AIMC Marketing Tip - The Right Way To Use LinkedIn When Networking -

AIMC Marketing Tip - The Right Way To Use LinkedIn When Networking -

Every week Samantha & Jeff provide a great sales & marketing or social media tip for you and this week we are talking about the right way to connect with people on LinkedIn and make the most of your connections and how to use your network the right way.

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Networking To Build Relationships In These Ever Changing Times

I have been in the world of business professional networking for over thirteen years and there has never been a better time to reach out and expand your network like there is now with the changing business dynamics.   With the recent transition to more of an online networking world, I have noticed that I am able to attend more events, reach out to my connections to see how I can help.   I have also build some new business relationships with some amazing people and I look forward to continuing to strengthen my professional relationship with my network.  I wanted to write this blog to provide some additional ways for you to build relationships with your new connections and rekindle the relationships with your older connection.

The hardest part of networking is the follow-up.  You go to an event, meet some great people, connect to them on LinkedIn and then they go away.  That happens 75% of the time.  The other times, you may have a follow-up meeting, provide each other a pitch of what you both need and sometimes there is a continued dialogue after that.   Over time, you lose touch with some of your older connections.   Life happens and it is hard, since networking is a full time job, right?

Believe it or not, there are more creative ways to stay in touch and support each other during these busy times.   I have a few ideas that I like to provide in the next few paragraphs that I hope will help you maintain a successful professional network.

1) Create your own networking community - Online groups of people with common interest is a great way to build your network and get to know more like minded people.  Keep your group limited in size so you can really get to know them.

2) Recommend them on LinkedIn - Most professionals have profiles on LinkedIn.  Show some love by sending their trusted confidants a glowing recommendation and share it!

3) Give Referrals - If you participate in online communities like Meetup or networking sites such as Alignable, you know people are always looking for referrals.   Keep your contacts at top of mind and refer them in the online groups.

4) Collaborate - Now is the time to work together and create projects requiring collaboration such as online Zoom event, blogs or joint podcasts.

5) Host your own Online Event - We love to help you get started.  One idea is to create an online panel of experts you want to build relationships with.  You are actually doing them a big favor by promoting them as an expert and exposing them to your audience.   An example is our Sponsorship Program with Mass Professional Networking.

6) Be a Guest at Someone Else's Event, Blog or Podcast - Offer your services as an expert guest on a podcast or webinar.   You would build a strong relationship with not only the hosts but expand your network to include the attendees.  In terms of blogs, offer a business some content to help their customers and business.

7) Feature Your Connection on Your Company Newsletter - If you have a company newsletter or blog, save some space for your favorite clients and partners.   Here you can talk about their services, add their logo, and link to their website.

8)  Engage on Social Media - With the current pandemic, you cannot really engage in person, and with all the Zoom meetings, your eyes are getting glossed over.  Take the time to engage with your connections on social media.   Comment on their posts, like and share their content.  Engagement keeps content relevant and keeps them and you at the top of the feed.

9) Write Online Reviews about Your Connection's Business - Reviewing your clients and contacts helps promote their business and shows them you really care enough to contribute and it is likely they will reciprocate and provide a positive review of you or your business.

Hopefully, some of these ideas with help you have more engaging networking relationships and the networking itself would be fun and engaging!   If you like to connect, please do.  I would like to hear how you are doing!

How to Score a Rocking Linkedin Profile 2019 w/ AIMC Business Solutions

Social Media 101 - Making the Most of Your Digital Presense w/ AIMC Busi...

How To Score a Rocking Linkedin Profile - Cheat Sheet

 

How To Score A Rocking LinkedIn Profile – Cheat Sheet

By Jeffrey DeSocio – AIMC Business Solutions/Mass Professional Networking

u  So What If You Had No LinkedIn Profile at all?  The World Before LinkedIn.

u Why Should You Care About Your LinkedIn Profile?

