ONE: Quality Connections
Most people join LinkedIn to connect and network with people in order to find a job, obtain business contacts, or market themselves. I have found the quality of the connection is far more important than the quantity, especially when you are looking for a job. As your connections grow, it is important to be able to leverage the connections you have in order to have access to the right people at the right time that can help you professionally.
A quality connection is defined as a person that you know from your past (school, work history, military, groups, affiliations, organizations, etc.) and are looking for a professional connection, or someone you met at a networking or social event, job, or career fair.
TWO: Brand Yourself
Have you ever thought about yourself as a brand? Branding is essential to your LinkedIn profile because it clearly defines who you are, how you are great, and why other should seek you. Branding is your reputation. It’s about building a name for yourself, showcasing what sets you apart from others, and describing the added value you bring to an occupation, business, or connection.
Building your brand begins with strategically identifying your value proposition that you can market to people that want to connect with you. A value proposition, simply put, is what the person or company gets from you in exchange for connecting with you.
As you build your profile and participate on LinkedIn, always carefully consider the content you present on your summary, interests, website, blog, recommendations, responses, connections, and activities. Ask you yourself whether the information that you’re posting supports your brand. If it doesn’t, then it’s best to leave it out.
THREE: Participate
The simple act of creating a LinkedIn account and adding bunch of connections will not produce results. The real power of LinkedIn comes in the form of active participation. The more time you put in to participating, the more results you will achieve. How do you participate?
1. Let people know what you are doing through “Network Updates.”
2. Recommend people, and solicit recommendations
3. Join groups and participate in group discussions
4. Make quality connections that are interested in communicating with you
5. Comment on others
Raymond Lee, CEO
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http://www.careerminds.com/
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