Tips for using LinkedIn

Today’s guest blog post comes courtesy of Gareth Edwards of Arrowsmith Marketing, and is all about how to effectively use LinkedIn.

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“People often ask me for some tips on using the social networking LinkedIn more effectively to keep in touch with contacts and help drum up business. Here’s my advice.

• Make sure that your profile is up to date.  Add in all educational establishments and places of employment.  It helps old colleagues find you.  Focus on your summary and specialities to highlight what you have done for people and what you are good at.
• Change your “professional headline” so that it reflects what you do (to help clients) not just your job title.

Mine went from “Director Arrowsmith Marketing” to “Online marketing advisor. Helping businesses tell compelling stories about what they do to the people that matter”.

It might be a bit long but it does stand out.

• Use the “network activity” field to tell people what you are up to and what you know.  All of your followers have the opportunity to see it and they get update emails too.  If you say something of interest they will comment or call.
• Link it to your Twitter account if you have one.  That way you get the opportunity to talk to more people and save a bit of time doing it.
• Use the “Add Connections” option (Contacts>Add Connections) to let LinkedIn automatically find people you might already know on the service by checking your email address book.
• When you meet people at networking events, check to see if they are on LinkedIn afterwards and if so, connect with them.
• Display a LinkedIn icon and/or text link in your email signatures and on your website so that people can keep in touch with what you are up to.
• Join Groups on LinkedIn and participate in discussions and answer questions.  That way you get your name about more and get access to more potential contacts.

There are loads of groups like “Black Country Business Group and Forum”, “Federation of Small Businesses” and “Finance and Accountancy Professionals UK”

• Be proactive.  You can search for people, companies and groups quite easily.  It is possible to find potential customers on LinkedIn – though you may have to pay the premium services to get in touch if you aren’t connected by friends or friends of friends.

I Hope that helps!

If anybody has any specific queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via e-mail, or connect to me on LinkedIn, and I’ll do my best to help!”

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Thanks Gareth! I’ve just updated my own LinkedIn page based on Gareth’s tips. Are we connected on LinkedIn? If not, why not reach out and do so!