LinkedIn for Business Development: The Top 10 Gotta Do's

The Top 10 Gotta Do's of LinkedIn for Business Development Professionals

In other words...what can I do with this thing to make money?

Important Note: These "Gotta Do's" are listed in order of the importance of "Gotta Be Doing Them"

1. Gotta use Advanced Search Function once you have a lead or target

• a. Find out which of your friends knows someone at the target company
• b. Use keywords to search for names and titles
• c. The more first level connections you have, the better this works
• d. Joining groups helps with this, especially "super groups"

2. Gotta look at profiles of the new people you are going to meet or call

• a. Find out about the person's history
• b. Find out about the person's interests
• c. Find out what the person thinks their company does well and how they fit in
• d. Find that "one thing" that can start the conversation besides, "Hey, do you want some furniture?"

3. Gotta add "trusted connections" consistently

• a. You know 200 to 250 people which will lead to over 1 million people in your network
• b. You now can know who they know and who the people they know know, etc.
• c. Every new first level connection you add will bring you many second and third level potential contacts

4. Gotta "beef up" your profile

• a. Keywords
• b. Your story of credibility, experience and trust
• c. Do you want to be found or do you want your competitors found?
• d. Perform "keyword" search test in advance searching function

5. Gotta review connections of your first degree network

• a. Who are they calling friends?
• b. Who can they introduce you to?

6. Gotta look at the company profile

• a. Find out what the "elevator pitch" is for the organization
• b. See certain statistics
• c. See not only who is on LinkedIn but who is "active"

7. Gotta keep track of what your network is doing and help them

• a. Read status updates religiously; this is what is important to them
• b. Offer help and assistance
• c. Offer to connect them with others in your network

8. Gotta look up competitors (individuals and companies)

• a. What are they saying about themselves?
• b. Find out who they are recommending and who has recommended them
• c. Find out what groups or associations they are involved with
• d. Look at "Viewers of profile also viewed..."

9. Gotta join some groups

• a. Helps in searching
• b. Your industry and customer industry groups are important
• c. Alumni, chamber and clubs help you with "I love doing business with people who are in the same groups I am."
• d. You will be found there
• e. You can be smart there

10. Gotta spend some "purposeful" time each week on LinkedIn, with a strategy/plan, or don't waste the time; instead, do some other form of networking. You can watch me present these and other tips on the WISN video blog with Kyle Blades