LinkedIn is a professional networking platform with over 467 million users. Maintaining a complete LinkedIn profile makes a user and their company more findable online and in search results. An active LinkedIn presence can increase a user's visibility, credibility, and profitability. The document provides tips on optimizing a profile, connecting with others, engaging with company pages and groups, and using LinkedIn to generate business opportunities.

1. Linked In: An Overview
from Crossman Communications
.

2. Why Use Linked In?
• More than 467 million business professionals use Linked In (133
million users in the US and 12 million in Canada) and chances are
good that the people you want to do business with are there.
• 40% of users check Linked In daily; about 25% check in monthly
• If you aren’t active on Linked In it’s possible your competition is –
why give them the advantage?
• A robust listing demonstrates to potential customers that you are
engaged and professional. It lends credibility to you and to your
organization and it helps support search engine rankings for your
company.

3. What is Linked In?
• A way to communicate with the people you would like to do business
with and cultivate relationships with them in a way you might not
otherwise be able to do
• Once you've connected with a person, you have access to their list of
connections – this is called your "extended network"—and you can
request an introduction to people in your extended network through
your mutual contacts.
• LinkedIn also provides other features including the ability to set up
and join groups
• The basic service is free.

4. Four Aspects to Leveraging LI
Findability
Visibility
Credibility
Profitability

5. Findability
• A complete, professional profile with a strong photo
• Include words in your summary that relate to your field
of expertise – this will make you easier to find when
people are searching for what you offer
• It will make you and your company easier to find online
(better search results) and help you all stand out from
the competition
• It will help you to ask for introductions to the people
with whom you want to cultivate a relationship

6. Visibility
• Connect with the people you meet at a conference or
networking and send them a note in the connection
request inviting them to also contact you if they need
any assistance with anything. That might look like this:
Hi _______,
It was great to meet you at ______, and I enjoyed our
conversation. I’d like to stay in touch through Linked In.
May we connect?

7. Visibility
• When a good prospect reaches out to you to
connect, respond with a personal note. That might
look something like this:
Dear _______,
Thanks for reaching out to connect on Linked In. I
offer ___________ to __________ and if you feel a
conversation would be helpful in meeting your
organization’s need for _________, I’d be happy to
make some time available to chat. Alternatively, if you
know of anyone who is looking for this type of
assistance, I’d be glad if you would pass my name
along.
Let me know how I can be of service!
Best regards,
__________________

8. Visibility
• After you have connected, wait a while and then send the people
whose business you desire an InMail note that might say something
like this:
Dear _______
We connected a few weeks ago and I appreciate the chance to be
part of your Linked In network. I just wondered if you had heard of
__________ from [your company name]. It helps our customers
___________, ___________ and ___________ [three benefits of
using the product]. Results from users so far have been really
positive and I would love an opportunity to share how we can save
[name of their organization] a great deal of money while enhancing
your reputation for excellence. May we book time for a short
conversation to discuss?
Best regards,
_______________

9. Visibility
• Leverage your brand by joining your
company’s company page
• … and commenting on and liking information
that is posted on the company page:

10. Visibility
As your prospects’ information shows up in your news
stream, comment on it, like it and send them a message
about it.
Find out what groups your prospects’ belong to and join them, then monitor
the groups for opportunities to comment. When someone makes a comment
you like or that your business can help them with, you can answer them in the
group or direct message them – you can’t InMail anyone you aren’t connected
to unless you upgrade to the paid Linked In account but you can usually
connect with anyone who is a part of a group to which you belong. You can
join up to 100 groups.
Connect with prospects you come across in your group monitoring activities

11. Credibility
• Like, share and comment on the content posted to your business’s
company page
• Ask trusted friends in the industry to give you a recommendation
• Monitor your groups for opportunities to comment on other
people’s posts and answer their questions
• Link to any preferred content on your website and share it through
your news stream
• Share links to your business’s videos through your news stream

12. Credibility
It’s a good idea to curate
content on your social media
platforms, including Linked In
– sharing links to good articles
that pertain to your field
develops thought leadership
E.g.
https://sproutsocial.com/i
nsights/content-marketing-
tools//
If you come across any great articles yourself, please send me the
links so we can share them on your social media platforms
• Like, share and comment upon articles you feel will be
interesting to your contacts – this will show up in your
newsfeed and all of your connections will have an opportunity
to see what you have shared

13. Profitability
• Look for the company page of someone you want to
work with and follow it
e.g. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
https://www.linkedin.com/company/8736/
Look for a referral partner’s company page and follow it
• Endorse and recommend your prospects and your
referral partners
• Like and share the status updates posted by your
prospects and your referral partners
• Initiate conversations with your prospects

14. Resources:
Great Linked In Profiles:
https://komarketing.com/blog/
10-examples-highly-impactful-
linkedin-profiles/

15. Future Linked In
Topics
• How to maximize your profile
• Connecting with people
• Leveraging the company page
• Groups
• Search Strategies
• Introductions

16. Questions? Feedback?
Please contact Susan Crossman and her team
directly at:
info@crossmancommunications.com
289-259-6934
@CrossmanCom
www.crossmancommunications.com