Three Tips to Help You Get the Most From LinkedIn - Randy Schrum

Dear Colleagues,

LinkedIn is the most powerful networking tool that professionals have. Unlike Facebook, LinkedIn is focused on business which means that there is very little fluff to filter through to get to the important facts. Knowing how to use LinkedIn effectively can help you find clients, network with peers and gain authority as a leader in your field.


Here are three simple yet highly effective tips to help you get more from LinkedIn in less time.


1. Save your favorite searches and set up email alerts. A standard, free LinkedIn account allows users to save up to three searches (premium account holders can save up to 10 per day depending on the level of account purchased). To save a search, click on the “save” button on the right side of the nav bar above your search results then choose if you’d like to be alerted via email weekly, monthly or never with new results (some premium accounts offer the option of being alerted daily).

You can access your saved searches at any time by clicking on the “advanced” search option and then choosing “saved searches”. Saving searches can save you time and make the process of finding new opportunities or contacts much less of a hassle.

2. Make smart use of Signal (visit linkedin.com/signal) to keep up with updates. The Signal feature of LinkedIn is a quick and easy way to find out the latest updates from those in your circle. You can use the filter function on the left side of the screen to extend these updates to include not only your contacts but also their 1st and 2nd connections as well or the entire LinkedIn network.

To keep things from being unwieldy, you can filter Signal to only include updates by those in certain industries, groups, topics, locations and other qualifiers. You can also run searches within your filtered results to find only updates dealing with a particular topic or keyword. Signal is a quick and easy way to keep abreast of what is going on in your niche as well as staying current on what your peers and contacts are talking about and working on. Viewing update’s from your contact’s circles is a great way to make new connections and extend your circle by adding those whose updates closely align with your interests.

3. Participate in groups. LinkedIn groups are an excellent way to meet others in your niche, get expert advice and share your own knowledge and experience. You can search groups or browse the directory to find ones that seem like a good fit for your field, expertise and location.

Once you join a group, you’ll be able to follow conversations, comment on posts and questions and ask your own questions. Being an active participant in groups can help get your name out there and establish you as a go-to person in your field.

Don’t feel like you can’t participate in groups if you are not an expert. Asking intelligent questions and asking for clarification in a respectful way that shows that you are knowledgeable and insightful can be an equally effective way of getting attention. The important thing to remember is to participate in the group in a way that adds value and not in a way that seems showy, needy or highlights a lack of basic competence.

Consider starting a group if there are none that meets your needs. For example you might start a local group for your industry or a group for a particular niche in your field. Invite others to join so that you can reap the full benefits of being in a group.


so what are you doing to get the most out of LinkedIn?

All the best,