Do you want to see your LinkedIn efforts start paying off, week after week, on a consistent basis?
Of course, you do. Then start by scheduling an appointment with your LinkedIn account each Monday morning and get these important things done in just 20 minutes.
1. Review “Who’s Viewed Your Profile” and reach out to the people you should be meeting (4 minutes).
Viewing your profile is the equivalent of walking into your store, so be sure to reach out and ask the person how you might be able to help him/her.
2. Send invitations to join your LinkedIn network, using a 5-star invitation, to people you met (in person or on the phone) during the previous work week (4 minutes).
Making this part of your networking process will help you in so many different ways on LinkedIn. To get the inside scoop on adding gas (connections) to your LinkedIn tank, be sure to read “The LinkedIn Connections Conundrum: Who Should be in Your Network.” Improving your search ranking on LinkedIn is all about connections, especially the right ones, and people you have already met are spot on.
3. Check out and get involved in group discussions in your most productive group(s) (3 minutes).
Yes, many groups are somewhat “spammy,” but when you find one that has the right folks who are talking about the right things and they’re just waiting for you to weigh in, don’t miss your chance.
4. Investigate people who show up in your saved search results (6 minutes).
Once you have LinkedIn delivering your well-defined target list each week, it’s your job to figure out, based on the information you can gather from their profiles, what might be the most appropriate next step. This might even set you up for some of the most productive traditional meetings and phone calls of your week.
5. Post a great thought-provoking educational status update (3 minutes).
Simply put, this is the best marketing feature on LinkedIn. After all, you’ll be communicating with your handpicked audience (your connections), and if you don’t talk to them, your competitors will be happy to share helpful information with them (many of whom are your customers and potential customers). Follow the 6/3/1 rule to play this part of the LinkedIn game correctly.
For more suggestions on how to manage your LinkedIn account on a daily, weekly, monthly, and periodic basis, read “LinkedIn Time Management 101.”