LinkedIn has the capacity to be a powerful networking tool as it connects users to trusted contacts and helps them exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. LinkedIn shows the connections between people, but it’s real power is in the 2nd degree – who your network knows.

Today I’m just as likely to run a LinkedIn search as I am a google search for someone I’m about to meet or do business with. It’s a great way to find out how they perceive themselves.

In the last few weeks I’ve met a lot of people who have been curious about LinkedIn, but uncertain in how to use it effectively to build a network. My top tips are:

1. Sign up for an account at www.linkedin.com – click on the Join Now tab at the top of the screen. On the next screen you will need to fill in your first and last names, email and select a password. LinkedIn is for individual use so use YOUR name, not a pseudonym or company name
2. Follow the guidelines and complete each of the sections of LinkedIn. Make sure you use a professional photo. Of you. Not your kids, not you with a drink in your hand, not with your pet {unless of course you are a vet}. LinkedIn represents your professional image so make sure your photo reflects that.
3. Make sure you provide details {not just job titles} about the various jobs you have had – at least for the last 10 years. Talk about key outcomes you have achieved. Be succinct.
4. You can add up to 3 websites and 3 twitter accounts. Examples of what you might include are your company website, your personal blog, a link to a specific landing page for people who click through from LinkedIn.
5. Once you are happy with your profile it’s time to start connecting. The easiest way is to upload your address book from Outlook, Google, iCal etc which matches by email address who you know with who is already on LinkedIn – you can then choose who you want to connect with. You can also invite people who are not already on LinkedIn to join.
   QUICK TIP – don’t just use the default invitation LinkedIn offers. If you want to connect with someone who may not know who you are {and don’t assume they will remember you if you met them at a networking event 8 months ago…} tell them why – such as you met at such and such a place, you talk on twitter, you have loads of shared connections, you like their profile etc etc…. Give them a reason to connect.
6. Join groups. LinkedIn allows you to join up to 50 groups. The benefits of groups are many – I like them to ask questions, find out out what other people are up to, and to help others with answering their questions. Answering others questions on LinkedIn can be a great way to position yourself as an expert on a topic.
7. Look to see who your contacts know. And if they know people YOU want to know, ask for an introduction. For me, this is the most powerful aspect of LinkedIn as it really allows you to see who your contacts know. Asking for introductions, recommendations and referrals of other people’s contacts is a GREAT way to build a network in a way that is more likely to instil or generate trust.
8. Give recommendations and referrals. I try and regularly give recommendations to people I’m connected with on LinkedIn {and yes, I can certainly do more!}. While I am happy to connect with most people on LinkedIn, I’m very selective about who I give recommendations to, and I only give them to people whose work I have personally experienced. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for someone to give you a recommendation – the worst that can happen is that they will say no! AND say thank you when you do get one!
9. Use the status update. Just like Facebook, LinkedIn has a status update. But please, whatever you do, don’t link your twitter stream to your LinkedIn status update. TRUST ME no one wants to read all your tweets on LinkedIn. Yes,  you can selectively post the OCCASIONAL tweet, but twitter and LinkedIn have very different purposes so pretty please, keep them separate.
10. Check for other people’s status updates on your home page at least once a week – this is a great way of finding out what your network is doing. Are they changing jobs, getting promotions, have more of your contacts joined twitter?

I’d love to hear how you use LinkedIn to build your network. And if you’re not LinkedIn, please sign up! And invite me to connect with you - http://au.linkedin.com/in/melkettle – just make sure you tell me why you want to connect!!