No matter how you look at LinkedIn, or whether you like LinkedIn or not, it is by far the powerhouse of online Business Networking.  What makes LinkedIn a stand out in business networking is in the way it displays online its members professional information . 

Critics sight LinkedIn as being too stuffy or for only the less creative people of business.  Most of the negative opinions of LinkedIn generally have to deal with its great potential to Spammers.

However, like most of the other social spaces, adjustments can be made in how communications within LinkedIn can be made and LinkedIn does deal with Spammers very severally.  How LinkedIn is perceived by most people is usually based on huge misunderstandings of what LinkedIn does…or not do.

What Makes LinkedIn Rock

Studies have been continually showing LinkedIn is producing business leads to over 80% of its membership.  This is why most people stay glued to their LinkedIn accounts.  The positive visibility LinkedIn offers to the online world comes from the detail profile that can be displayed and the value of that information is in it can be updated frequently.

The LinkedIn Groups are also very powerful places to connect with others of similar interests professional as well as socially.  Participating in constructive discussions is the best way to draw attention to the person’s profile.

What Causes Problems

What happens too many times on LinkedIn that causes so much heartache amongst the online community is when one of the misguided individuals from the fringes of La-La-Land enter LinkedIn to use deceptive, unscrupulous promotions and overly aggressive marketing campaigns in their communications to other members. 

In a number of conversations I have had over the years, with these people who feel placing unsolicited promotional material in a LinkedIn Group Discussion is the price the members of the group have to pay for being in the group, I have found these people do not really care about their negative professional image nor the fact they are violating a number of the terms of agreement of LinkedIn’s as well as a few Federal laws.  They are online to play the number’s game that the internet has become woefully known.

In chatting online with a few of the LinkedIn monitors I find it rather refreshing to know they not only take reports seriously from members of someone placing Spam around the site they also take action legally on those who have set up house on LinkedIn on a large scale and purposefully use the LI email or Groups Discussion as their toilet.

How to Use LinkedIn Successfully

For those who take their profession or position in business seriously, LinkedIn is really the best place to be.  Here is a list of things to do to insure your experience on LinkedIn is productive:

• Post a clear Headshot Photo of self
• Detailed and thought out description of professional and social interests.
• Join Groups that are of relevant interest and make sure to be responsive to the community in a positive way
• Reach out to connect with those you know first and then to those you have built a relationship with in the Groups.
• Be patient, do not expect quick returns on time spent.  Most of the business people on LI scope out a person’s social manors before approaching for business.
• Make sure to list personal blog sites as well as business web-sites in the profile
• Post status updates at least three times a week showing your humor, intelligence and business interests.

Following are things that are not productive on LinkedIn and will eventually tarnish any professional image:

• Posting a Company Logo, cartoon character, celebrity photo..etc. in place of a photo of self
• Do not link updates to LI from Twitter!  Link LI updates to Twitter. Twitter posts on LI are not look upon seriously
• Posting on links to promotional material
• Not completing the profile information
• Joining all the groups possible for promotional purposes only
• Making a game out of how many people can be connected with.
• Send promotional information in mass emails to your connections.
• Setting up Discussion Group to use only to promote to the members.
• Aggressively challenge other members of LinkedIn

Yes, most of this information is just common sense but what seems to be happening is people leave common sense out of their business decisions.

LinkedIn is a very powerful resource and can be very, very productive to generating leads to profitable business…but only if you understand how to use LinkedIn.  If you have not learned by now..you don’t yank on the chain of a 900lb Gorilla and not think it will not do anything.

If you need help understanding LinkedIn or any of the online or offline business or social spaces, let me know how I can help.