LinkedIn is different than, and maybe should not even be grouped together with, other social media tools. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for social media tools. But LinkedIn is very focused on business. And more importantly, using it regularly it is not time consuming.
Here is how I use LinkedIn.
Whenever I have a meeting, with someone that I don’t know yet, I try to prepare. This means a quick Google search, and I look for that person on LinkedIn. With the Google search, I don’t really know what to expect. LinkedIn however, provides me with 2 key pieces of information (assuming the relevant person is on LinkedIn)
It provides background business information about the person – I believe that it’s good manners to come prepared to a meeting.
I can see if we have shared contacts and who they are – living and working in Israel, the 6 degrees of separation are probably closer to 2.5. This means that there is a good chance of finding a mutual acquaintance. This gives me the chance to find out more about the person directly from mutual acquaintances. It also gives me the opportunity to start the meeting on a much more personal note and hopefully improve my chances of success.
I also use LinkedIn as a business development tool. If I’m trying to open a new business direction, LinkedIn can quickly provide me with direct contacts and 2nd degree ones. Armed with this information I can open the door while avoiding the much-hated cold call.
The great thing about LinkedIn is that it requires very limited maintenance.
Enter your personal information
And remember to add new contact that you meet.
Do you have any other tips?
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Other tips?
“It [LinkedIn] also gives me the opportunity to start the meeting on a much more personal note and hopefully improve my chances of success.”
I find that talking about whatever subject I just heard on the BBC while driving to the meeting, will work wonders.
And before I leave the meeting, I’ll usually have left behind 2-3 bizdev ideas. I sometimes take the liberty of shifting a company’s entire marketing strategy if this is what needs doing.
And last but not least, I sometimes tell them to save their money and not to use my services if, in fact, the timing isn’t right. (Being honest helps me sleep better at night…)