So, you’ve checked out LinkedIn and you think, “I need to be on this”.

The first thing you need to do is complete your profile.  This is a professional profile with a comprehensive background on yourself.  The information includes: where you work now; your work history; your education history; awards; etc.  The nice thing is that LinkedIn helps you to understand how much more you need to enter in order to be compete by displaying a percentage of completeness.

There is also a section where you can put in references to websites.

Here’s a tip: the website section has preset labels (My Website, My Company, My Blog, My RSS Feed, My Portfolio, Other).  If you choose the option: Other – then you can name the link.  For example, if you look at my profile, http://www.linkedin.com/in/deidrehughey, I’ve chosen Other and names my website link, Ethical Sales Training NC and I’ve named my blog link, Sell Ethically – The Blog.  Very nice.

You are also offered a Public Profile link.  You are able to edit this…do this!  It makes more sense to whomever you are giving the information to AND it will make more sense to you.  My modified Public Profile Link is … nicer than the public profile name that they give you automatically!http://www.linkedin.com/in/deidrehughey

After this is done, you have two more things to do to complete setting up your site on LinkedIn:

  1. Spend some time using their tools to add people that you already know to join you in your network on LinkedIn.
  2. Once you are linked, view their connections and link to people that you know that you aren’t already linked to.

How do you know whether you’re already linked?  Each person that you view has a number or level beside them (1st, 2nd or 3rd).  1st means that you are connected to them, they are a 1st level connection.  2nd means that someone that you know is already connected to the person.  3rd means that you know someone that knows someone that knows the person you are viewing.

Once your profile and initial linking is complete, you are now set up to begin using LinkedIn as a networking sales tool.  Look up a company or person that you are interested in getting to know and work your way to them through your network!!  Ahhh, the power!

Remember, as always, us this tool ethically and you will be successful!

~ Deidre

Deidre Hughey, partner at Dancing Elephants Achievement Group of the Carolinas, is a speaker, writer and sales trainer.  Her mission is to teach business owners and salespeople how to be successful without compromising their ethical standards.  For more information, please visit www.saleselephant.com or send an email to deidre@deagsales.com.