Networking is critical in today’s environment, and as I have discussed in previous posts, as well as in my Networking and Beyond workshops, it’s important to grow, manage, and work your network before you need it.

While networking relies on and needs personal contact, online tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, are valuable tools for your professional and business network. LinkedIn provides many tools and options for you to stay connected with your network, find new connections for your network, showcase your skills, and research new opportunities.

Used properly before and after any networking event, you can make your networking events more productive and solidify connections after.

Before your next event:

  1. Research some of the people who RSVP’d for the event on LinkedIn to see if there are any people you would like to meet.
  2. Many networking events have corresponding groups on LinkedIn.  Using the LinkedIn search features, you can research people in the group to ID people you would like to meet.  Then further research them by reviewing their profiles.  Highlight items of interest, questions you want to ask, things in common.
  3. Reach out to people before the event to see if they will be attending and tell them you would be interested in meeting them because…..’fill in the reason ‘.

After your event:

  1. Hopefully you have created a system for your collection of contacts (bent corners of those highly valuable contacts, separated &/or marked those you promised to provide something, etc.).  Using that system, reach out and send a connection /  invitation on LinkedIn (making sure to use a more personal approach than “I’d like to add you to my network”).
  2. Tag your contacts with which event(s) you met them at so you can ID them later.
  3. Send them information, comment on their status or post, check in now & then.

To make LinkedIn work for you, you must be properly setup and have your Profile completed so others can find and research you also! My Speakers Bureau colleague, Rae-Ann Ruszkowski, is offering a LinkedIn class on Saturday, January 14th, and she has offered a $10 discount to my network. All the details for her event are below.  Use the Discount Code of VictorNetwork when you register through eventbrite.  Please note, her class is limited in size to make sure everyone gets the attention they need, therefore, I could only get 15 tickets at the discounted rate. Please make sure to sign up before the tickets are sold out.

LinkedIn for those who aren’t linked in!

Why it matters….why you NEED it.

Date:        Saturday, Jan. 14th,     10am – Noon

Where:    Working Wardrobes

                  3030 Pullman St., Costa Mesa

To register, click here: ra2linku.eventbrite.com

  • Not sure how to maximize LinkedIn for job  search, career visibility, career or business credibility?
  • Want to know how LinkedIn can help you overcome the Personal Branding hype?
Don’t wait until you’re out of a job to build your network!

Come to this Special 2-hour Workshop & Learn:
  1. all the key elements of your LI profile,
  2. what you need to do today,
  3. how to use LI to build your career & build your business,
  4. what an intro video can do for you
  5. how to use LI to maximize in-person / offline networking

Don’t leave your career / business / brand to chance!   Maximize LinkedIn!

[ Only $39 , professional clothing donations for Working Wardrobes welcome! ]

To register, click here: ra2linku.eventbrite.com