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Two surprises around LinkedIn

By Becky McCray

Two events surprised me around professional networking site LinkedIn recently.

First, a long time friend who shuns all online social interaction, joined LinkedIn and started connecting. He told me that he knew it was important if or when he looked for a new job. I was astounded that LinkedIn had enough potential benefit to draw him online.

Second, I found out my local CareerTech blocks students (high school age and adults) from accessing all social networks, including LinkedIn. Instead of blocking them, I think it should be a requirement for students to create their profile on LinkedIn. And I’d really like to see students learn social networking skills, rather than be locked out.

LinkedWorking

Now, believe it or not, I do have something more to go with this. Back in May, Lewis Howes gave me a copy of the book LinkedWorking that he co-authored with Frank Agin. It gives you a whole bunch of techniques to make LinkedIn work.

I liked the approach they took. Each section starts with a technique drawn from in-person networking, then applies it to LinkedIn, and then gives a success story of someone using that technique. No one person could possibly be the success story for all the techniques, which I think is an important lesson. Don’t try to do everything this book outlines. Pick the most promising strategies and pursue them strongly.

It’s a short book, a quick read. And if it stimulates you to adopt a new technique that improves your networking, then it’s worth it. 

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Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

www.beckymccray.com
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December 13, 2009 Filed Under: social media Tagged With: review

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  1. Nick Johnson says

    December 13, 2009 at 7:07 am

    LinkedIn is really starting to take a hold of me now! I agree with you on your point regarding high school kids required. If it were an elective offered at high schools, they would stand a better chance later on.

    I wasn’t aware of LinkedWorking until now, thanks for the heads up.

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