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Finding Connections on LinkedIn
n this article, Linda provides a number of ways to find those LinkedIn connections and how to treat those connections once made.
If you're a member of any social network, you may bemoan the fact that you don't have many connections compared to, say, Guy Kawasaki. But, the number of connections aren't the point – the quality of connections you make on any social network – such as LinkedIn – are key. In this article, Linda provides a number of ways to find those LinkedIn connections and how to treat those connections once made.
Advanced Searches
Finally, there is the advanced search at LinkedIn, which you can reach through the "Advanced" link next to the search box at the top of the page...
Once you've gained a handful of contacts and a few recommendations, use this advanced search tool to find people who also are in your field or who might have some interest in your products/services. Please note that LinkedIn really isn't a place to push your products or services – unless you follow LinkedIn's guidelines for service providers. Then, people can find you if they want your products and services. This capability allows you to relax and make yourself known more for your expertise than your sales ability...especially if you use the Answer system at LinkedIn...
The Answer (and Question) Method
For instance, one way to build connections at LinkedIn is to ask and answer questions. Each member has the option to share questions with the LinkedIn Network and/or up to 200 connections. To create a question, use the following steps:
1. Click on "Answers" located n the top navigation area of the top of the home page.
2. Click on "Ask a Question" and type your question in the open text field.
3. Below the question text field, select the "only share this question with connections I select." Use this only if you do not want your question posted publicly.
4. Complete the provided form.
5. Click on the "Ask Question" button at the bottom of the 'Ask a Question' page.
6. If you did not select the 'share this question with connections' your answer will be posted publicly. You then have the option to select up to 200 connections you wish to send the question to and click on "Finished."
7. Compose your email to your connections and click "Send."
Make sure you have no typos in your question and that it is relevant and not a time-consuming question that you can answer yourself with a little legwork in a search engine. Also, please respond to those who answer your question and include your invitation to connect details when you respond.
When you answer questions, you show your expertise. When you answer questions that show up in the "Answer" category on your home page, you can include a private note that invites the questioner to connect.
What About People Who Want to Connect with You?
Since your LinkedIn connections may be the most valuable connections you maintain, LinkedIn recommends the following to protect yourself from unwanted invitations:
You can protect yourself from unwanted invitations by turning on the "Invitation Filtering" feature. This feature allows you to upload your address book into LinkedIn as a "white list." This list can restrict invitations to people in your address book. When you enable this option, invitations sent to you will not appear in your email inbox, but will be diverted to a "blocked Invitations" page, which you can check periodically. Here's how you can activate this feature:
1. Click on "Account & Settings" at the top of the home page.
2. Click on "Invitation Settings" under "Email Notifications."
3. Choose the option, "Only notify me of invitations from people in my 'Imported Contacts' list."
4. Click on "Save Changes."
Linda Goin
Linda Goin carries an A.A. in graphic design, a B.F.A. in visual communications with a minor in business and marketing and an M.A. in American History with a minor in the Reformation. While the latter degree doesn't seem to fit with the first two educational experiences, Linda used her 25-year design expertise on archaeological digs and in the study of material culture. Now she uses her education and experiences in social media experiments.
Accolades for her work include fifteen first-place Colorado Press Association awards, numerous fine art and graphic design awards, and interviews about content development with The Wall St. Journal, Chicago Tribune, Psychology Today, and L.A. Times.