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LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the current big three giants of social networking, overtaking former websites such as MySpace. Of these three websites, the most respected within the business community is LinkedIn, which can be described as ‘the Facebook for business’. So what exactly is Linkedin, and how can online business networking help our organisations and churches?

In the last few years, LinkedIn has been the understated sibling of the social media family. When compared to the popularity of Facebook and Twitter, it hardly burst onto the scene with a big bang. We hear about Facebook and Twitter in the media, but LinkedIn is hardly ever mentioned. It was not particularly a bright shining star on the social media landscape. In fact, mention LinkedIn to a few people, and note the blank looks on their faces.  So why should we bother with LinkedIn; who uses it, and why and how should we use it?

A FEW FIGURES

Accordingly to LinkedIn’s internal figures, the website has over 100 million members across the world, with over 5 million users in the UK. This makes it the largest professional online network in the world. The key word here is ‘professional’. LinkedIn prides itself on being a business-oriented network, so don’t expect to find ‘pokes’ or ‘Farmville’ here! The LinkedIn management team consists of some of the world’s rising social media stars, with previous management experience from companies such as Yahoo, Google and Paypal. LinkedIn is a massive player on the scene, and is set to become even more influential, as more people discover the power that social media brings to business growth and finding new opportunities.

SO WHO USES LINKEDIN?

LinkedIn claims that executives from all the 2010 Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. This is impressive. Over 1 million companies have a LinkedIn company page, and there are over 1.3 million small business owners listed on LinkedIn. These figures are not surprising, as LinkedIn is structured towards the business community. The profile fields on LinkedIn request information such as your job history, education history, skills and specialties.  It does not allow a huge scope for personal/social information.

LINKEDIN CAN BE USED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS

To help with a career move or change

LinkedIn provides an online CV, which can be viewed as members search on various keywords. (I include my LinkedIn profile on my normal CV and also include this as an email signature.) A number of companies list their vacancies on LinkedIn, and vacancies are recommended to you based on your profile content. Job seekers can find out more about potential companies, and you can view the profiles of those who may be your boss or who may be interviewing you. Employers can headhunt and contact potential employees.

To establish your company or professional profile

• LinkedIn profiles frequently rise to the top of Google search results.
• Ask or answer professional questions on LinkedIn, and profile yourself as an expert in the field.
• Join an interest group and take an active part in discussions.
• Small businesses can create company pages for their businesses, and profile their services.

Increase your business network

• You can build your contact list by adding people you have worked with or done business with. You can then view your extended network and connect with these people via mail.
• Another way to increase your network is to join a group and become an active member in that group. Contact people of like minds, and invite them to connect with you.

Top tips

Your professional image is important, so here are a few tips on the most effective way to use the website.

1.    Keep your profile up-to-date and focused on your professional history. Remember, it acts just like an online CV.
2.    Keep your status updates professional. If you wanted to tell the world what you had for breakfast, keep this to Facebook and not LinkedIn. You can now link your ‘Twitter’ account to LinkedIn as well.
3.    Add your connections carefully. (I have over 1000 friends on Facebook, and about 150 connections on LinkedIn.)
4.    Ask for recommendations. LinkedIn recommendations are like references. You can get these from your boss; from people you have done business with, or even from people you have done business for.

LinkedIn is a growing business network of professionals, and I know several success stories of new businesses opportunities acquired via business networking. I recommend it as a place for businesses, and if this article has inspired you to join LinkedIn, then connect with me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenoogbo.

Keno Ogbo runs a web design and internet consultancy business. Phone 07958 00739 or email keno@spiralwebsolutions.com for details.  Follow her at www.twitter.com/spiralwebs.