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LinkedIn – a valuable tool for networking










LinkedIn – a valuable tool for networking

Setting up an effective LinkedIn profile

The process of "working" your network of contacts has improved significantly with the advent of social and professional networking sites like LinkedIn. LinkedIn is probably the best online networking tool for professionals in the broadcast and digital media space.
If you don't have a profile then you must create one! - If you do have one, then be sure that you're using it effectively.
LinkedIn strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts. It's a free networking tool that helps you discover new connections inside your network. Last month it was used by 697000 users, which is one of the top 10 most used job search tools.
Below are some recommendations on how you should set up and use your Linkedin profile effectively.


Creating your LinkedIn profile

  1. Register as a user and invest an hour or so to create a good profile of yourself. Think of it as your best online cv and marketing document. In essence you'll be copying and pasting a lot of your Word cv across into the Linkedin wizard and profile.
  2. Here is a link to the home page which will explain better what the benefits are http://www.linkedin.com/static?key=what_is_linkedin
  3. Write a crisp, concise and compelling introductory profile. Everyone that views your profile will see this text. Outline your last role and one or two succinct key achievements. Also make sure to outline the type of opportunities you're interested in
  4. Be sure to include your contact details so people can easily approach you.
  5. Add a good photograph
  6. Take the time to complete your previous roles, with good concise text and accurate dates
  7. Ask your referees to create a short testimonial for you. This helps better sell your experience and credibility and also brings you higher up in the LinkedIn search rankings.
  8. There's a free text "status" section. You should use it to flag up what you're looking for. Each time you adjust your status text , it's seen by all of the people in your network, when they open their homepage
  9. Like your cv, have your profile read by a good proof reader who'll spot any spelling or grammar mistakes
  10. Once you're happy with your profile, embed a link to it from your main email template. This means that colleagues, recruiters or employers can easily view your online marketing document. There's a feature that will re-name the linking address to your profile, so it could read something like "johnsmithsprofile"


Building your network of contacts

Now that you have a profile that you're proud of, you can set about creating all the connections with your trusted contacts.

  1. With your cv and a cup of coffee, sit back and make a list of trusted friends and contacts:
    a. From current and past employers
    b. Your current and past bosses
    c. Your current and past colleagues
    d. Relevant friends
    e. Key contacts from current and past suppliers
    f. Good trainers and recruiters you've worked with in the past
  2. LinkedIn has a clever "add connections" feature that will scan your Outlook folders for contacts that you've had regular communication with. You can set it to retrieve only contacts that you've emailed say 3, 4 or 10 times. It's good at picking up people you would want in your network, but may have forgotten. It also automatically flags up those people who already have LinkedIn profiles.
  3. 3. Select the contacts you want as part of your network, (remember to keep it to trusted contacts!) then use the tool to send out an automatic invitation to connect to you. There's a free text section that allows you to personalise your invitation - you should do this - you want your invitation to be short, warm and friendly. As you create this list, there's a good chance you'll see people that you haven't spoken to in a long time. Pick the phone up, say hello, ask if they could keep an eye open for you, and ask if they'd accept your LinkedIn invitation.
  4. 4. Join a relevant group or two on LinkedIn. Linkedin members have created a whole series of professional groups. Take time to review the user groups that could be most relevant to you, and then join one or two: for example there are groups for Broadcast Engineering, Digital Asset Management, Technology Directors, in fact for just about anything you can think of. You can see how many members each user group has and where they are based (try and select the groups with a high UK membership) . Once you've joined you'll be part of a discussion group that you can dip in and out of - but you never know where new avenues of opportunity could come from!

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