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Creating and Using Your Social Network

To Build Business

Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of CommerceApril 14, 2010

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• Introduction• Why Use LinkedIn?: Enhanced knowledge of why

LinkedIn, and social networks are important• Ways to Use LinkedIn• Begin thinking about the creation of a plan for

developing and using your network, strategically and effectively

• Questions

Agenda

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About LinkedIn:

• A business-oriented social networking site• An interconnected network of professionals in more than

170 industries and 200 countries• A social network where the average age of the LinkedIn

user is 41• A social network in which the average salary is

$110,000• Men and the 24-35 year-old demographic are more

likely to use LinkedIn

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Build Your Business

• Visibility• Contacts• Credibility

Use Linked In to take what works offline to make it work online… whether you are expanding your business or finding employment/hiring

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Why Use LinkedIn?

“People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.

All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees.”

-- Guy Kawasaki http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html#ixzz0IcOuG3EF&D

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Ways to Use LinkedIn

• Be There: Increase your visibility– Be findable: By adding connections, you increase

the likelihood that people will see your profile first when they’re searching for someone to hire or do business with

– Add your LinkedIn profile link to e-mail signatures and online profiles

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Ways to Use LinkedIn

• Bump up your Google juice– Allow search engines to index your LinkedIn profile

• Create a public profile and select “full view”

– If you’re not a blogger, or do not have a Web site, use your customized LinkedIn URL when you comment on blogs or online articles

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Ways to Use LinkedIn

• Be Connected: Increase your ability to connect– Include past companies, affiliations, interests and education– Get to know friends of friends, make new connections, let peers

and prospects know what you’re doing, how they can be involved

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Ways to Use LinkedIn

• Be Credible: Build trustworthiness and reputation– Give and receive recommendations – let others sing your praise– Create and join relevant groups to share information, promote

your business, and show off your expertise

• Ask for advice or referrals– Answers section can be a wealth of information and resources for your

industry or your career path– Increase your credibility in your field and demonstrate your thought

leadership by replying to questions related to your industry, or to which you can respond intelligently

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Ways to Use LinkedIn

• Create a group, to foster discussion and connections– Share articles– Review the groups connections as a way to discover your total social

network

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Ways to Use LinkedIn: Employment

• Perform a reference check– Does LinkedIn profile match resume?– Does the candidate have recommendations? Have they given any?

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Ways to Use LinkedIn: Employment

• It is who you know• Make your resume easily searchable• Ask for introductions• Request endorsements and offer them to others• Keep your name top-of-mind with connectors and

people who may be hiring

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Prospects: Local Company Search

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LinkedIn Connection Example

• Find people you know in targeted companies

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Good Invitation to ConnectAs you may know, I resigned my position as [TITLE & COMPANY]. It was a rich experience and I value the privilege of access to a very high level of thought leadership during my years there.

Recently, I have begun to work with the [COMPANY] to [DETAILS OF JOB AND INDUSTRY] Using “best practice” as a baseline, we are looking at regional, national and international models that use an integrated approach to create successful outcomes.

As I value our relationship and appreciate the depth of experience you bring to your profession, please join my network so we can stay in touch on this and more.

Warm regards,

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Steps to Take Today

• Upload your e-mail contacts from all sources• Get your profile to 100% by completing all of your

information and adding a photo• Add your LinkedIn URL to your email signature

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Steps to Take Next Week

• Write a recommendation for a colleague, partner or friend (and hope they return the favor)

• Create a schedule for yourself to ask one new person a week for a recommendation

• Start or join a relevant group

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Ongoing Steps to Success

• Going forward, each time you get a new contact’s card, enter them in

• Each week, spend about 10 minutes researching new, desired contacts or prospect companies

• Link your other networks into LinkedIn – blogs, Twitter• When necessary, UPDATE your profile and keep it

current

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Questions?

Thank You!

Amy Sarah Marshall

amarshall@standingpr.com

www.standingpr.com