LinkedIn Networking That Gets ResultsYour Strategy for Success
Patrice-Anne RutledgeAuthor, Teach Yourself
LinkedIn in 10 Minutes, 3rd Edition
www.patricerutledge.com
LinkedIn 101
Quick Facts about LinkedIn
• LinkedIn is the most popular professional networking site online
• LinkedIn has more than 160 million members in 200 countries
• Two new member join LinkedIn approximately every second
• Everyone from top CEOs to President Barack Obama has a LinkedIn account
What’s Your LinkedIn Connection Strategy?
More the Merrier
BFFs Only
Selective & Strategic
The “More the Merrier” Approach
LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “More the Merrier” Approach
Connect with anyone and everyone: who knows what might
bring results?
The “More the Merrier” Approach
However …
The “More the Merrier” Approach
LinkedIn discourages
“name collecting” networkers and
can penalize you if too many people
you try to connect with say that they
don’t know you
The “More the Merrier” Approach
What’s the value of
connecting with thousands of people who
have no interest in
what you have to offer?
The “BFFs Only” Approach
LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “BFFs Only” Approach
Connect only with people
you know well and would
recommend
The “BFFs Only” Approach
However …
The “BFFs Only” Approach
LinkedIn shouldn’t just be your online rolodex … it
offers so much more than that
The “BFFs Only” Approach
You’re missing the point of
online networking if
you limit yourself to
known contacts
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
People you already know
Your professional peers
Experts in your industry
People in your local area
Potential clients, partners, and employers
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with people you
already know and would
recommend (yes, go ahead
and connect with those
BFFs)
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with your
professional peers (hint: find
them on LinkedIn Groups and start your
networking there)
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with experts in your industry (again,
start the conversation
first, then connect)
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with people in your
local area; they’re often a great source of referrals and
you can network in person as
well
The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Introduce yourself to potential clients,
partners, and employers
How to Connect with People You Don’t Know
LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
How to Connect with People You Don’ t Know
LinkedIn’s etiquette for initiating a
connection with people you don’t know is different from other social
sites such as Twitter and Facebook
How to Connect with People You Don’ t Know
Find common ground (LinkedIn Groups, Answers, etc.)
Ask for an introduction from someone you both know
See if the person you want to connect with is an open networker Explain in your connection request who you are and why you want to connect
Want to Learn More?
Teach Yourself LinkedIn in 10 Minutes,
3rd EditionBy Patrice-Anne Rutledge
http://www.patricerutledge.com/books/linkedin