LinkedIn is a professional networking site with over 41 million members globally that can be leveraged for business purposes. The primary uses of LinkedIn include reconnecting with lost contacts by searching for them, gaining introductions by finding mutual connections, and potentially gaining visibility and providing value if one's target market is active on LinkedIn. To avoid wasting time, users should focus on building meaningful connections and relationships rather than just accumulating contacts, and get clear on their objectives for using LinkedIn.

1. Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Ann Latham Uncommon Clarity, Inc.

2. LinkedIn – The Place To Be? 41 million members in over 200 countries and territories A new member every second or so, half from outside the U.S. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are members But – most are not active!

3. Furthermore

4. Agenda What is LinkedIn? What good is LinkedIn and how do you use it? How can you avoid wasting time?

5. What Is LinkedIn? #1 business oriented networking tool Online résumé with connections You create a human web

6. What Is LinkedIn? Me 196 connections 16,000 + connections 1,395,100 + connections With 2093 added in past 2 days 1 st 2 nd 3 rd

7. What Good Is LinkedIn? Reconnect with lost contacts Gain introduction to someone you want to meet Gain visibility Provide value and demonstrate your expertise

8. #1 Use: Reconnect with Lost Contacts

9. How Do You Reconnect? Create an account Create a profile (résumé) Join relevant groups Let LinkedIn suggest connections Peruse your connection’s connections Search for old contacts

10. Create an Account at linkedin.com /

11. Create a Profile Include employers and alma maters Add picture, website and description

12. Join Relevant Groups

13. Consider LinkedIn’s Suggestions Invite people you know to join your network

14. Consider LinkedIn’s Suggestions Let LinkedIn find more contacts

15. Peruse Your Connection’s Connections

16. Search for Old Contacts

17. #2 Use: Gain Intro to Someone You Want to Meet Me 196 16,000 + 1,395,100 + 1 st 2 nd 3 rd

18. How Do You Gain An Intro? See who is connected to the person you want to meet

19. How Do You Gain An Intro? See who is connected to the person you want to meet

20. What Good Is LinkedIn? Most can benefit from these: Reconnecting with lost contacts Gaining intro to someone you want to meet Fewer can benefit from these: Gaining visibility Providing value and demonstrating expertise

21. Why Can Fewer Benefit From These? Why can fewer benefit from these? Gain visibility Provide value and demonstrate your expertise These require that your target market is active on LinkedIn.

22. How Can You Gain Visibility? Home page and email updates show activity

23. How Can You Provide Value? Post and answer questions Post news and events

24. How Can You Avoid Wasting Time? Concentrate on reconnecting and making new connections with business purpose Build relationships – online and off – lots of connections is not the goal! If your market is active on LinkedIn, pursue visibility and provide value

25. How Can You Avoid Wasting Time? Get clear about your objectives Decide best approach Stick with your plan Explore and experiment on “play-time”

26. Summary Questions? Favorite tips? Success stories?

27. Conclusion Just another tool No harm in being accessible (profile) Flesh out a plan and stick with it Keep play-time separate

28. Contact Info for Ann Latham Website: http://www.uncommonclarity.com Blog: http://clearthoughts.com LinkedIn: Ann Latham Twitter: AnnLatham [email_address] 413-527-3737