A good number of small businesses (especially retailers!) and entrepreneurs that I work with look down their nose at the networking power of LinkedIn for their business growth. Many feel that it is only a clearing house for recruiters and job hunters. Once you start thinking outside of direct customers, the possibilites for using LinkedIn are almost endless. Industry news, lateral business opportunities, vendor acquisition, competitive analysis….
As a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, do you use (and find value from) LinkedIn? The network has hit 200 million registered users, will the new influx of people help or hurt the platform?
From the Search Engine Watch article written by +Jasmine Sandler:
Because of the transparency of user profiles, all recommendations and endorsements (although not as credible) will need to come from quality sources. LinkedIn search engine visibility is now crucial for a user's profile, so the profile must be developed in such a way to support an individual’s business and brand-driving keywords.
#blog #smallbusiness #smallbusinessmarketing #smallbiz
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What the 200 Million Milestone Means to LinkedIn Users
LinkedIn’s new member count means more business people to network with on LinkedIn – but also more people to compete with. Here’s how recruiters, entrepreneurs, business and sales professionals, and m…
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ok my Linkedin question of the day
When somebody endorses you, who perhaps you may not have directly worked with/for etc, do you reciprocate the endorsement i mean is that what they are fishing for? random endorsements, i don`t get understand them…
I don't think a reciprocation is necessary. I've reached out to past professional contacts for endorsements, but not a recommendation (where you type out a paragraph or two).
i just seem to get a few each day out of the blue, seems so random, never know whether to thank them and do the same,or just leave it, to be fair i just leave it, in the grand scheme of things i dont hold any value onto the new endorsment function.
+Lynette Young I struggle to understand the value of LinkedIn. I has always seemed to be a job search vehicle. To me, "personal brand" is just another way to say "job search".
Groups seem to be formed around professional themes. So joining a group means talking to your competitors. Joining a group that represents potential customers puts you at risk of spamming or being ignored as an uninvited "solicitor".
I simply prefer Google Plus.
+Mike Byrnes has its value i guess, it depends largely on your niche, however i`m inclined to agree with you around spamming, the greatest threat i see to Linkedin, like you i`ve become a complete 100% G+ advocate, and can see Linkedin groups particularly, shifting over to G+ communities, two i`m involved with already have moved across with great success, more tools, more control, greater reach, wider audience.
+jonathan j sheppard Interesting info on the LinkedIN groups shift to G+ Communities. I was not aware of that. Hmmm…
I agree with you, Lynette, and I was one of the doubters until I spent some quality time there, invested in building relationships and it has paid off! Thanks for sharing this with G+ audience 😉
very much suits those particular groups +Mike Byrnes the "ecosystem" is perhaps more important than the "network" if that makes sense, seamless integration of other Google assets.I do get most of my work via Linkedin, so not ready to shoot it just yet, G+ is much more of a global experience for me at the moment.
+jonathan j sheppard Yep. One should never give up on what is working. Even if it is "working less". But one should always be on the look out for the "next big thing".
Thanks for posting on Google+ Lynette and glad to be in your Google+ circles!