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LinkedIn Super Connectors and Why You Should Join Them

December 7, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Last week I shared why growing your connections on LinkedIn can significantly affect your business. As we took a closer look we saw that LinkedIn’s search platform is directly related to your connection base. In addition we reviewed how your ability to be introduced to new prospect is directly related to your connections as well. You can see the entire article here…

This week I wanted to share some of the top super connected people on LinkedIn. These are people you should do your best to connect with as you will see they are movers and shakers in business and the LinkedIn space.

These are some of the Super Connected:

Steven Burda- Most connections currently on LinkedIn.
Nathan Kievman
Sean Nelson
Viveka Von Rosen
Dave Maskin
Ross Dodwell
Patrick O’Malley
Jason Alba
Lori Ruff
John L. Evans
J.D. Gershbein
Mike O’Neil
Neal Schaffer

*Randy Schrum Probably the most important connection you can have. At least I would like to think so.

By connecting with these Super Connectors you will see your LinkedIn leverage dramatically increase.

Bonus Resources:

~Fast Start Guide to LinkedIn Success “no cost”  Grab it here

~Join the Social Media Advisors Group on LinkedIn here count me in:

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Three Benefits of Linkedin Connections

December 1, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Benefits of Linkedin ConnectionsWhen you look at the benefits of having connections on LinkedIn you begin to see why open networking is actually a sound business decision. Many people create objections without ever first considering the benefits of having a large connection base. To better understand the value you not only have to consider the human element, but also the Linkedin “design” element.

LinkedIn has been designed to drive an individuals success through their connections and their connections, connections. So your success just does not rely on your direct (1st) level connections, but also those that are 2nd degree connections and their connections who are 3rd degree. Linkedin’s advanced search is built around this, introductions to others (prospects) you do not know are built around this, and this allows you to leverage your efforts.

Let’s look more closely at these three benefits

Search
When you are looking for prospects, leads, contacts, or other opportunities on Linkedin the advanced search is a goldmine. Your search results can be driven by not only your direct connections, but also 2nd and 3rd degree connections. Once you have your search results then you can look at that person profile for an email address or phone number to contact them. If you cannot find an email address or phone number that is okay because this next benefit covers it.

Introductions
You can request introductions through your first level contacts to 2nd and 3rd degree connections. This alone is a reason to never argue the value of building your 1st level connections.

Leverage
You leverage your efforts by connecting with super connectors. What do I mean? Simple you identify the most well connected professionals on Linkedin who are capitalizing on using Linkedin for business. You then invite them to connect, provided they have indicated they are an open networker. (An open networker is one who accepts all invites on Linkedin and does not choose IDK, or I Do not Know.)

By connecting with Linkedin’s most successful members you exponentially leverage your efforts. Who are the super connected? Watch for them in participating in groups and Linkedin Q&A’s they are pretty easy to spot. They have well crafted profiles and are active in the Linkedin Space.

Still not sure of the super connected, I will publish a list next week detailing who I believe are must connects for any Linkedin member.

So lets build a high quality network together, connect with me by sending an invite from LinkedIn Invitations to this email address: linkwithrandy@yahoo.com  

Grab my Fast Start Guide to Linkedin Success eBook “no cost”:Grab it here

Filed Under: Linkedin, Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Network & Profile

August 23, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

mathEquation 150x150 Optimizing Your LinkedIn Network & ProfileLinkedin can be an endless source of leads, job opportunities, referrals, and multiple income streams. However, none of that matters if you have not optimized your efforts both with your network and your profile.

Optimizing your network: First key step to optimizing your Linkedin network is to build a network based off the target market you are after and want to penetrate. In order to do this write a list of potential industries and titles you are targeting. Then identify those you have interacted with in the past and invite them to connect with you. You can also target those on Linkedin within the advanced search option, who are open networkers. Using such search terms such as LION, Toplinked.com, and opennetworker can generate a long list of members whom provide their email address readily to accept connection invites. In addition you can add the keywords of your target market in the search allowing you to find those open to connecting within your target audience.

The next key to optimizing your network is to add tags or categories to your connections so you can effectively manage which target market they fall within your connection base.
(Learn more on this by joining us for our Linkedin Strategies Webinar this Thursday with Q & A at “no cost”.)

Bonus Network Tip: Now that you have the right target people in your network be sure to reach out to them and keep them updated via email or by updating your status in your Linkedin profile on a regular basis.

Optimizing your profile:

Your Linkedin Profile is your online professional brand, just google your name and see what pops up. More than likely your Linkedin profile showed up near the top.
I often tell people “Your Linkedin Profile is Your Resume”, so how well does yours read?

1. First of all is your profile complete? Things such as work history and education are critical.
2. Have you written a compelling headline?
3. Do you have a good profile picture loaded? Preferably a nice headshot professionally done.
4. Think about your list of specialties and make sure they are keyword rich so you appear in more searches and are found easily within Linkedin for your target audience.

The first key is completing your profile. I cannot stress enough how an optimized profile is critical to measurable success on Linkedin.

