Welcome Back to Week #2 of 2010:

I sure hope your business is off to a fast start.

I am starting my classes this week on Thursday with a beginner’s class from 5-7pm; http://budurl.com/vssn; and then later in the month for an intermediate class on January 27 also from 5-7pm;http://budurl.com/65ub.  My classes will have a not only a new look and feel but will also have an increased focus on how to use LinkedIn for results that you can see.  Recently someone asked me “What do you have to do to make money on Linkedin?” and in response I have come up with the following list of the “Gotta Do’s” of LinkedIn.

I thought it would be useful for all of you to compare what you are doing on LinkedIn and this list and find some areas you might want to “tighten up” this year and increase the chances for better results.

Before you review that I would really appreciate you taking a few extra moments (no more than 5 minutes, I promise) and complete my 2010 Linkedin User Survey.  If you have already done this thanks a lot.  If not, please do so by clicking this link or pasting into your browser:

http://budurl.com/skqf

“The Top 10 Gotta Do’s of LinkedIn for Business Development Professionals”
In other words…what can I do with this thing to make money?

Important Note: These “Gotta Do’s” are listed in order of the importance of “Gotta Be Doing Them”

1.      Gotta use Advanced Search Function once you have a lead or target
a.      Find out which of your friends knows someone at the target company
b.      Use keywords to search for names and titles
c.      The more first level connections you have, the better this works
d.      Joining groups helps with this, especially “super groups”

2.      Gotta look at profiles of the new people you are going to meet or call
a.      Find out about the person’s history
b.      Find out about the person’s interests
c.      Find out what the person thinks their company does well and how they fit in
d.      Find that “one thing” that can start the conversation besides, “Hey, do you want some furniture?”

3.      Gotta add “trusted connections” consistently
a.      You know 200 to 250 people which will lead to over 1 million people in your network
b.      You now can know who they know and who the people they know know, etc.
c.      Every new first level connection you add will bring you many second and third level potential contacts

4.      Gotta “beef up” your profile
a.      Keywords
b.      Your story of credibility, experience and trust
c.      Do you want to be found or do you want your competitors found
d.      Perform “keyword” search test in advance searching function

5.      Gotta review connections of your first degree network
a.      Who are they calling friends?
b.      Who can they introduce you to?

6.      Gotta look at the company profile
a.      Find out what the “elevator pitch” is for the organization
b.      See certain statistics
c.      See not only who is on LinkedIn but who is “active”

7.      Gotta keep track of what your network is doing and help them
a.      Read status updates religiously; this is what is important to them
b.      Offer help and assistance
c.      Offer to connect them with others in your network

8.      Gotta look up competitors (individuals and companies)
a.      What are they saying about themselves?
b.      Find out who they are recommending and who has recommended them
c.      Find out what groups or associations they are involved with
d.      Look at “Viewers of profile also viewed…”

9.      Gotta join some groups
a.      Helps in searching
b.      Your industry and customer industry groups are important
c.      Alumni, chamber & clubs help you with “I love doing business with people who are in the same groups I am.”
d.      You will be found there
e.      You can be smart there

10.     Gotta spend some “purposeful” time each week on LinkedIn, with a strategy/plan, or don’t waste the time; instead, do some other form of networking

Miscellaneous News and Notes

Here is my upcoming schedule for teaching/speaking so you can share with friends, relatives and business associates.  Follow link for additional details and registration information.

Thurs Jan 14, 2010    Wayne’s LinkedIn Power Formula Training for Beginners
M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
http://budurl.com/vssn

Thurs Jan 21, 2010    Top 10 Reasons Why You Should be on LinkedIn
Society for Marketing Professional Services-WI
8:00-9:30am; Country Springs Hotel
http://www.smpswisconsin.org

Wed Jan 27, 2010      Wayne’s Intermediate LinkedIn Power Formula Training
M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
http://budurl.com/65ub

Thurs Feb 18, 2010    Power Formula for Networking Using Social Media
M&M Office Interiors; 7:30-8:30am
Waukesha Chamber of Commerce
http://www.waukesha.org/calendar.asp?d=2/1/2010

Tues Feb 23, 2010      Top 10 Reasons Why You Should be on LinkedIn
Knights of Columbus, 3200 S. 103rd St.; 1:00-2:30pm
ABLE South
Call UWM School of Continuing Education 414-227-3098

Thurs Feb 25, 2010     Milwaukee JobCamp3
Potawatomi Casino; 9am-6pm

Have a great week attacking those “Gotta Do’s”-

Wayne

Wayne C. Breitbarth
President
M&M Office Interiors, Inc.
W233 N2833 Roundy Circle West Suite 100
Pewaukee, WI  53072

office 262-781-2600
cell 414-313-7785

http://www.mmoffice.com
http://www.Linkedin.com/in/waynebreitbarth
http://twitter.com/WayneBreitbarth