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Linkedin and The 8 Hundred Pound Gorilla!

July 20, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Linkedin and The 8 Hundred Pound Gorilla!I talk to people almost everyday who are either confused on how to set their profile up on Linkedin or have come up with reasons why they will NOT complete their profile.  This really is the 8 Hundred Pound Gorilla of Linkedin! Why do I call it that? Simple, so many people everyday ignore this very critical piece on Linkedin and most other social platforms, yet it sticks out like a 8 hundred pound gorilla in the room. 

So many people leave their profile unfinished and expect their efforts on Linkedin to pay off.  I have spoken with numerous Linkedin members who don’t understand why their countless hours, week after week participating on Linkedin does not pay off.  The number one reason I have found is an incomplete profile!

 
Here are eight  reasons to complete your profile:

1. Most critical is that your “Profile is your Resume” on Linkedin. This is how individuals and companies qualify & view you. See my past article.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words. Have you loaded your picture on Linkedin yet? See my recent article.

3. Tell others your specialities. By listing your specialities you can show up in keyword searches done by other linkedin members.

4. You can drive traffic to your website or blog.

5. You can show your expertise through recommendations left by others, which is one of the best forms of advertising. See my article on becoming a Expert on Linkedin.

6. A complete profile shows you as a person well versed in the internet and social changes. While an incomplete profile can communicate “old school” mentality.

7. Be found by past clients and friends. Often times past clients and friends may find you by certain keywords, your picture, employment history, or schooling.

8. Because it’s the 8 Hundred Pound Gorilla in the room!

If you are confused or frustrated, Here is a “No Cost” Linkedin Webinar that will share power strategies on building your profile along with other Linkedin secrets August 20th 7pm EST. Sign up here.

Randy Schrum
Group Facilitator of Linked Strategies

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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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Becoming an Expert on Linkedin

April 6, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

images Becoming an Expert on LinkedinSo how do you become a recognized expert in your target market?  This comes down to two areas on Linkedin “Groups”  and  ”Answers &  Questions”. 

With Groups you are able to join specific groups related to such things as industry, professional groups, networking groups, alumni groups, and more on Linkedin.  This allows you to position yourself in front of the right groups on Linkedin and its members in what I call a value added position.  This is done by offering continual group specific resources and quality post to the group and overtime you can grow into a recognized expert within the group.  As dialogue grows and members benefit from your participation you will find times that members will write a recommendation on your behalf.  In other instances you will find that a member will reach out to you and express gratitude for your help and insight.  This too is an opportunity to for a recommendation.  When I find that someone has significantly benefited from my post or answer, I will from time to time ask for a brief recommendation if it falls in line with my Linkedin goals.  These recommendations are able to be shown on your profile and by targeted participation most recommendations can in turn fall in line with your Linkedin goals. Learn more about the power of Linkedin groups, read my recent article on “Are you a  believer in Linkedin Groups”, here.

Next and most importantly, participate in the Answers section of Linkedin. You can participate in target specific categories that you have working knowledge of. You can also participate in areas that you may not have the best knowledge of, but you believe are targets you want to get in front of. You will just need to put some quality research into your answer. Every question is usually rated by the one who posts it. I say usually in that when the question closes you may have to remind from time to time the one who post it, to rate it. In each question one  answer to every question is rated as “the best” answer. This is a Kudo towards becoming a recognized expert that in turn shows on your profile. You will see that some members participate a lot, some lend crazy amounts of time to this area of Linkedin, which drives amazing exposure for themselves and their brand!  Just be careful not to get sucked into the Social Media Space without any defined goals are action steps to measure your success.

As an added resource, here is a no cost Linkedin Power User’s Webinar.  You can register for our August 6th 4pm-5pm EDT  Here.  In addition we will have a Q/A time at the end of the webinar.  Be sure to sign up today as space is limited and  filling up fast.

Randy Schrum

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Your Profile Is Your Resume

March 9, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Success Tip: Your Linkedin Profile is your business resume.