u  Clients & Co-Workers Are Checking You Out

u  Potential Employers & Employees Are Checking You Out

u  Potential Job Leads

u  Build Relationships

u Some LinkedIn Statistics

u  Over 500 Million People Use LinkedIn

u  40% of LinkedIn Users Login Every Day

u  41% of millionaires use LinkedIn

u  122 Million People got an interview from their Linked Profile

u  91% of Marketing Executives List LinkedIn as the top place to find quality content

u  80% of leads come from LinkedIn versus 13% from Twitter and 7% from Facebook

u Eight Tips for Scoring a Rocking LinkedIn Profile

u  A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words – Be Professional & Smile

u  Your Headline is Your Future – Your Expertise

u  Your Summary is Your Story to Tell – Results You Deliver – Call to Action

u  Experience is Not Your Resume – Focus on What Impact You Have Had

u  Get Specific and Use Facts – Set Yourself Apart from Others

u  Highlight Your Leadership – State Accomplishments

u  Flaunt Yourself – Show Certifications – Publish Content – Share Interests

u  Grow Your Network – Join Groups – Connect – Follow Companies

Need more guidance to kick-start your LinkedIn Profile?  Ask us about the “Networking & Personal Branding Toolkit” by contacting us via email at jeff@aimcbizsolutions.com.   Also join Mass Professional Networking on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The Day Facebook Went Down - So What Can You Do?

Today was not a good day for Facebook and Instagram.   Its nearly two billion users day-to-day operation of posting, engaging and enraging came to a halt due to the multiple technical issues with the Facebook and Instagram platforms.  There was specific issues with slowness, posting links and some cases, simply logging in.   Considering how much much Facebook has invested in high availability and software, this is a big one.  It is amazing how consumed we are all are with social media, you would think we lost electricity or survival food.  This can't happen.   So what did we do back in 1995?

Anyway, since my business revolves around social media whether it is working with my clients, or interacting with my connections promoting my networking events or products and services, I started to think about the world outside of Facebook, and realized that there are other social media platforms that are pretty cool, very effective and contain much less drama.

So I pulled out my smartphone and started to go through my applications and I found some pretty cool social media alternatives to Facebook.   So here we go. 

Shapr - Yes, this is a new one which is sort of a dating meets professional networking application.   I have met some successful professionals on this site and it does a good job matching you with people you like to meet and do business with.  The key is when you make a connection, is to follow-up and take the next step.   If there is not an immediate need, I request to connect this person on Linkedin for future potential.

Which brings me to Linkedin, the ultimate professional network.   Linkedin is my favorite social media platform and it is truly the place to inspire, educate and engage with professionals.  When Facebook is down and you want to get serious, Linkedin is a great alternative.  You feel like you just listened to a great educational podcast versus some mindset drama on the entertainment channel on Sirrus.  I also recommend using Linkedin to prospect and connect and to share your knowledge and offering value to your connections.

Before Facebook, there was Twitter.  Before Facebook Live and Instagram Stories, there was Periscope, the first true live platform.  Twitter is more real time and you feel closer to your celebrity connections on this platform.   Twitter does not get the credit it deserves because it is still text based versus visual, although that has changed a lot in the past year.  I recommend spending some time on this platform and updating your profile and study what is trending.   Twitter is really enjoying days like today with all the Facebook problems, claiming to its billion users, that is it still here.

Another Social Media Platform that has held its ground is Pinterest, you known the Pin Board.  Pinterest is also a serious platform with lots of great options for education, shopping and visual delight.  I always recommend Pinterest for any business that is selling visual products such as real estate, clothes, food and jewelry to name a few.    Once you are on Pinterest, you realize that you can spend hours on the site and feel like you didn't waste any time feeding through the drama.   I really pin pictures on Pinterest and realized that I now have over 250k visits to my profile a month! 

Finally, I would mention Google+, but that went out of business on February 28th, so I will mention Google's Social Media Site, YouTube.   YouTube is another addictive platform and there could be some drama depending on what you are searching for.  It is an amazing platform for learning and also to share your expertise.   You Tube videos are not as viral for the standard user as Facebook Live videos are, but it is great platform for promoting your brand.   YouTube is still the most important platform for promoting music.   Check out how many views of that Despacito video and you know this site has some power.

So I hope Facebook can figure out its problems today and put everyone at ease that the world is all good.   But always remember, there is always an alternative out there.   I bet the millennials are thinking, what the heck did the old people do before Facebook?   It is same thought we had before electricity was invented.

A Diverse & Successful Network is Your Best Career Insurance

Did you know there is such a thing as Career Insurance?  We are all used to Car Insurance, Home Insurance, Boat Insurance and Business Insurance.   However, when you are a planner and investing in your career, it is almost like your investment is like paying a premium toward your Career Insurance.

