Hello, All:

 

Thanks so much to all of you who took the time to complete the 2010 LinkedIn User Survey.  Doing this type of research is really helpful to me as I continue to conduct LinkedIn training classes and other social media classes as well as communicate with you and the other 2400 people each weekend through these LinkedIn Tips & Helps.  Lots of people have been wondering just how it turned out, how they stacked up against the results, and what could we all learn so we can be more effective. To that end, I will be summarizing some of the results over the next two weeks as well as offering “My Two Cents.” 

 

  1. How long have you been on LinkedIn? 

 

  1.  
    1. 0-2 months           2%
    2. 2-4 months           3%
    3. 4-6 months           9%
    4. 6 months – 1yr     40%
    5. 1 yr – 2 years       29%
    6. 2-4 years             12%
    7. 4+ years               5%

 

My Two Cents – What this tells me is that most of you have not been on very long (only 17% have been on for more than 2 years); so you don’t have to worry that it’s too late to really get on board and get this tool working for you.  Most of us are still in the early stages of learning just what LinkedIn can do for us.

  1. How many 1st level connections do you have on LinkedIn?

 

  1.  
    1.    0-50               19%
    2.  51-100              24%
    3. 101-200             32%
    4. 201-300             13%
    5. 301-499               8%
    6. 500+                   3%

 

My Two Cents – Most networking books say that most experienced businesspeople have 200-250 people in their personal networks; so I always teach that you have to be working toward getting all those people into your LinkedIn network so that you are able to “tap into” the second and third level connections for as many people as possible.  Chances are a 1st level network of 200-250 is going to result in a complete three-degree network of over 1.5 million people who are in your reach. 

As you would expect, people’s networks are getting larger.  When I did this survey in summer of 2009, only 33% had more than 100 connections.  Now that number is 56%. This may be a good time for you to possibly “Import Contacts” into your LinkedIn account again and see if you can find some additional connections.  Also, be sure you are using the Outlook toolbar so you are always on the search.

  1. On average, how many hours per week would you say you are spending on LinkedIn?

 

  1.  
    1. 0-2        48%
    2. 2-4        30%
    3. 4-6        14%
    4. 6-8          3%
    5. 8+          5%

 

My Two Cents – These numbers are getting bigger.  In the summer of 2009, 61% spent 0-2 hours, and only 13% spent more than 4 hours per week.  I have mixed reactions to this increase in time because I sure don’t want all of us spending lots of time on a computer with something like LinkedIn and taking time away from the things in life that are more important, and we all know what those things are.  But if this tool is helping us replace another form of networking and following up with people and opening more networking doors and thus is starting to show a positive return, maybe we will be able to have a few more long weekends and longer vacations.  Life is about balance, isn’t it.  This is just one of those things that we have to make sure we keep in check.  I try to spend a good chunk of my LinkedIn time while watching (?) TV, justifying it as multitasking.  Only you will know if you are getting the return on your time, but one thing I am pretty sure of is that the 21% of the people who spend more than 4 hours a week probably wouldn’t be spending that much time if it wasn’t something that was paying off.  Remember – most of us did not grow up with Facebook; so we don’t naturally think it’s fun! 

If you are a job-seeker, you should be in that group of at least 6 hours a week.  This tool should be your best friend. 

Next week I will conclude this special edition when I share with you the most important LinkedIn features, what other social media tools people are using for business, and what areas you all said you need additional help with.

Wildcard Tip or Question

LinkedIn has changed a bunch of things lately as you probably have already figured out.  Some of the changes are driving me crazy, but some I just think are the coolest.  One of those is that you now have the ability to rearrange everything on your profile that appears below the “top box” (blue box on the top).  What this means is you can decide to move things up if you want them to have a better likelihood of being viewed.  Typically, the higher you list something, the greater chance of someone looking at it.  I don’t think you should put anything higher than your Summary & Specialties since this is your “cover letter,” and you should be really using this to deliver your marketing speech or “credibility essentials” right away.

A couple of things I like it for is allowing students to move their Education above their Experience, which may not be extensive at this point in their careers, or for business professionals to move up the Applications, which can include hard-hitting, credibility-grabbing SlideShows, pdfs or videos.  I will have more for you on this neat enhancement as I start to work with it and talk to others in the marketplace.  Nice touch, LinkedIn.  Thanks!

You can check out a short tutorial on this at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG6nJ_SVgjo

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.

Tues Feb 9, 2010      Caffeine & Connections (Free Coffee and LinkedIn Help)

                                 Gravity Marketing; 6:00am-8:30am

                                   http://budurl.com/gf79
Wed Feb 10, 2010    Wayne’s LinkedIn Power Formula Training for Beginners
                                  M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
                                  http://budurl.com/wqqf

Thurs Feb 18, 2010    Power Formula for Networking Using Social Media
                                   M&M Office Interiors; 7:30am-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.; 1:00pm-2:30pm
                                    ABLE South
                                    Call UWM School of Continuing Education 414-227-3098

Thurs Feb 25, 2010    Top 10 “Gotta Do’s” on LinkedIn for Business Development

                                    Jobcamp3; Noon-1:00pm session
                                    Potawatomi Casino; 9am-6pm

                                  http://www.milwaukeejobcamp.org/

Wed Mar 10, 2010    Marketing Yourself Through Social Media

                                  NARI Remodeler & Supplier Expo 10:45am-12:15pm

                                  Majestic Theater

                                  http://www.milwaukeenari.org/conference-schedule.php

Thurs Mar 18, 2010     Wayne’s Intermediate LinkedIn Power Formula Training
                                    M&M Office Interiors; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
                                    http://budurl.com/5fdy

Have a great week.

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