Book Review: Share your Best LinkedIn Tip and Win an Autographed Copy of LinkedWorking
Hey guys! Welcome to ShamaTV! It’s book review time! You guys know that I read a lot. Your feedback last time, after I did multiple book reviews, was try to keep it to one. So I tried to narrow it down to one fiction and nonfiction, so we’ll see if you like this format.
I’ll start first with a nonfiction. It’s called “LinkedWorking,” and it’s really an interesting read. Very thin, as you can tell, but there’s not much fluff in it. It’s by Lewis Howes and Frank Agin, and of course it has a forward by our most beloved Chris Brogan. A really good book that talks about LinkedIn and how to use it well. It has a lot of case studies, and tells you how to apply them. Again, I like the book, very little fluff, and good content. So I highly recommend it. I really like the book. And here’s what I’m going to do: I want you to leave your best LinkedIn tip in the comment section, and we’ll pick a best tip, and ship this book out to you. How does that sound? So leave your best LinkedIn tip in the comments, and we’ll pick a winner, and we’ll ship out this book. Go ahead and leave a comment on this one because it’s an excellent read. And Lewis actually autographed this for me, so you get an autographed copy of this book. I met him at South by Southwest… great guy and really good book! So that’s my pick for the nonfiction.
Now fiction.
I don’t really do a lot of fiction reviews on here, but you know what, it’s ShamaTV, so what the heck! It’s “Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter.” You can go ahead and laugh now, just don’t laugh in the comments because I really like this, and it must be good! It has about eleven in the series, and this is the first one I’ve read. Really cute, if you liked the Nancy Drew type of mysteries, and just enjoy a nice witty book, a cozy read… then this is it! I really enjoyed it. It’s “Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter.” Don’t ask me more about it. The author is Nancy Atherton, and it’s one of eleven.
It’s a really good read! Hope you guys will leave a comment, and I hope you get to win this book!
April 1st, 2009 at 10:55 am
All you need is love. Love is all you need.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:58 am
On the LinkedIn system you should register all business and personal email addresses with which you may potentially receive emails from current or potential LinkedIn contacts.
You may not want to add every email address that you have. For example, I have one email address that I only use for eBay purchases; I don’t plan to add any eBay vendors to my LinkedIn contacts.
You should consider making your personal email address the primary email address. This means that you will receive LinkedIn invitations, requests, and other LinkedIn related email at your personal email address. One of those requests may be in regards to a job opportunity for you, hence the personal email address.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:59 am
It’s not a secret tip, but I have enjoyed setting up the blog feed feature in LinkedIn. I post to my blog, so of course I see my writings – but it’s far more interesting to see what my friends and colleagues are up to. It’s given me good insights into some of their gifts and talents – as well as a way to connect with their blogs.
Found your site via Twitter today, and I loved your book reviews! Great use of web-based video.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am
As far as Linkedin, all I can say is three things, work it, work it, work it! A must tool in your business approach.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Awesome! Love your Logo animation. Keep up the wonderful work.
Ms B
April 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
When requesting someone to join your network, always include a personal note and not just the default message. I get a lot of generic messages and would at least like to know where you met me or heard about me from.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
Dip your toe–test the water. Find out as much as you can about how to use LinkedIn effectively before you dive in. This way you can avoid making branding mistakes (or worse, social networking etiquette mistakes) that you may have to go back and correct later. (ie: Posting a weak profile.)Using resources that you and your colleagues provide is definitely the way to go!
Leslie
April 1st, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I installed the application for Slideshare on my LinkedIn profile, which allows me to display my visual resume/bio. My visual resume is a Powerpoint presentation that tells a much more complete story about my background and includes (speaking engagements, articles, awards, etc.).
Check it out:
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianhollowaty
April 1st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Pay it forward — Use your LinkedIn Status Bar to promote your network. For example –
Just attended a great presentation – Change your status to say… “John Doe’s” presentation today on XXXX was incredible. Check him out at (link)
Just met a trusted referral source for lunch — change your status bar to say….Just met “john Doe” for lunch, he has some great ideas about how you can (provide value proposition). (link)
Better yet — friend giving a workshop? Open up an event for them and then promote it on your status bar. For example — I promise you, you’ll learn about “topic” at this event. Check it out (link)
Third party credibility is so important. So pay it forward today and you’ll receive the benefits tomorrow.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Don’t be a LinkedIn snob. I will typically accept any invitation sent to me and, if I don’t, I will email the person explaining why and ARCHIVE the message instead of rejecting it. By archiving, you don’t send a red flag to LinkedIn and punish the person for reaching out to you (after which LinkedIn restricts your account).
As an add on to that, remember it is a networking site…so network. This corresponds to the point above as well. If you met someone at a networking event, you would have a discussion and then decide if you want to continue to get to know them. Do the same on LinkedIn. If you are not sure you want to accept an invitation, send them a note and “discuss” why they think it would be a beneficial connection. I know it’s a novel concept to actually talk or trade notes with someone instead of soley deciding based on a profile…so novel, it is really just the same as meeting someone and learning about them. Then, you can either connect with them, or again, archive the note so you don’t penalize someone for trying.
April 1st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Personally, I have found out that many prospective employers use social networks to pre-screen applicants. As a result I sought to use them for similar purposes. I usually contact a companies HR deparment then find out the names of my interviewers. then research a little bit about them like colleges, hobbies, favorite sports teams, anything that can establish common ground. It usually helps me gain an edge over other applicants that match up similar on paper! Hope this helps all! =)
April 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Two Secret “white hat” Tips:
Tip One: LinkedIn allows you to have 3 links.