Being proactive and not waiting until you are in job search mode to connect with people is obviously the best path toward maintaining your career success.   

Of course, so many of us get caught up in doing our jobs that we neglect our network... until we need them. Problem is, if you haven't been actively networking, you cannot expect too much from them when you suddenly need help.

A recommended suggestion when at an event is a gentle breaking of the ice to begin reconnecting, rather than leading with "Hey there! I'm in job search. Can you help me out?" What we suggest is sending them an article and saying something like, "Hi there! I saw this article. Made me think of our days at Example Company. Thought you might be interested. Would love the opportunity to catch up." Another idea is to see what groups they belong to and send a note saying, "I see you're a member of Example Group. I'm interested in joining. What can you tell me about them and their membership? What's been your experience as a member of the group?"

No matter how you do it, if you've let a connection become dormant, you need to find ways to revive it before you start asking for help. While you're reviving a connection you need, you may want to consider reviving connections you don't currently need. Send them a link to an article you find relevant to them; comment on something they’ve posted; ask them about a group; give them a call; take them for coffee; find something you can offer to help them with. 

Successful networkers are always looking for reasons to connect with their network so that their network is active and healthy.

If we create networks with the sole intention of getting something, we won't succeed. 

We can't pursue the benefits of networks; the benefits ensue from investments in meaningful activities and relationships. So invest in your network in a planned, ongoing manner.

We suggest scheduling one hour a week to reach out to people in your network to share articles, comment on posts, offer help, and connect people with others in your network you think they'd be better off knowing. 

If you don't schedule it, you won't end up doing it, and you'll end up with a neglected network that isn't helping you and won't be much use to you when you need it. 

Invest in yourself. Consider it career insurance. You have life insurance. You have car insurance. You have homeowner's insurance. You have medical insurance. You should have career insurance. 

Career insurance is a healthy network. Pay your premiums in the form of reaching out to your network one hour per week. Pay those premiums now and you’ll be able to make withdrawals down the road when you need to.

Go to your calendar out right now and set a recurring weekly one-hour meeting titled "Build a Healthy Network." Go ahead, your career will thank you for it!

Why Linkedin Is King When It Comes to Prospecting & Building Relationships

Just think, it's 1995, you have a business and you had to generate leads and increase sales or else your business fails.   So what do you do?

You get on the phone and dial for dollars hoping at least one person will not hang up on you.

Or you spend thousands of dollars for an advertisement in the local paper or a 30-second commercial on the local radio or TV Station.

Nothing like working harder for little gain.

It's 2017, cold-calling is about as advanced as a Blackberry.

Advertising?   Now it is Facebook Advertising or Google Advertising.   A much more advanced and engaged way to advertise your products & services.    The issue, social media advertising costs money, sometimes lots of money.

Enter Linkedin - the king of social media when it comes to prospecting leads and increase sales.

Here are a few ideas for you to use Linkedin to prospect leads more effectively, without costing a dime, except your time.    The focus on using the tools Linkedin provides you to increase social media engagement between you and potential leads.

• Linkedin is a huge, never-ending networking event so you would like to have a great 30-second commercial and include it in the Summary Statement in your profile.  If something like this isn't in your Linkedin Profile, you're at a competitive disadvantage.
• If you invest a minute or so each working day clicking the "Connect" button on the "People You May Know" list that Linkedin posts in your feed, you will broaden your network.
• Ask for introductions to people you don't not know via a 1st Level Connection, before requesting to connect to them.    Don't be one of those "LIONs"  Linkedin Open Networker!
• Build you Leads List spending five minutes a day investigating the connections of your contacts to see who you don't know personally, but like to meet.
• Follow and monitor your connection's Company Page.   It is great conversation starter with your connections to discuss what is happening with their companies.
• Post an update each day that is educational and adds value to your connections.  DO NOT SELL when you post updates.
• Spend five minutes a day joining relevant groups.  Groups are a great way to add value to others, share insights, and build out your network with prospects.
• Recognize the accomplishments of others by posting a message to them and tagging their name.
• Spend five minutes a day to write a recommendation for a connection or client.   Don't wait for someone to write a recommendation for you.  Take the initiative!

If you have any questions, follow our company page for AIMC Business Solutions and let's build our leads list together!