Often described as the social networking site for professionals, LinkedIn is a great way to connect with others in your profession.
On Feb. 13 I wrote about how to get started on LinkedIn. Now that you have established your profile, what else can you do?
The first thing is to join groups related to topics of interest to you and to network with others in your field. NFPW has a group, and if you haven’t already connected to us, we encourage you to join. Membership is only open to those who have paid their dues. We’ve had to limit it to avoid marketing pushes by those who aren’t members.
To find other groups, visit LinkedIn Groups Directory.
Participating in a group by asking questions or responding to a question also helps build your reputation and provides you with valuable information. Also, if you have a job opening, share it with relevant groups. You’ll reach your target audience. The best part is it’s free.
What else can you do on LinkedIn?
- Reading List by Amazon. According to the site, you can, “extend your professional profile by sharing the books you’re reading with other LinkedIn members. Find out what you should be reading by following updates from your connections, people in your field, or other LinkedIn members of professional interest to you.
- Company Buzz lets you know what people are saying about your company. It shows you the twitter activity associated with your company.
- My Travel by Tripit is a great way to know when those in your LinkedIn network are traveling and when you will be in the same city as your colleagues. I’ve learned about colleagues being in a nearby city and have been able to connect for dinner and a bit of networking. Just be aware that it also lets others know when you aren’t at home.
- SlideShare Presentation allows you to upload and display your own presentations and check out presentations from your colleagues. Lynn Hazan, who presented at the NFPW conference in Chicago shared her presentation using SlideShare.
How are you maximizing your LinkedIn profile?
Cynthia's Communique 
I maximize my LinkedIn profile by networking with 1,000 people in a State Farm only group. I’ve written stories about topics brought up in the group and can connect with people all over our company in a couple of minutes. I taught a Social Media class with a former State Farm agent who is one of LinkedIn’s coaches from New York City. It’s a great networking tool that is free and a must for anyone in the market for job opportunities or sharing of ideas.