Debbie Staveley

LinkedIn LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return.

How popular is it? LinkedIn launched in May 2003 At the end of its first month, LinkedIn had 4,500 members; by the end of December 2003 it had 81,000 members Now LinkedIn has over 48 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

The LinkedIn mission: Our mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. We believe that in a global connected economy, your success as a professional and your competitiveness as a company depends upon faster access to insight and resources you can trust.

What is it used for? To keep in contact with people To gain access to people in other people’s networks To raise your profile

What is it used for? To keep in contact with people To gain access to people in other people’s networks To raise your profile Publicise what you’re working on Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals Join groups and have discussions Post and distribute job listings

So you’ve signed up, what then?

Tell people what you’re working on

Encourage endorsements

Raise your profile in group discussions

Pose questions

So is it worth the time? Ask yourself: What are your customers doing? Will I benefit from addition promotion? Will I benefit from being more easily contactable? Will I benefit from the additional networking? Will it help to raise the profile of my website on search engines?

Do’s and don’ts Do Focus on engagement Invite two-way communication Think strategically Leave snippets of information that invite people to search for more Be consistent across all media Increase your network

Do’s and don’ts Do Monitor comments that you receive Alter what you say in line with feedback Direct people back to your website Don’t Overtly sell Spend hours a day on it – unless you’re getting a return

Finally... With everything you do keep the customer in mind Make sure what you put on LinkedIn and other social media reflects what is on your website and your other communication methods Keep your content relevant and up to date Engage and interact – don’t overtly sell

Thank you