Good Day! I am interested in learning what methods you have used to monetize on the Linkedin site. I am just getting started with it and would love to see if any one has any ideas for a beginner or any 'trick's up your sleeve.

Hi Cassandra,

I expect you've already sent invitations to connect to people you already know. Under Groups, Search Groups, look for groups in your area and join them. Attend as many of their events as you can and, as you gradually get to know people, invite them to connect with you. Rather than automatically send an invitation to connect to anyone whose business card I've picked up, I send the invitation only after I've had a chance to chat with them and get to know them a bit on a human level.

Returning from an event, enter all the information from business cards into your contact database. Make sure to note what you've learned about the person, their business, spouse, children, dog, plays golf etc. Events always have a list of attendees posted prior to that event. Take a look at the list and mentally note what you know about the attendees. When you meet a person again you can start the conversation with "how's your (spouse, child, dog), been golfing lately? etc. Never attend a networking event with the sole view of selling your services, but rather as a way to meet new people, forge relationships, learn and expand your horizons. If the people you meet never use your services, they may have connections who will, and you'll make new friends along the way.

Of the groups in my area, two are very active. I've recently started attending all their events and posting in the forum from time to time, meeting some very interesting people (one I met last week is based here but regularly travels the world) and making connections along the way.

It's time consuming, but very worthwhile.

Hope this helps.

Lynne

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P.S. Also search for other networking groups and events in your area. Tomorrow I'm attending a full day Business Women's Conference which is held here semi-annually. Fairly new to this city, it will be my first time at the conference and there will be 200 attendees, so it should be an interesting day.

Lynne

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You have been given very good information. You want to be active on the site and get to know what others are about and start responding and answer questions. Give out tips that are useful to others.

Great!! Thank you so much for the tips!! I'm new to the whole face to face networking thing, so I am still a little hesitant to get out there... Thanks again, this was very helpful

Lynne -- some great tips! Thanks for sharing.

There are also feeds that you can add into your account, including your blog and twitter account. When you read articles that are of interest and wish to share, make sure that you share in your linkedin account too. I am enjoying networking on linkedin, there is a definite business environment about it. One can also add events and keep that up to date to be of benefit to others in your industry.

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Hi, In my experience, joining the groups that interest you or where your clients hang out and participating in the discussions is a good networking strategy, but I would only pick one or two and post regularly to those groups. It is not only more manageable but the members will get used to seeing your posts and will get to know you quicker, then they would if you spread your time across a lot of groups, and only post once in a while. Some groups have a small group of members and some have thousands. I would keep that in mind too. Do you want to network with a small group or a large group? Just my two cents... :-)