Use all three but more than that customize the label for each. Don’t use “My Blog” instead use something more descriptive. Have a particular label or category on your blog you would like to direct them to? Use the category link for a URL and customize the label for that link.
Tip Two: Never never use the canned “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” message when inviting new people to connect. Take the time to write a simple paragraph. You can even include URL’s so they can connect with you on Facebook and twitter. It will make all the difference in the world.
I have 100’s of “black hat” tips but I of course don’t recommend them!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
There are tons of LinkedIn tips, but I want to talk about the use of the status update. It seems most people relinquish the update feature to facebook or Twitter.
As you know, with the new format, status updates are shown on the home page of LinkedIn. I have kept the same status update promoting my blog, but each day I re-enter the update so I appear on my friends homepage. You’d be amazed at how many of my visitors I get from LinkedIn.
Thanks for all the great reviews
http://twitter.com/JoeStampone1
April 1st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I take advantage of the email updates that come in on a weekly basis from LinkedIn and when I see someone that may be a good person to network with, I will go and research them, their background and their skills. It’s a great tool to use and its good to see what my network is up to around the world!
April 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
My best tip is to use the groups you join to reach out to potential connections. Having the common group gives you the ability to invite a person rather than needing to utilize one of your connections as a go-between. The groups also give you a means of scouting out valuable individuals with whom to connect. A second tip is to spend a little time going through your connections’ connections list. There may be people you actually know on LinkedIn that you aren’t aware have accounts, plus inviting a person with whom you have several mutual connections is a lot less daunting for the beginner.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I am constantly talking about the importance of networking and Linkedin has proved to be a valuable classroom tool. I talk to and show my students how they can research potential employers/interviewers’ background. I also use the groups to show them how to generate discussion topics and generate sales leads for different products and services. I have also started a group for our alumni so that they can stay connected with each other and use the combined networks to their benefit.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I personally like the non-fiction review, maybe add a little about the table of contents and the year the book was written. Your shows are the great! I am enjoying them.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Well, I will suggest 4 tips which I enjoyed,
1) If you are a professional then Get recommendation but it should not be reciprocal type. If you are a business owner, Post a question about your products Or Poll on the groups.
2) Share a link & install Blogspot/wordpress tool offered by LinkedIn. Its a great tool to keep updating your connections about your latest post.
3) If you are a professional, join a group & share your thoughts/learning. If you are a Business owner, Start your own group & send invitees, conduct a poll, Send a announcement, Held a discussion, Offer something on the Best TIP of something similar which encourage people to participate.
4) Integrate the Twitter Search about your Business refered as “Company BUZZ” in linkedIn. It will allow you & others to know whats going around on most popular Twitter.
Hope these tips will be useful
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
Favorite Linkedin tip:
Be Generous. When you see updates on connections profiles (new job, new project, need help). Send them a note. Ask if you can help. Offer to share your network. Give it away!
April 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Social networking only works if you network with it. But having said that, it is a tool and not a substitute for actually sending personal notes, making phone calls and really connecting to the indviduals who make up social networking site.
All this technology can be both overwhelming and distracting. You need to pay attention to the rest of your life, your work, your family and your own interests. The possibilities online are amazing but it isn’t a substitute for your real life. So find the right balance for yourself.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I have too many LinkedIn tips to list here. See my blog (by clicking on my name) and see for yourself!
OK, if I had to list one, it is not even a LinkedIn tip, but it is that you will only get from LinkedIn what you give to it. You will only get from social networking what you give to it.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
optimize your linkedin profile by including the keywords that you want people to search for in the currant and past positions
this is will make you at the top when people will search for your keywords
I have got this tip form the “Social Media Bootcamp Webinar” with Joel Comm and the LinkedWorking author Lewis Howes http://tinyurl.com/btanfq
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
I have two:
1. SlideShare: I use it for Lead Generation. Create a Slideshare presentation to educate a prospect about a topic/problem and then point them to a solution. Then close with you being able to offer the solution.
2. Polls: This is an awesome tool. You can use the data in your presentations to clients. I had one that asked: “How do You find a Service/Product in an Emergency (e.g. Plumber). Options: a) Yellow Pages b)Internet c)Word of Mouth c)Newspaper classifieds
I had a good feeling it would be Internet and it was. I use the data when presenting Web design to local clients.
April 4th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I like to keep it simple (when possible!). LinkedIn offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase your expertise by answering questions. You can also help others by asking questions and letting them strut their stuff! And when someone answers a question, send a private thank you – because it is all about networking after all.
Thanks Shama!
April 12th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
WINNER TIME!
Hey Guys, thanks for the awesome tips!!! I actually had Lewis help me pick the winners.
Yes…winners. Plural.
While I only have 1 autographed book, I convinced Lewis to give me 2 ebooks to give away as well!
3rd Place: Mike Mueller
2nd Place: Tim Bursch/ Amish Keshwani (A tie!)
1st Place: Amy Hoppenrath
Thanks so much for all the great tips guys. We will be doing these contest almost every week, so subscribe and keep entering!
July 8th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Could you folks name the top 2 or 3 books on how to use Linked In?
Thanks,
Justin
July 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Justin,
My book on the subject, which will change the way you think about LinkedIn as well as any other social media site and the art of social networking, will be available next month. Please see my blog (http://linkedinquestions.wordpress.com) and sign up to get the latest details!
- Neal Schaffer