Welcome to the “Preneur” 12-Part Marketing Series. This is the 6th post out of 12 in this series.

LinkedIn Screen for Linda Simon

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site with 66 million people on it. The average income of users is $109,000 and the average age of users is 37. Current stats provided by social rabbit.

This site is for the professional who wants to network and/or look for employment opportunities. It is a virtual and interactive group of business cards and meshed with your online resume. It also is similar to getting published in a newspaper or newsletter daily but better because you have total control about what you put out on it and who is in your network. Another nice thing is that it is free.

Important things to implement to get yourself fully LinkedIn:

• Set up your account at www.linkedin.com.
• Put in a photo – people like to see who you are plus, some people know you by name and others by face.
• Be creative about your profile. Use your VOICE in your profile with specific adjectives and colorful verbs.
• Customize your public profile vanity URL – http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasimonvb. To do this, go to edit your profile.
• Get 100% completion on your profile for SEO results. Use keywords, metatags, etc. Fill in the current job, past jobs, etc.
• Join groups that interest you and participate with them.
• Link to your website and actually type in your web address on the profile (instead of My website – select OTHER category and customize it with your name).
• Link to your blog and name it (instead of My blog). It will automatically appear each time you post your blog.
• Give back, offer to write recommendations for others you are familiar with. This helps you get higher up in LinkedIn’s SEO.
• Build your connections by adding people and import your address book to join you.
• On a regular basis, update your status message. This shows people what you are doing or you can share information with people and become the expert.
• Add your reading list by Amazon.

If you are a professional looking to connect with other professionals this is the network for you, use it to grow your business, increase brand awareness (for you and/or your business) and position yourself as an expert. It is extremely important to engage, comment and expanding a colleague’s content.

Next is Part 7 about FACEBOOK.