the bottom right of the page. Like magic, you'll see questions related to your field. By all means jump in and be helpful. This is one of the best ways to reach out. Sharing information is a great marketing tool. You are engaging your business by helping the person that asked the question and anyone who is interested in the same infomation. Also, ask the person who asked the question to link to your "for more information" and include your website link in the answer (there's a field for it). Obviously, he or she is already interested in what your business has to offer. That leads us to the next things we should be doing:

INVITE, LINK and be SOCIAL By becoming associated with groups and by answering questions relevant to your products and services, you are connecting with people who you can probably do business with. Vice versa: ask questions and link up with people who offer you help and solutions. You'll soon develop a trust and respect for the people who contribute the most. Isn't that the kind of person you want to do business with? Isn't that the point?

About the Author

Connect up with Greg Newell. A good resource for LinkedIn and other social media. http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregnewellwsi Develop your new marketing strategy. Here's a good place to start: Download "2010 - New Ways to be Found Online." here >> Social Media Optimization Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati