Post by  Guest  Contributor~ Nathan Kievman CEO, DemingHill Founder, Linked Strategies (#1 LinkedIn Strategies Group) One of the most frequently asked questions we get about LinkedIn from over 10,000 submitted questions through our webinars, in posts, or directly by email is: How do I maximize my use of LinkedIn? In many ways this questions resonate  throughout the social platforms, but for today, let’s focus on LinkedIn. To answer the question “How do I make the most of LinkedIn?” I would like to share with you a new way to look at LinkedIn. I propose that you should look at this platform as a small version of the internet. Meaning LinkedIn is its own world. Your webpage is your profile, the leading companies are the groups, the people are in the answers and questions sections as well as in the groups and so on. To master this new world, you have to understand it’s 60 million members behaviors, attitudes, rules, language and etiquette. You also have to master your own voice, message, ability to communicate, processes, and rules. The following list will give you the outline needed to truly start building your LinkedIn presence the right way.

The 7 Stages of LinkedIn/Social Media Mastery

1. Assess your Assets and Capabilities – Opportunity 2. Identify your Social Media Strategy – Clarity 3. Lay your Social Web – The Foundation 4. Optimize your Presence – Get Found 5. Build Your Communities – Become a Leader 6. Develop a Marketing Funnel – Lead People 7. Integrate Business Process Outsourcing – Don’t do it Alone

Applying these Stages will certainly ensure you are moving in the right direction on LinkedIn and that you are creating proof along the way. 

As a business professional, so much information is available on using Social Platforms to generate business success. With so much noise, I wanted to take the time to provide the business world with three key categories of resources. They are key social media advisors who come not only highly recommended, but have the trackable experience as well. Next, I will share key tools that can help streamline your processes’ to better utilize your time invested. Finally, I will share key educational pieces you may want to take advantage of, before you review these resources take a look at this video.

Advisors
Nathan Kievman CEO of DemingHill, A Leading Social Media Firm
Chris Brogan Considered one of the foremost thought leaders in Social Media and well sought after advisor.
Mari Smith Considered to be the Facebook Queen
Seth Godin Considered to be a foremost business thought leader

Tools
Ping.fm: For Status Updates this tool will save you countless hours of time.
Hummingbird : Growing a targeted following on Twitter is tough enough.  This tool does it on automation.
Google Alerts : Listen to your audience. Without knowing what your target market or competitors are doing online how can you expect to get a creative edge in your marketing process? You must use Google Alerts to keep an ear to the masses.

Education Material
Trust Agents

Twitter Power 

Linked Into Marketing

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LinkedIn Power Users Webinar Every Thursday 4pm & 7pm EST, can’t make it go ahead and register for the playback.  Grabl your spot : http://bit.ly/3wzq9Q

By Nathan Kievman

LinkedIn has been the best place to connect with people I never would have met otherwise. I love this media vehicle to accomplish all sorts of business objectives.

One of the many things I use LinkedIn for is creating sustainable, real, and valuable relationships with people I would be interested in having on my advisory board.

In a little over a months time, I was able to round out my business (Consulting Businesses on Strategic Alliances) and have a vast network of “experts” join my advisory board.

I used several methods to identify these individuals:

1. Joined groups where these individuals would likely hang out

2. Engaged the groups in discussions to build credibility (this process was key to enable the people I was seeking to contact me first)

3. I also searched for key people with certain titles with the search feature

4. When I found a new person I was interested in, I figured out what they needed first and tried to help them achieve their goals. (when you help someone, a vacuum is created and they feel compelled to help you sooner than later)

Before you start doing the above steps to build out your advisory board, be certain to do a strengths and weaknesses analysis of your self. Know exactly what you are good at and not so good at.

You must also do an analysis of your goals, see where you want to go and identify the key players that could help you achieve these goals, then include this type of person as a position to fill on your advisory board.

For more information on how to create an advisory board with Linkedin, check out this book at

LinkedIntoMarketing eBook

For more information on how to integrate LinkedIn with your business or professional objectives, join us and see why over 10,000 others are raving about our LinkedIn Power User Strategies Webinar (F.ree).

You may also want to join the #1 LinkedIn Strategies Group on LinkedIn HERE

LinkedIn™ Snipers: Beware! 5 ways to lose your account
by Nathan Kievman
Linked Strategies Founder

Ok, the word is out… but many of you may not know about it!
Snipers are very devious. They lay awaiting for you to come walking by and then… WHAM… they got you!

What am I talking about?

I am talking about you losing your account to LinkedIn’s Professionally paid Snipers!
There are countless ways for these snipers (LinkedIn Representatives) to hit your account. I have talked with thousands of people on LinkedIn and occasionally I get emailed about the following ways people have either lost their accounts completely or managed to have their accounts restricted.

I do not claim that this list is all inclusive, so if you know of more, please share and we will add to the list.

