Marketing and PR for You! Resolve to Better Use Your LinkedIn Account
Several years ago I contemplated setting up a Linked In account. I wasn’t sure what the point of having an account would be. I didn’t really have any of my resume information up to date, I was uneasy about who would be looking at my information, and I just wasn’t sure if I had time to manage the account. Does this sound familiar to you?
Flash forward a few years… the social media revolution is here and I can honestly say that I can’t imagine life without a Linked In account. My profile isn’t always 100% complete, but I have personally resolved to maximize the marketing powers Linked In offers. Here are a few ways I have used my account and why I now find it invaluable:
Jobs! Yes, I have connected with four individuals over the last three years that have led me to client work. First, I become Linked In with the individuals, then I email them within our mutually agreeable online space, and oftentimes it ends up that we agree to talk about consulting options offline. I’d say these were easy WINS!
Connections! I have browsed through some of my connection’s connections and found mutual relationships that I didn’t know existed. This can be a great conversation starter the next time you are on a call with a connection or when you’re trying to network more effectively. “Hey Maria, I didn’t realize that you knew Tim, did you know we used to work together on….”
Groups! I belong to a communications group in my hometown. Over the years our group has used the Linked In groups connection to open discussions on relevant PR/media topics. This was particularly helpful to me when I was researching QR codes, for instance. I quickly found out some valuable information from one of our members, thereby saving me countless hours of research. Groups are invaluable to marketing yourself and your business.
Just like any resolution, we have to commit a bit of time to the task. But wouldn’t it be worth it if you were able to connect with even just one important business relationship or potential customer through Linked In?
These are just a few of the valuable takeaways I have received from using my Linked In account. What has or hasn’t worked for you? Will you commit to starting or updating your account in 2012?