LinkedIN is a great networking tool and with 75 million users spanning 200 countries we still believe it has great value for the average business professional. We previously covered why you should have a LinkedIN profile in the following byte published in October, 2009:
Is there any benefit to having a LinkedIN profile? Yes!
In that byte we stated that LinkedIN is a great reputation management tool and makes a great online business card you can use to promote yourself to prospective clients or networking contacts. Further LinkedIN profiles rank very well for your name in Google, usually in the top three, making them ideal for both resume enhancement and reputational management purposes.
None of the above has changed and we still view LinkedIN as an indispensable reputation management tool you should use regularly!
What has changed, however, is that LinkedIN is no longer DOFOLLOW. LinkedIN links now redirect through a JavaScript meaning that outgoing links in your profile no longer pass any PageRank or authority. So from an SEO standpoint, LinkedIN has a limited value from the standpoint of link building.
Regardless, LinkedIN is a fantastic tool for establishing a professional networking presence and generating business. In fact, here are 5 surefire ways to do just that, both now and in 2011:
* 1) Generate Recommendations: The ability to ask for and receive recommendations from past and present clients on LinkedIN is a huge networking opportunity. Those profiles with recommendations get more business. Don't be afraid to ask current or past clients or those you are networking with on LinkedIN for a recommendation. The "you give me a recommendation and I'll give you a recommendation" is a big part of LinkedIN. Don't be afraid to go that route when reviewing your list of connections.
* 2) Participate in Groups: We use LinkedIN groups here at Search Engine News to test out possible topics for future articles and bytes. There are literally hundreds of different groups covering everything from Google to Digg to Twitter and everything in between. Although you can join as many as 50 different groups, we recommend not following more than 5-7 groups at a time since it can be very hard to keep up with all of them. But LinkedIN Groups are a great way to add to the conversation, get your name out there to others in your industry, and make a ton of related connections that may benefit your business down the road.
* 3) Fill out your Profile: If you want to generate views of your LinkedIN profile which then turn into new connections, make sure to fill it out completely. Specifically, add a detailed profile summary and full work experience section. Don't have a picture? Why not? How about applications? LinkedIN allows users to add applications covering everything from ShareSlide to Wordpress to Twitter feeds. Your profile is a reflection of you; make it stand out as much as possible. In turn, other users will be more inclined to send you a connection request.
* 4) Promote your Blog: LinkedIN makes it very easy to promote your blog, articles, whitepapers and even your own site. The best way to do this is through participation with groups. Any member of a group can start a discussion. If you have an interesting article, whitepaper or topic on your blog you want to promote, you can. Make sure to earn some good Karma and ask for/or participate in discussions yourself before posting self-promotional articles on your end. A good rule of thumb is to participate in 3-4 discussions for every new one you decide to start that points to your own site.
* 5) Update your Status: Did you just publish a new white paper? Attend a seminar? Gain a new client you want to blow your horn about? That's where the status update function with LinkedIN can really assist you. You can send status updates on LinkedIN just as you would updates on Twitter or Facebook. These appear right smack at the top of your profile just below your photo. These updates can be commented on by other users and even "liked." They are a great way to increase your visibility on LinkedIN and should be used regularly.
The main complaint we see with LinkedIN users who bemoan their lack of success on the medium is that they fail to keep their profiles up-to-date. A close second is that they don't interact with the site community regularly. Both are absolutely essential to leveraging LinkedIN as an effective tool in your business networking arsenal.
The above five tips are not exhaustive but can and will make your current efforts on LinkedIN substantially more effective for you in the future. Definitely give them a try in the coming months and feel free to share your thoughts on this article and on LinkedIN in general, by connecting with my profile here. Good luck with your LinkedIN efforts in the future!
Source from: http://www.searchenginenews.com/
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