Do you have people in your organization who scoff at the idea of using LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter? Recently, I encouraged a babyboomer friend of mine to sign up for LinkedIn. His response, "Why bother?" My response, "Relevancy."
Shortly after singing up for Facebook, I received a friend request from a colleague. Admittedly, I wasn't comfortable in this new world, and I asked my friend, "Why do you do Facebook?" The answer was simple, yet profound, "It makes me feel relevant."
That is perhaps one of the best reasons for people, especially Babyboomers and Matures, to engage in social networking. If you refuse to engage, a significant part of the world will pass you by. You will become irrelevant. The number of Facebook users is over 300,000,000. Soon Facebook users will surpass the total population of the United States. LinkedIn has over 46 million users. If effective communication is a key to success, shouldn't you be familiar with and experience the medium in which millions of people choose to communicate?
Can you imagine having a similar conversation with your grandmother decades ago. "Grandma why don't you watch TV with us?" Grandma replies, "Its just a fad. Television won't replace the radio." Many argue that LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are just fads. These folks are probably correct. In time, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter will fade away in popularity when the next new thing comes along. While this may be true, it is not an excuse for sitting on the sidelines. If you wait for something "permanent" to come along, you will wait forever. Social networking will always continue to change and you can't wait forever to start.
I recently read an article in which octogenarian, Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, discussed Twitter. He described getting on it the first time and looking around. He said, "I just didn't get it." Prompted by his wife, he decided to try it and within a few hours he proclaimed, "I get it!" Jack now has over 824,000 followers. As with many things in life, you can't be a spectator to fully appreciate what is happening. You have to play the game to truly understand it. Social media is a megatrend that can not be ignored. Our younger colleagues at work have adopted social media as a part of their everyday life. If we don't at least explore it and try it, we quickly will become irrelevant. If you need something to motivate you or a friend, watch the video link below. Although I don't agree with all of the stats offered, it does make one think.
Showing posts with label LinkedIn uses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LinkedIn uses. Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Another Use for LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great tool for Rainmakers. You can search for old friends, former colleagues and existing customers and never lose contact with them again. LinkedIn is a "high tech Rolodex" which never needs updated because your contacts do it for you!
Despite these great features, I am always looking for other ways to effectively use LinkedIn. The other day I discovered one.
If you have a new, high profile person join your business team, you can introduce them quickly and inexpensively to all of your connections through LinkedIn. Simply go to the person's LinkedIn profile and double click the word "forward" in the upper right corner. You can send the profile to one contact, all of your contacts or a select number. If you click on the little blue box containing the word "IN" that appears next to the recipient box, a list of all of your contacts will appear. Simply mark the people to whom you want to send the profile.
Another box will appear which allows you to write a note to the recipients. I encourage you to write a brief summary introducing the person and highlighting key information that will encourage people to view the profile or write a note that gives sufficient information. This is important because some people may not open the profile.
This same strategy can be used for key customers and clients. When you hire a new person who will work on their accounts, send a brief note of introduction and the new person's profile. Your client will learn about the new hire and instantly have that person's contact information.
Give it a try!
Please share other practical uses for LinkedIn that you have discovered! I will post the best ideas.
Despite these great features, I am always looking for other ways to effectively use LinkedIn. The other day I discovered one.
If you have a new, high profile person join your business team, you can introduce them quickly and inexpensively to all of your connections through LinkedIn. Simply go to the person's LinkedIn profile and double click the word "forward" in the upper right corner. You can send the profile to one contact, all of your contacts or a select number. If you click on the little blue box containing the word "IN" that appears next to the recipient box, a list of all of your contacts will appear. Simply mark the people to whom you want to send the profile.
Another box will appear which allows you to write a note to the recipients. I encourage you to write a brief summary introducing the person and highlighting key information that will encourage people to view the profile or write a note that gives sufficient information. This is important because some people may not open the profile.
This same strategy can be used for key customers and clients. When you hire a new person who will work on their accounts, send a brief note of introduction and the new person's profile. Your client will learn about the new hire and instantly have that person's contact information.
Give it a try!
Please share other practical uses for LinkedIn that you have discovered! I will post the best ideas.
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