If you are on Linkedin to find potential employment be sure to remember your profile is your resume…

5 Tips to a great Linkedin Resume
►In your summary say why your on Linkedin.
►Be keyword target specific in your profile, summary, and specialities.
►Be sure to secure recommendations, this shows your credibility among peers.
►Be sure to answers questions, this helps show your expertise…
►Copy and Paste your current resume, as long as its a good one into your Linkedin Profile, but again be sure to make it keyword rich so employers and recruiters searching for someone of your experience can find you.

Here are three bonus resources I would like to mention:

~ Get your free copy of the Fast Start Guide to Linkedin Success: Grab it here
~ Join me on the Linked Strategies Group on Linkedin to access more tips. Join Here
~ Join us for one of our “Complimentary” Linkedin Power User Webinars: Count Me In

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Linkedin Starter Guide To Success by Randy Schrum

March 7, 2009 By Randy Schrum View Comments

Making Your Profile

1. First you do want to load a picture into your profile. This allows people to put a real face with a name. Not doing so will cause an additional barrier for people to hurdle. To add just click on edit profile and you will be prompted to add your picture near the top.
2. Next you want your profile to be concise outlining just a few goals for your use of Linkedin.
3. Your profile is your resume, be sure to be keyword targeted in your work history and specialties.

Inviting and Loading your contacts

1. Everyone you work/affiliated with or have worked with professionally or someone who you have a relationship with should be a contact you consider inviting to be a part of your professional network on Linden.
2. Load your existing contacts from outlook, ACT, webmail, or CSV file to Linkedin. Linkedin will automatically crosscheck your contacts to see who is already a member of linkedin. You are able to invite both those who are members and those who are not. Once you load the list you can invite them all in one simple email invite that goes to all of them. Don’t worry they already have self generated ones if you don’t want to create one. Click on Invitations then click on “compose message” on the right a drop down menu appears” click on “send invitations”. On the top you will see a tab to “import contacts” click here and follow the directions.

Invite & Follow Up Response

Develop a word document that you can always copy and paste to respond to invitations. You want it to have no more than three bullet points and a very short. It is critical to have, as this is free advertisement back to those who invite you to connect.
Here is mine for example.
Thank you for the invite, I am absolutely thrilled! Couple things I want to run by you.—

► Join our “Success with Linked In Group” http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/1765677

► I am currently seeking “Fortune 500 type” customers. Please take a moment and review my company online at www.centimark.com if you think of a business connection that may be of interest please let me know. Centimark is the Largest Commercial Roofing Contractor in North America.

► Visit www.successwithlinkedin.com to learn more about being successful with linkedin. Also don’t forget to join the group above.

Best Regards

Randy Schrum
P.S. Feel free to contact me anytime

Why join Toplinked.com, LION, & Networkers United

By joining these groups you are able to grow your connections dramatically. This is important for several reasons such as increasing your exposure, searching for key contacts in Linkedin as the search results are directly related to your connections and your connections, connections.
A question I always like to ask those who question this. “Do you know what your professional future holds?” This question is directly related to being able to use Linkedin for future opportunities as well as build your current business.
Part of being a member of these groups normally requires displaying the name in your profile. This should be interpreted as a good thing as it tells others you are an “open networker”, one who accepts all invitations and does not IDK (I Don’t Know) anyone.

Finally you can pay to get a large amount of exposure with Toplinked.com by becoming a supporter on a monthly basis for a small amount. However you choose that amount and those who pay more get better exposure/ ranking on the “supporters” list. This list goes out on a weekly basis to toplinked’s entire database of members. Initially you will receive several hundred to thousands of invites the first month. After that it will slow down to maybe a few hundred a week. This is why your invite response is so critical.

Participating in Groups & Answers

Getting exposure is critical to growing your connections. You can do this effectively by participating in Groups and Answering questions. In both cases choose to participate in industries your both targeting or may be knowledgeable in. The more you participate the more exposure you get, but that’s not all. Be sure to sign off with your signature and tag line. Whether it is “INVITES WELCOMED” or your website www.successwithlinkedin.com for instance.

You can choose to become the member of groups you like by searching the group’s directory with keywords. This in turn returns back search results of groups that match your keyword. Be sure to join the larger groups as you get more exposure. Unless a group is new and you suspect it will explode do to the content related to the group.

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