Using LinkedIn & Other Social Networks

Kendra Ramirez, of Sales Konnect, gave an excellent presentation this morning at The Circuit on using LinkedIn and other social networks to promote your business.

According to Ramirez, if you are using properly using LinkedIn and other social networks then you shouldn't have to do cold calling (she called it "dialin' and smilin").

Now, more than ever, is the time to change.

There are over 200 million people are participating in social networking. If you are not participating, you are missing out on major opportunities.

Ramirez encouraged her audience to use the free version of LinkedIn and not to pay for additional levels of service. I would suspect most of us aren't even using all of the free tools available, so why upgrade?

Some tips from Ramirez:

• Take time to update your LinkedIn profile and participate.
• Do it every day. Make it a habit.
• Add prospects and clients to LinkedIn.
• Check out prospects in LinkedIn before you visit them. Do you share some common connections?
• Instead of a sales call, use a warm connection. You both might know the same person.
• Your LinkedIn profile is not your resume. It's your sales card.
• Update your Status bar in Linked.
• Use your name in your Public Profile. Put it on your business card (and on your website).

Some LinkedIn users would like more connections (especially with clients), but don't want other connections to see their clients. However, Ramirez says to "hide" your connects instead of leaving them open. Only the connections you both share will be viewable.

In regards to other social networking opportunities, Ramirez noted LinkedIn has 27 million participants. Facebook has 100 million.

"Facebook is not for kids," she says.

Plaxo, another social network, is growing and has approximately 27 million members. The online service used to be a contact manager, but has now evolved into a social networking site.

In addition, Ramirez mentioned Ning, Twitter and Ping.

Join me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/purpletrout

Comments

[Debba Haupert]

Steve - thanks for the overview of Kendra's presentation. Great info!

Take care - Debba
www.girlfriendology.com

[Betty Hakes]

Steve, thanks for this synopsis.

This is good information that I forwarded on to some colleagues. The main question I receive about social networking is - Why would I do this. Here's what I shared with my colleagues:

Basically, the purpose of the social networking sites are:
- develop relationships with people with the same interests
- keep up with family & friends quickly -- on your own time
- promote your current project

We both know there's more,but this is a good start.

Thank you to to Kendra for this information and stats.

-Betty