LinkedIn Must Dos for Success
Many people talk about the mistakes you can make on LINKEDIN®, but it seems to me, that the more valuable discussion is about what will make you successful.
So in this post I’m going to share with you the 7 most important things you should do if you want to be successful on LinkedIn.
If you want to learn some of the reasons and basis for the items on this list, watch the first module of my mini course by Clicking Here.
After watching these videos you will have a better idea why I have listed many of these items.
The 7 MUST Dos of LinkedIn
#1: Build your network both automatically and strategically as network size equal visibility and accessibility and those equal more business or opportunity.
You build automatically to increase your network size more quickly. Then build strategically to get more suspects, prospects, and customers.
#2: Write your profile for the reader, something of value they can take with them. Don’t talk about yourself (except in the jobs you’ve listed), your company, or your products and services.
Make sure your profile ask the reader to take another step. Marketing is not effective without a call-to-action. That call may simply be to connect with you on LinkedIn. However, there must be a call.
#3: Establish your expertise by posting to the question and answer forum and group discussions valuable, useful, and workable answers that in no way promote or sell. Sell yourself through your wisdom, not promotion.
In my first two months on LinkedIn, I got two unsolicited contracts from my content alone – I didn’t make one pro-active effort to get any business during that time.
#4: Customize your links. Customize both your profile and website links. Use your name or some representation of you that as your profile link not the garbage that’s included in the default. In addition be descriptive in your company links, do not use the default: “Company Website.”
It is much more compelling to click a link that say “Learn About Networking” than a link that says “Company Profile.” You put the links there to get them to the site. So make them attractive.
#5: Never use the default invitation when asking someone to connect on LinkedIn. Always provide a good reason for connecting that has nothing to do will selling them something. Remember LinkedIn is a networking site.
Default invitations are one of the best ways to accumulated IDKs. (People marking your invitation “I don’t know [you].”)
#6: ALWAYS make a great first impression. This is the reason you want to post “great” answers to the forums, as that may be the first time many LinkedIners see you. You should also be sending a great thank you for connecting message to everyone you connect with (Yes, even if they aren’t a potential prospect.)
You may wish to engage these people at some future date so that first impression is important. It may be the difference between success and failure when you need that person in the future.
#7: Become invaluable to others. What I mean is, do your best to be seen and perceived as an invaluable resource to every person on LinkedIn that engages you. Yes, that means going out of your way to do good things for others.
This can be as simple as providing them a valuable connection – you can even provide me if you like. Just invite me to connect and then include my name in your thank you emails as a “valued connection.” (The email for connecting is flyn@flynpenoyer.com.
You will see significant improvement in your LinkedIn results if you do these things.
BONUS TIP – follow the rules. Read the user agreement do’s and don’ts and become a “good citizen of LinkedIn. People will appreciate it.
Before I leave let me just give a link to one article in my blog which deals with the idea of “open networking” as I know many of you are concerned with the idea of connecting to a lot of people that aren’t “prospects,” live half way around the world, or aren’t prospects.
Please read The “Open Networker” Debate
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