Posted August 30th, 2010
Learning to Leverage LinkedIn
Poor LinkedIn ... It may always be the buttoned-up-and-boring old dude compared to Facebook and Twitter, but that is precisely why it can be much more useful than other social networks for creating and nurturing professional relationships, establishing and shaping your personal brand and positioning your company as an authority among competitors.
LinkedIn can be ideal for people who see value in joining the conversation, yet are not comfortable blurring the line between professional and personal contacts. On LinkedIn, the parameters are more set in that the conversations almost always are professional and industry specific. There is an ease associated with knowing even a tiny bit of what to expect, especially for social media newcomers.
Other positive aspects of LinkedIn:
- Unlike Facebook, there is no fear of being tagged in an unflattering photo.
- You do not have to question whether you want to "add" your mom.
- Unlike Twitter, there are several ways to reach out to your contacts without word count limits.
- No one is likely to ask you via LinkedIn to send them anything for any virtual game they play.
If you have not yet created a LinkedIn profile, check it out and register. If you have a profile already, but have not maximized its potential, here are two links to multiple resources that will help you do just that:
100+ Smart Ways To Use LinkedIn
Lara Kretler's LinkedIn Bookmarks
