| Vol. 9, issue 8 - issued monthly | August 2010 |
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In this issue:
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From the Editor:Looking for ways to promote your business and website with social networking? This months article is all about Linkedin. It's a great way to connect with other businesses. Looking for ways to make money on the web? In our Just for Fun or Useful sites we've listed a bunch by a company called Pet Holdings. This guy started out with one funny site that went viral. He now has about 30 sites and makes tens of millions with advertising on his sites. He was profiled in Time magazine. I think he's 30 now. Ack! if he can do it so can you! As always, remember to Surf Safely - use your anti-virus and firewall's! - Michelle "To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so." ~ Robert Orben. ” |
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"Link In Effectively with LinkedIn"With all the talk about social media marketing using Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn is often pushed to the sidelines. But LinkedIn can be one of the most effective tools for B2B (business-to-business) marketing. Here are some tips on using LinkedIn effectively: Complete Your Profile This should be self-evident, but I still see many people with sparse LinkedIn profiles. LinkedIn tells you how complete your profile is -- so keep going until you've reached 100%. Make sure you add links, work history, education, and a very descriptive summary. Rather than a resume, think of it as a sales sheet that potential clients can read about you and your experience. Pay Attention to Links Avoid using the standard link types to "My Website" or "My Blog." Instead, choose "Other," as it lets you create your own label. You can set the anchor text to more relevant labels, such as "Web Design Blog" or "Ecommerce Web Design by Acme, Inc." Edit Your Title The title of your profile is created automatically; if you don't edit it, you're stuck with a title related to your most recent position in your experience. Use Keywords Using keywords in your title, summary, and positions helps you get found in searches. Be sure to include the names of companies you work for, certifications you hold, technologies you employ, and so on. Status Updates It's great that there are ways to post status updates to LinkedIn from virtually every social network available, but think twice before doing it. The reason? LinkedIn is a social network based primarily on business contacts. It's not a place you connect with friends and family necessarily -- unless you also have a business relationship with them. Your contacts on LinkedIn are likely to have no interest in your late-night partying or softball games with the kids. Instead, post status updates to LinkedIn that connect with that audience. Post relevant updates, such as links to articles or blog posts, new portfolio pieces, or accomplishments related to your firm. Recommendations Recommendations are a powerful feature, but one that many people misuse or abuse. If you connect with enough people, you'll eventually receive recommendation requests from individuals who you've never worked with at all. Do not do this -- recommendations only work if they're authentic. Don't recommend anyone you've never worked with, and don't ask for recommendations from people where no professional working relationship between you exists. Do ask for recommendations from clients, colleagues, previous bosses, or anyone else that you've worked with over the past few years. One really effective way to gain a recommendation is to recommend a person, then ask for a one in return. Applications Use LinkedIn Applications to integrate SlideShare presentations, books you're reading, and your recent blog posts into your profile. If you travel for business a lot, also check out the TripIt application. LinkedIn Answers LinkedIn Answers is an online community where members can ask and answer questions. It's broken down into industries and categories, enabling you to find easily the areas where you may be of value. Those who post questions can rate the answers and select one answer as the "best." If your answers are consistently chosen as the best, you'll be portrayed as an expert in your field, which can add a lot of credibility. Groups LinkedIn Groups are communities focused on individual niche topics or industries. Some are generic, such as "Online Marketers" or "Web Design," while others are for specific organizations; "Harvard Business School Alumni," for instance. Groups are a great way to show your affiliations, and also give you a place to talk with other industry professionals. Each group has a private message board where members can ask questions. I've also seen lots of firms looking for contract work or specialists in a particular industry for a specific client. Both Groups and Answers are an ideal way to show your expertise in a certain area. Other LinkedIn Resources Here are some more resources on how to use LinkedIn to build your business: |
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Just for Fun or Useful LinksDaily Blog TipsThis site has great tips on everything blogging. From how to make money with your blog, seo etc. Fun Time WastersBored? Check out these websites from Pet Holdings company. The guy that founded this company is making tens of millions with these sites! The first site listed has reached over a BILLION page views! I Can Has Cheezburger? |
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