Tools For State and Local Associations Social Networking: LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. It connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. What is LinkedIn?

NAIFA members and prospects are already networking through LinkedIn! LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. It connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.

If you’ve never used LinkedIn before, this presentation will show you how to get started. Also, we’ll give you basic guidelines and suggestions on how to use LinkedIn to connect with members and prospects. You wouldn’t do business without a business card. Don’t keep doing business without a LinkedIn Profile.

LinkedIn is a network of: People Groups of People Organizations LinkedIn uses the term “Companies” for all entities which are not people.

Step 1: People Create a Profile Go to Start with your name, address and password.

Step 1: People Your profile requires: Country, Zip, Company and Title.

Step 1: People Your contacts are private. So feel free to skip the next step of the LinkedIn process. Later, you’ll seek out the people you know to connect with them directly.

Step 1: People LinkedIn will you a profile confirmation. Click the link in your to confirm you are the owner of your account.

Step 1: People This is your profile page. You can make it as personal as you wish. The more you share, the better. Remember, LinkedIn is a professional network, so anything pertaining to your work is relevant. It’s a great idea to start with a picture.

Step 2: Company Create a Company profile for your organization. Click “Companies” in the menu bar above your profile.

Step 2: Company Click “Add a Company” from the Company Home page.

Step 2: Company Add company name and your address. For example: NAIFA-State = NAIFA-Colorado NAIFA-Local = NAIFA-Boulder Valley

Step 2: Company “You can add a new Company Page or edit the existing Company Page only if you meet all of the following requirements: You're a current company employee and your position is on your profile.profile A company address (e.g. is one of the confirmed addresses on your LinkedIn account. addresses You associate your profile with the right company. You must click on a name from our company name dropdown list when you edit or add a position on your profile.associate your profile with the right company Your company's domain is unique to the company.” LinkedIn’s Requirements for Creating a Company Page

Step 2: Company If you have trouble creating a company page, contact LinkedIn as instructed and move on to Create a Group.contact LinkedIn’s Requirements for Creating a Company Page

Step 3: Groups Create a Group The Groups feature is a great way to demonstrate thought leadership around a specific area – and to gain insight into current and potential members.

Step 3: Groups Complete your group profile

Step 3: Groups Upload the NAIFA logo Fill in Group Name:“NAIFA-State” or “NAIFA-Local” For example: NAIFA-Colorado or NAIFA Boulder Valley Group Type: Professional Summary: Professional networking group for NAIFA-STATE (or NAIFA-LOCAL) members. Description: Vision Statement The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors protects and promotes the critical role of insurance in a sound financial plan and the essential role provided by our professional agents and advisors. Mission Statement The mission of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of our members. Complete your group profile

Step 3: Groups Web Site: Your Web address or Owner Your address Access: Request to join Display this group in the Groups Directory Allow members to display the logo on their profiles Allow member to invite others to join this group Location: Add your zip code Twitter: If you use Twitter, you can add your account here Click “Create a Members-Only Group” Anyone asking to join the group who isn’t already a NAIFA member should become a member prospect. Complete your group profile

You NAIFA- State/Local NAIFA State/Local You now have the accounts set up to manage NAIFA’s State or Local presence on LinkedIn.

Your Profile “Connect” with members, prospective members and any other professional contacts. Users will refer to your profile to learn who you are and what you do for a living. Your Company Profile Users searching for industry information or NAIFA information may find your company profile and reference it for contact information. Your Group The group is the key to networking on LinkedIn. Groups are where people share news, discuss hot topics and look for advice. They are conversation destinations.

DO 1.Start Conversations in your Group and encourage conversation or debate. Be topical. Respond to comments from others, and stay in context. 2.Make your profile as complete as possible. 3.Search for people you know and ‘connect’ with them. 4.Lead. Members and future members naturally will look to you as a NAIFA representative, an expert on the association and as a source for industry news. 5.Pause before posting. If what you’re about to write makes you uncomfortable, don’t. 6.Use your account for work. When you meet someone new, follow up with them by finding them on LinkedIn instead of . 7.Look for daily “Network Updates” when you log in. News about your contacts will appear there. 8.Join other groups and participate. What now?

DO NOT 1.Be shy. Act as you would at a networking event, not a wedding. 2.Spam. If you only post discussions and comments when promoting something, the audience will tune you out. 3.Write to provoke or inflame. 4.React, or overreact. You do not need to respond to every criticism or barb. 5.Post emotionally. Social networking is a form of self-publishing. 6.What you publish is yours, and your responsibility. 7.Denigrate competitors or political adversaries of NAIFA positions. What now?

Other Sources: LinkedIn’s “Group Management” Tutorial The LinkedIn Blog Etiquette for LinkedIn (Penelope Trunk Blog) Etiquette for LinkedIn (Penelope Trunk Blog) (This is just one of many blogs with free advice on using Social Media. We encourage you to discover more.) Social Media: Wikipedia Glossary: 101 Social Media Terms Explained (HubSpot Blog) NAIFA Association Executives LinkedIn Group NAIFA Blog Advisor Today Blog NAIFA National LinkedIn Group NAIFA National on Facebook

Tools For State and Local Associations Social Networking: LinkedIn