ETP Conference Call presentation on LinkedIn Questions & Answers

1. LinkedIn Questions & Answers by Thomas E. Kenny www.thomasekenny.com

2. What are LinkedIn Answers? Became available in January 2007. Permits users to ask and answer questions to their network. Has fostered an interactive community that keeps users coming back to participate on the site. There are 21 diverse categories each with its own set of subcategories. Similar to blogging.

3. Why Use LinkedIn Q&A? Establish and maintain your personal brand by being a subject matter expert. Add value to the LinkedIn community. Share (give and receive) free advise regarding questions with a diverse professional network. Meet other professionals with the same interests and experiences. Discover potential networking contacts.

4. Answer Questions First Answering questions before asking questions permit you to get to know common practices and protocol. Search for and review answers in categories that you wish to learn more about. Determine how often (once a week?) you’ll search for questions in a category that you can provide valuable answers to.

5. You can select up to 200 of your 1 st degree connections to email your question to. Carefully select who you send email to so you don’t spam those not interested in LinkedIn Q&A. Free members can ask 10 questions/month and 25 for Premium members. Each question is open to answers for 7 days. Asking Questions

6. Best Practices Answering Questions Demonstrate you are a SME without explicitly selling, marketing or self promotion. Give the reader a compelling reason to view your profile! Asking Questions Ask a simple single concise question. Ask questions that will be of value to others. Be aware that explicit selling, marketing and self promotion will be flagged by peer monitoring. Don’t use signature tag lines. You can clarify your question by appending text.

7. Best Practices Asking Questions (continued) If answers become off topic you can close your question earlier. At the close of your question select the “best answer” as that adds to that person’s credibility on LinkedIn. Personally thank each person that provided valuable answers. Asking at least one question a month is a good way to keep your personal brand active.

8. Other Resources Jason Alba’s book “ I’m on LinkedIn – Now What??? ” ETP Network - Own Your Career www.etpnetwork.com My LinkedIn FAQ – www.thomasekenny.com/LinkedIn-FAQ.html