This is a presentation I did in February of 2008 on how to grow your network on LinkedIn without trying.

1. How to grow your LinkedIn network without really trying… Ryan Graves Staffing Consultant February 2008

3. Why bother with LinkedIn? The average number of LinkedIn connections for people who work at Google is forty-seven. The average number for Harvard Business School grads is fifty-eight, so you could skip the MBA, work at Google, and probably get most of the connections you need. Later, you can hire Harvard MBAs to prepare your income taxes. People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five. All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees. http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html

4. Don’t I have to work hard to grow my network? Who should I network with? I have to send invitations What if people say they don’t know me? What if I send too many invitations?

5. Don’t work hard… work smarter! I log in and have an average of ten invitations every morning waiting to be accepted!

6. Concerns… What about other recruiters using my network? I don’t know these people – couldn’t something bad happen? Hide your connections – no one will know who is in your network. This isn’t a marriage. Connections aren’t until death do you part. (and I’ve never had a bad experience)

7. Let’s get started! Open a browser and make sure you are logged in to LinkedIn. Open another browser (new tab or new window) When we’re done today, you will be setup to grow your network effortlessly!

8. The Basics

9. TopLinked.com is just what it sounds like - links to the TopLinked people on LinkedIn. Sending an invitation and connecting with these people on LinkedIn is a great way to broaden your network. To also become part of TopLinked.com, simply add TopLinked.com to your LinkedIn profile (in the name, headline, or website section), confirm it is spelled properly and has .com on the end, and then click here to join the TopLinked.com group on LinkedIn.

10. LIONS (LinkedIn Open Networkers) www.themetanetwork.com

11. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mylinkedinpowerforum My Linkedin Power Forum is a networking and discussion group about building professional networks at ultimate "networker speed". The operative word is speed, not carelessness. - Meaning, openness, not recklessness.

12. Join the Yahoo! Group Introduce yourself to the group and let them know you are open to networking Join the LinkedIn group (they send you instructions)

13. Other LinkedIn Groups http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/LinkedHR/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LinkedSeattle/

14. You’ve got the network, now what? http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html http://www.linkedin.com/static?key=promo_newyear_2008&trk=160_8Tips_A http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html Search for some more tips and tricks

15. You’ve got the network, now what? Customize your URL Recommendations Make some to get some Become a service provider Increase your visibility LinkedIn Q & A Hide Connections Make your profile public Be at the top of LinkedIn Searches Show you’re an account holder (let them contact you!) Job Postings Rotate 1x a week Share jobs with your network Inmail Potential employees only! Call candidates… at your own risk!

16. Promote your profile Email Signature Blog postings, job postings, etc.

17. Now that you’re popular – setup Outlook…

18. Questions?