LinkedIn - The Ultimate B2B Connector
At networking events nowadays, you hear a new vocabulary:
“You're LinkedIn? Invite me to your network.”
“Are you connected to So&So’s network? Can I get an intro?"
“Friend me and I'll hook up with you on your wall.”
Social networking has changed the way we communicate to prospects and industry peers. If you're connected and they know your name, they can look you up. And even better, you can look up others.
Having missed the MySpace craze, the first profile I created on a social networking site was LinkedIn just two years ago when a former colleague asked for a recommendation. I didn't respond right away to the newfangled communication, but intrigued, I built my own profile. Since then, I have watched my friend's network increase to almost an incredible 500 connections and mine has grown to a respectible 180 solid business connections.
LinkedIn is best for business networking and is a boon for B2B marketers. Profile information is geared towards jobs, organizations, skills, etc. I always find it helpful and interesting to look at my connections' connections. It's great for stealth business research too. You can always ask to be "introduced" to someone else's connection. I've added my company's Web site and blog on my profile, a way of marketing my company and measuring marketing effectiveness.
It's also amazing to see your own network statistics. Although I have about 180 connections, my second degree connections (my connections' connections) amount to more than 57,000 — and the third degree amounts to over a four million!
Link to me!
I also have a Facebook profile and check it sporadically, unlike like some of my friends, who must check theirs several times a day. I use Facebook's social networking site only to keep in touch with old friends, current friends and new friends — very few business contacts. I tire easily of the "what are you doing" function. Some people update this regularly, often with banal entries like "I have a headache," or "I need to sharpen my pencil." I don't have patience to chronicle those activities, but it cracks me up to read what my pals are up to.
So, do all social networking sites serve the same purpose? Yes and no. I use all these sites to network. But the specific type of networking is different.
If you haven't already, you must create a profile on a social networking site that fits your needs. Increase your contacts, business and keep in touch... all at your fingertips!
Take a look at this video that explains how Linkedin works.
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Martine Hunter
is the creative director of eMedia with the Atlanta advertising agency, MLT Creative, which specializes in B2B marketing. She holds the Inbound Marketing professional certification.
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