5 Ways you can Lose your Account or get a Restricted Account on LinkedIn™

1. Name Field: If you have anything but your name in your “Name” Field, you can get a restricted account or even worse, have your account deleted
a. For example: your name can read “Nathan Kievman” but it cannot read “Nathan Kievman (Toplinked, Invite Me, etc…)”
2. Spam or Abuse: If you are accused of spamming or abuse regardless of its validity – LinkedIn (rumor here) will instantly restrict your account until you email them requesting verification of the reason why (in this case, it’s guilty until proven innocent!)
3. 3 IDK’s: Otherwise known as “I Don’t Know”. If 3 people claim they don’t know you from invitations you send out, you will earn a restricted account or suspended account.

4. Page Views: That’s right, don’t get over zealous on how many profiles you want to view, LinkedIn will suspend your account because they think you are “Phishing” or downloading personal information from the site
5. Non Professional Profile Picture: That’s right guys… in the terms of use, so make sure you aren’t showing too much skin, something inappropriate, or even a business logo as your picture has led to suspended accounts.

That’s the top 5 we know of… please share and add to this list if you know of others.

Read more of Nathans Post at his blog

Last week I shared why growing your connections on LinkedIn can significantly affect your business. As we took a closer look we saw that LinkedIn’s search platform is directly related to your connection base. In addition we reviewed how your ability to be introduced to new prospect is directly related to your connections as well. You can see the entire article here…

This week I wanted to share some of the top super connected people on LinkedIn. These are people you should do your best to connect with as you will see they are movers and shakers in business and the LinkedIn space.

These are some of the Super Connected:

Steven Burda- Most connections currently on LinkedIn.
Nathan Kievman
Sean Nelson
Viveka Von Rosen
Dave Maskin
Ross Dodwell
Patrick O’Malley
Jason Alba
Lori Ruff
John L. Evans
J.D. Gershbein
Mike O’Neil
Neal Schaffer

*Randy Schrum Probably the most important connection you can have. At least I would like to think so.

By connecting with these Super Connectors you will see your LinkedIn leverage dramatically increase.

Bonus Resources:

~Fast Start Guide to LinkedIn Success “no cost”  Grab it here

~Join the Social Media Advisors Group on LinkedIn here count me in:

Okay you already know that Linkedin has 43 Million members in over 200 countries, right?  You also know that Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are on Linkedin. 

Some would say why should I ask questions on Linkedin? My question is why would you not?  Linkedin members are the best and brightest you can find anywhere.
 
So why struggle with life’s toughest business challenges, without asking for answers from the worlds brightest from Linkedin? 

Linkedin has so many benefits such as branding your professional appearance, meeting potential clients, collaboration, finding potential partners, closing deals, and posting your own unique offerings.  But the Answer/ Question section could just be the most valuable as you get to ask the worlds foremost experts your question and guess what?  They respond!   
 
Your questions can be categorized and drill downed through Linkedin’s unique filter system to get the best answers and post the most strategic questions.  This is important because those who have experience in your question category automatically gravitate to your need.    
 
Few tips on posting great questions, 

1. First, be sure you post a good question headline that grabs the audiences attention, otherwise they will look right over it. 
2. Second, be sure to describe the question effectively…don’t leave out the important details. 
3. Third, be sure to respond if the community asks for clarification. 
4. Last, always and I mean always be sure to rate your answers you receive after the question is closed. 
    

Here is a snapshot of a question I posted about asking questions on Linkedin, click on the pic to see the response.

Learn more about Linkedin and how you can benefit below.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, an employee or looking for a new opportunity, LinkedIn is a virtual prospecting goldmine – offering an endless supply of warm leads, high value networking sources, and multiple income streams.

As the #1 “zero cost” Business Networking Site, you will not find a better ROI for your marketing efforts!

Sign up for our complimentary LI Power User Strategies and save yourself from floundering through the LinkedIn learning curve.  Find out exactly what the LinkedIn Power Networkers are doing so you can experience immediate results!

This free invite is going out to over 147,745 business professionals and space is limited so 

LinkedIn Power User Strategies –

Every thursday at 4pm to 5:00pm EDT.

Webinar Registration Page

During this webinar, you will learn about

• Understanding LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool
• The REAL POWER of LinkedIn Networking – And it’s not connecting with old friends and co-workers!  
• The 3 LI income streams every business can tap into
• Master LinkedIn Strategies and Tactics that can increase your business by thousands of dollars each month

This program will be hosted by: 

Nathan Kievman, Author of Linked Secrets, Co-Owner of Linked Strategies on LinkedIn, and Host of the acclaimed “Inside the Mind of a Master” Podcast Series

Peter King, Co-Owner of Woovertise.com and Internet Marketer        

     
The lines are limited, so grab your spot here:

Webinar Registration Page

See you on the call

~Randy Schrum