Updated May 2012. LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results offers LinkedIn networking tips from business technology author, Patrice-Anne Rutledge.

1. LinkedIn Networking
That Gets Results
Your Strategy for Success
Patrice-Anne Rutledge
Author, Teach Yourself LinkedIn in 10
Minutes, 3rd Edition
www.patricerutledge.com

2. LinkedIn 101
Quick Facts about LinkedIn
• LinkedIn is the most popular professional
networking site online
• LinkedIn has more than 160 million members in
200 countries
• Two new member join LinkedIn approximately
every second
• Everyone from top CEOs to President Barack
Obama has a LinkedIn account

3. What’s Your LinkedIn
Connection Strategy?
More the Merrier
BFFs Only
Selective & Strategic

4. LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “More the Merrier”
Approach

5. The “More the Merrier” Approach
Connect with
anyone and
everyone: who
knows what might
bring results?

6. The “More the Merrier” Approach
However …

7. The “More the Merrier” Approach
LinkedIn discourages
“name collecting”
networkers and can
penalize you if too many
people you try to
connect with say that
they don’t know you

8. The “More the Merrier” Approach
What’s the value of
connecting with
thousands of people
who have no
interest in what you
have to offer?

9. LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “BFFs Only” Approach

10. The “BFFs Only” Approach
Connect only with
people you know
well and would
recommend

11. The “BFFs Only” Approach
However …

12. The “BFFs Only” Approach
LinkedIn shouldn’t
just be your online
rolodex … it offers so
much more than that

13. The “BFFs Only” Approach
You’re missing the
point of online
networking if you
limit yourself to
known contacts

14. LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
The “Selective, Strategic”
Approach

15. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
People you already know
Your professional peers
Experts in your industry
People in your local area
Potential clients, partners, and employers

16. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with people
you already know
and would
recommend (yes, go
ahead and connect
with those BFFs)

17. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with your
professional peers
(hint: find them on
LinkedIn Groups and
start your
networking there)

18. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with experts
in your industry
(again, start the
conversation first,
then connect)

19. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Connect with people
in your local area;
they’re often a great
source of referrals
and you can network
in person as well

20. The “Selective, Strategic” Approach
Introduce yourself to
potential clients,
partners, and
employers

21. LinkedIn Networking That Gets Results
How to Connect with People
You Don’t Know

22. How to Connect with People
You Don’ t Know
LinkedIn’s etiquette
for initiating a
connection with
people you don’t know
is different from other
social sites such as
Twitter and Facebook

23. How to Connect with People
You Don’ t Know
Find common ground (LinkedIn Groups,
Answers, etc.)
Ask for an introduction from someone you
both know
See if the person you want to connect with
is an open networker
Explain in your connection request who you
are and why you want to connect

24. Want to Learn More?
Teach Yourself LinkedIn in
10 Minutes, 3rd Edition
By Patrice-Anne Rutledge
http://www.patricerutledge.com/books/linkedin