Every time we talk with Sean Nelson, we learn something new about LinkedIn. As the author of three books on LinkedIn, Sean really understands the ins and outs of this business networking site. And, it’s clear that a lot of people really don’t take advantage of everything it has to offer. Sean broke down some of the ways LinkedIn can be used more effectively. He says that there are four sections you need to familiarize with:
- People
- Jobs
- Answers
- Groups
He says that while you may be connected to 500 or 1,000 peple directly, features such as Groups can connect you with hundred of thousands of people depending on which ones you belong to.
The next thing he said is to make sure that your profile is 100% complete and that it is publicly searchable. But, even with a 100% complete profile, that’s just the minimum. Starting to interact with the LinkedIn community via Answers or Groups is really where you will get the most out of using LinkedIn. Make sure you have a clear photo on your profile and that there are no typos or grammar errors.
Finally, he said that it’s important to be clear about why you are on LinkedIn. While most people will say they are there to network or learn, he said that LinkedIn should be used to make money. If you are clear that you are on there to increase your business but do it in such a way that is professional, then LinkedIn can be a great business tool for you.
His free advice was to connect, be active, be trustworthy and continue to explore how to use LinkedIn to build your business.
Next up we spoke to Scott Dunn who runs SONARconnects which helps local businesses use social media to build communities and enhance their brands. SONARconnects is a full-service agency in Johns Creek, Georgia.
Both Sean and Scott had some great tips for using social networking tools to build your customer base and brand. Thanks to both of them for joining us.
