Join social media expert Rob Duncan for this crash course on LinkedIn and how it can be used to build businesses of all sizes. Learn about how the biggest benefits come through helping others first through small favors.
The Big Power of Small Favors: Using Linked In For Relationship Building
1. The big power of small favours
Rob Duncan
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2. Your Speaker
Rob Duncan
Director, BCIT Applied
Research Liaison Office
Author of:
Haul Away! Teambuilding
Lessons from a Voyage around
Cape Horn (2005)
Competitive Intelligence: Fast,
Cheap & Ethical (2008)
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3. Our Agenda
So what is all this social networking stuff?
Is it really useful for business or is it waste of time?
What is LinkedIn?
How can I use it to build my business?
Okay, I’m on there – now what?
Where are the hidden treasures on LinkedIn?
How can I make the most of my LinkedIn network?
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4. What is LinkedIn?
An online social network for professionals
Profiles
Connections
Introductions
Q&A
Status
Recommendations
Groups
30+ million people and growing fast
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5. How I use LinkedIn
Promote BCIT & ARLO
Publicize my books
Obtain speaking engagements
Offered guest lectureship
Helpful answers to tough problems
New friends worldwide
Old friends back in touch
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6. Getting onto LinkedIn
Go to www.linkedin.com
Sign up (free)
Set up profile
Name, title
Photo
Work history
Education
Speciality areas & skills
Interests, hobbies, awards
Your websites or blogs
Contact preferences
Get involved...get active!
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7. Be a good LinkedIn citizen
Full profile with photo
Build your network – add connections
Ask & answer questions
Give and seek recommendations
Update status frequently
Join groups and participate in discussions
Help others: “what’s in it for them?”
Be a giver not a taker
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8. The Power of Profile
Put everything in there!
Your photo makes you real
High school, past jobs,
interests all matter: they
build bridges
TIP: Use descriptors
that are easily searched
e.g. “new product
designer”
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9. The Power of Connections
Crucial decision: stay small
or go big?
Small networks can keep it
intimate & local, but…
Big networks exponentially
increase your reach
Your entire network will
see your status, questions,
answers
TIP: Click on “OpenLink
enabled” to announce your
willingness to connect
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10. The Power of Q&A
Ask strategic questions
Answer questions
frequently and generously;
think of yourself last
Put a Weblink in your
answers (draw people to
your Website, books, or
blog)
Earn expertise rewards &
build reputation
TIP: Visit Q&A daily and
answer as many
questions as you can,
insinuating your web
address where possible
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11. The Power of Recommending
Recognize someone you
respect
Don’t be shy: request
recommendations
Put all past employers in
your profile and seek
recommendations for each
one
TIP: Don’t “drown” your
profile in
recommendations – 5-10
good ones is plenty
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12. The Power of Status
Let your world know
what you are up to
Be strategic (“Rob is
looking for entrepreneurs
to assist”)
Update it frequently
TIP: Keep “stock” ones
handy (e.g. “looking for
new clients”)
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13. The Power of Groups
Search for & join relevant
Groups
Be strategic: should I join
“Starving Inventors” or “New
Product Tycoons?” Why not
both?
Display your Group badges
on your profile to allow like-
minded people to connect
Contribute to Group
Discussions
TIP: Join the group “Invites
Welcome” to grow your
network
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14. The Power of Discussions
Each LinkedIn Group has a
discussion feature
Good way to advertise new
books
Ask strategic questions
Introduce yourself to the
community
TIP: Seed a discussion
with your key business
challenge, e.g. “How do I
connect with inventors who
need protoypes made?”
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15. The Power of Introductions
Connect 2 people who can
help each other
Ask for introductions from
your connections
Be generous with your
contacts
TIP: Search for your
dream client and see who
in your network is
connected to them – get
introduced
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16. Getting the Most out of LinkedIn
Put everything in your profile
Increase your network size
Join LinkedIn Groups
Ask and answer questions strategically
Give more than you get
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17. The Power of Small Favours
Help 50 people with:
Answers
Recommendations
Expert suggestions
Leads
Introductions
When you need help, 50 people will be there for you
Give generously; the “getting” flows indirectly from
your investment in others
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