Bonus Profile Tip:

Take a look at my profile and in the summary you will see I noted common misspells of my name. Why have I done this? Because someone may misspell your name searching for you on Linkedin and never find you if it’s not within your profile.

~Randy Schrum

*Linkedin Strategy Group: Learn more Linkedin Strategies and Tips at the most collaborative Linkedin Group available within the Linkedin space.

*Linkedin Strategy Webinar: “No Cost” Series, Join us every Thursday different times every week (4pm EDT or 7pm EDT “subject to change”). Don’t worry if you can’t make the live webinar, sign up anyway to gain access to the recording.

*Profile Optimization: Not sure if your profile is optimized at its best? Need the help of a professional who has helped countless others? Email support@mycorporatemedia.com  For $300 get your profile professionally revamped, in the email subject please put “Profile Re-vamp”.

 
***LinkedIn is a networking tool that helps you discover inside connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts and business partners.

Filed Under: Linkedin, Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What is your Linkedin status?

May 12, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

What is your Linkedin status? Better yet, what are you working on? 
 
If you are reading this article then you have some idea of the power of Linkedin or what it can be for you as a business professional. With that said, do you understand how critical updating your status and profile are? 
 
I hope to help show you the benefit in doing just that on a regular basis. First, what is updating your status? You can do this by logging into your Linkedin account and near the center of the page you will find the option to post “what you are working on”, this will be found below your inbox preview and network updates section. This is not found on the left with all the other tabs. 
Updating your status on Linkedin shows up to all your connections when they are logged in to their account. This keeps brand image in front of them on a regular basis. I try to update at least every 24 hours with something new. This is not the place to say “I just ate a cheese burger”. This is the place to promote your business, what you’re doing for work i.e., seeing a new customer, doing a workshop, promoting your companies charity, promoting your charity, promoting an industry related article you just read, promoting an article you just wrote on your blog, and many other related topics to your business. 
 
You can also make slight changes to your profile summary which in turns shows up in your connections view. This once again just gives a friendly reminder that you are out their. 
 
So do your connections know your status? Better yet do your connections remember they are connected with you? Start updating your status on a regular basis and watch your profile views increase. The more profile views can only lead to more opportunities. 
 
For Success With Linkedin I am Randy Schrum 
Follow me on twitter @randyschrum 
 
Join the Success With Linkedin Group discussion here: 

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Why Accept Invites to Connect on Linkedin?

April 10, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Why Accept Invites to Connect on Linkedin?

Over the last several months I have seen a wide variety of people make comments on “invites to connect” or “join my network” on Linkedin. If we are to deliver a verdict on receiving invites to connect as whether good or bad. We should at least understand the power of a connection as it pertains to Linkedins design for the business professional.

When someone accepts an invitation to connect the first thing to bring to our attention is the opportunity to accept that invite and more importantly “respond” to the invite after accepting. I have developed a short 3 bullet response that I have made as personal as I can that drives the person to view me and my brand. This aspect alone has yielded me business.

Next, when you accept an invitation to connect you not only gain that connection you also have the potential reach now to your connections connections. (no, your eyes are not crossed). Let me explain, in my current role at Centimark one thing I do is Business Development. I basically find key contacts/ decision makers of Fortune 500 companies and introduce Centimark. More specifically the people I am looking for are in strategic sourcing & enterprise procurement to name a few. When I want to find the key “strategic sourcing manager” at XYZ company one thing I do is search Linkedin on the search bar for “Strategic Sourcing XYZ company” or whatever other keywords I may use. My search will return with the results. Most of the time those people are in my extended network of my connections.

“In other words my search is actually powered by the size of my network of connections.”

Of which I am allowed to see their name since they are in my extended network.  Where otherwise they could be on Linkedin and I would not be able to see them unless I subscribe to the Linkedin “premium” service.  This allows me to develop a strategy to contact that person. Where as before I did not have the persons name, now I do. If it goes no further on Linkedin that’s okay, but it could as my connections may be able to introduce me.  If not I can then move to other third party resources such as www.jigsaw.com to maybe get the other contact info. While my search strategy is “specific” to me, yours could be for other target specific people.  If you are ever in the job market and search the jobs on Linkedin wouldn’t it be nice to have some people in your network who work at the companies you may be applying for?  Today more than ever companies view your online presence as a plus for your resume as well.  I often say “Your Profile is Your Resume”, but thats another article.  Almost 50% of Linkedin is made up of business professionals who are considered decision makers. Nearly 7% are considered to be either Presidents, EVP’s, or VP’s.

The power of connections is truly remarkable. While we may think we have nothing in common with a potential direct connection. I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Take time to consider the potential reach that connection may have for you no matter how indirectly it may be.

If you find yourself with more questions and not sure how to be successful with Linkedin join the “Success With Linked n” Group here   We collaborate together on how to be successful using Linkedin.

Randy Schrum
www.twitter.com/randyschrum

*Now available Randy’s “Fast Start Guide to Linkedin Success” eBook click here to learn more

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