Perhaps you are LinkedIn; perhaps you are waiting for a compelling reason to become LinkedIn; or perhaps you have never heard of LinkedIn. There should be something for all of you in my brief introduction to this powerful Web 2.0 business-oriented social networking software (www.LinkedIn.com). Hint: Social networking is no longer just for kids wanting to keep up with the latest gossip.

According to its home page, LinkedIn is "an online network of more than 20 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries." It's free to join, although the site offers "paid accounts that give you more tools for finding and reaching the right people, whether or not they are in your network." Wikipedia claims that the site's traffic in December 2007 was 3.2 million visitors per month, growing annually at a rate of about 485%.

Why would you want to join this particular social networking site? Successful employees know the power of relationships and networking. For example, without any effort on my part in the last 18 months, my LinkedIn account has grown to 110 connections; those connections have their own (2nd degree) connections. The exponential result in my account is 3,501,300+ (3rd degree) connections (94,865 added in the last 5 days alone). The site helps me follow colleagues, keep in touch easily, and, most importantly, mine my connections for potential clients and contacts.

You might use it to keep in contact with or keep track of former colleagues who have been valuable and instrumental to you through your career, especially when people move from company to company or contract to contract.

LinkedIn v. Facebook

I haven't explored Facebook myself, but one of my connections, Frank Tagader, has joined both. Here's what he says: "It is just one more tool in my collection of online networking utilities. Facebook was touted as the model for social computing at the Gilbane Boston Conference in November. It can be frivolous and a time waster, but is also very innovative. It is a way to keep touch with friends, family, and co-workers and share photos, music, videos, what you're reading, and interact using games, shared interests, and conversation. I have links to friends and co-workers across the globe."

Computerworld compared both sites in March, 2008 and concluded that "there is no absolute winner; both Facebook and LinkedIn excel in different scenarios. It all depends on what you need to do."

Some tips for maximizing your LinkedIn account

1. Spend a few hours creating your profile. It's immediately apparent when people are new and uncertain about the system because their profiles are so sparse. Put rich and relevant information in and think about keywords that people might search. (Visit Mike O'Neil's profile to get some ideas.)
2. Get people to recommend you on your profile. You can solicit connections, but I learned in a course on LinkedIn that a better way is to write and submit recommendations for your linked colleagues. Often, they will offer to write a recommendation for you in return. Recently, I received an unsolicited recommendation from someone who attended one of my presentations. It was wonderful, and I will remember that person and help him or her whenever I can.
3. Remember to update! If you have your own website, it's good to mentally link your updating of your website to your profile so they will be consistent.
4. Decide if you are willing to link to everyone who asks. I'm not; I link only to people whom I know, or knew, or share professional memberships with. One recruiter who spoke at a networking meeting said she linked to everyone who asked, but, of course, her needs were probably different than mine or yours.
5. Know that spamming from the site is possible. A colleague reported that she recently received some communication about some type of illegal financial scheme. She reported that to LinkedIn and noticed that the contact was removed.

Happy Linking!

My goal is always to help you and your employees:

Do more
Make more
Save more
Sell more

Thank you!