Social networking is a huge thing nowadays. But even though Facebook is considered the top dog among all social networking sites, there is still a lot of room for other players, especially those that are targeting specific market niches. One of these is LinkedIn.com, a social networking site that is marketed towards people in the business sector. The main audience of LinkedIn are professionals in various business sectors all over the world. LinkedIn is being used primarily to find job opportunities or to find the best candidates for job vacancies that companies are trying to fill. LinkedIn is a very powerful tool and it is worth spending some time to maximize its benefits for you.
In order to make LinkedIn benefit you the most, you will need to widen your network. You do this by increasing the number of your connections to other LinkedIn users. The more connections you have the bigger the chances of you turning those connections into job opportunities. A wider network will also create a domino effect of sorts because as you widen your network, the friends of your friends will most likely see your profile and may want to add you. The same is true from your end, you’ll see other people who you may want to be part of your network.
A LinkedIn profile is not just like any other profile. Whereas you can get by with just giving a little information on your other social networks, in LinkedIn a profile that is detailed will be more effective and useful. Try to look at your LinkedIn profile as an extension of your resume. The profile will give other people in your network a glimpse of who you are and what you have been doing professionally. Looking at other people’s profiles before you go and meet with them (say, for a business meeting) will also help you look for a connection that you can explore when you meet.
A LinkedIn account is not the same as a Facebook account where you can just let time and nature take its course in developing your friend network. In LinkedIn, you will have to market your account to really maximize the potential of your LinkedIn account. Use available online resources to bring attention to your LinkedIn profile. This could be as simple as putting a link as part of your email signature or adding it to your Facebook profile. If you operate a web site or a blog, you can put your LinkedIn link as well.
Providing information in the form of topics or articles and sharing it through your LinkedIn network is also a good idea. These articles or information can be spread all throughout other people’s networks.
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