Tips To Become a Linked In Expert

Top Tips to Become a LinkedIn Expert;

The Lucky 13! Do’s and Don’ts

                                                           
LinkedIn currently stands at over 120 million registered users, more than double as many as it had only two years ago The amount of time LinkedIn users are spending on the website is also growing. And the bigger the network gets, the more useful it becomes for its members. Both job hunters and headhunters are already unwavering loyalists. If you are a businness owner, the ability to get your message out, create trust and a brand name for yourself, is priceless. People will tell others about you and start following you. You become an expert in your field, which gives value to others. Some will want to buy your product or service. These can be contacts you’ve never met before but belong to groups that have the same interests. Or they might be people that you’ve known or done business with before and now would like to reconnect. LinkedIn makes it easier to stay in touch, search for those with the right interests and needs, and communicate nonlinearly. You can listen to what they have to say & they can hear you out. These useful tips should help you to become a powerful LinkedIn Expert.

1. Create a focused, current and complete LinkedIn Profile. This the most effective tool to project the image you want to portray to existing and potential contacts/colleagues.  Use an up-to-date, (smiling picture) and a personalized URL.                                                                                                                                                               > Don’t make your headline boring and profile incomplete
2. List relevant past and present work experience. Keep it current. Focus on quality, not quantity. Include your specialties and have a skillful SEO-friendly summary. Use the links to include your website and blog.      >Don’t rattle off a gigantic catalog of past jobs that you’ve had
3. Optimize keywords to rank you high in relevant searches and help possible connections find you.   >Don’t make it look too monotonous and repetitive
4. Request connections. Invite real world connections 1st. Make it personal. Customize the default invitation to connect button. Check and respond promptly to your messages and invitations                    >Don’t invite people that you don’t know or even really interested in connecting to.
5. Let everyone know what you’re doing. Stay top of mind by updating your status often. Personalize your interactions and connections.  Cross-promote by linking to your other networking sites.      > Don’t forget that LinkeIin is a professional network, unlike Twitter & FaceBook
6. Join LinkedIn Groups to connect and interact.      >Don’t sit back and fail to participate in the group, contribute some applicable useful content.
7. Create groups. this is the best way to get your message out      > Don‘t have unrealistic expectations about people joining your group. Are you giving them something of value?
8. Be a “LION”   (LinkedIn Open Networker), to make yourself available to more connections.      >Don’t Limit yourself to only the Trusted Partner Networking
9. Watch others’ status updates to initiate contact.        >Don’t be an internet stalker, however, people change their status, purposely, for you to see.
10. Ask for and give recommendations andctestimonials.     > Don’t wait for people to come to you, give freely 1st and then you shall receive
11. Ask and answer questions. Being active in the Q&A would definitely get you noticed in your particular niche. Make sure you know what you’re talking about, show off your expertise… and yes, spelling counts.        >Don’t post replies that are off-topic, or you will be viewed as an amateurish spammer.
12. Export everything. Build your email data base by using the export option.    > Don’t forget that this is yours and not to be shared or sold.
13. Be Professional, Polite, Authentic and Positive        > Don’t say or do anything that wouldn’t be appropriate in person.

As you can see there is more to LinkedIn than meets the eye. However if you take the time to learn these strategies and become proficient on LinkedIn, I’m sure that you will successfully grow your online presence and the investment will pay off!

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