10 Simple Tips to Double your LinkedIn Connections

Written by Jeff Bullas

LinkedIn is the boring brother of Facebook and Twitter.

Sometimes you feel like shaking him and asking if he knows what it’s like to have a little bit of fun. Comparisons continue to be made including the ones between Facebook and LinkedIn. One I have heard that sums it up well is….”Facebook is like hanging out at a barbeque with friends while LinkedIn is the cocktail party“.

Compared to Twitter, the social media rock star that attracts the media spotlight and streams across the bottom of the television, LinkedIn is a bit buttoned up. It’s suit and tie versus jeans and t-shirt. Sometimes you feel like you should be prodding it with a stick.

But despite the comparisons, the jokes and the snide remarks, LinkedIn is not to be underestimated. It can connect you to powerful influencers, provide a focused ecosystem to share your content and be a B2B marketer’s best friend.

These numbers put some context on the importance and scale of the LinkedIn community.

• 187 million monthly unique users
• 3 million LinkedIn business pages
• 2.1 million LinkedIn groups

So what are some simple tips to be more effective on LinkedIn and make use of its global network of movers and shakers?

10 tips to double your LinkedIn connections

Sometimes the simplest tactics are forgotten that can make a big difference over time. With the majority of users having less than 500 connections these tips will provide the guidelines to take it beyond the 1,000 barrier.

1. Update your status daily. This could include  posting your latest blog post, sharing an interesting Slideshare presentation or an article that is of value to your industry and niche
2. Participate in (or start) a LinkedIn group discussion weekly
3. Follow influencers and ask or answer questions on their posts
4. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and focus on 3-5 of these and stay active on each one
5. Send one new invite daily and personalize it. Don’t use the standard default invite request
6. Prominently display your contact information so you make it easy for people to contact you
7. Endorse people you know for their skills with no expectation of  reciprocation
8. Promote your LinkedIn profile. Include it on your card, place it in your email signature and on your website/blog
9. Tweet your LinkedIn updates to Twitter.
10. Include links to your blog and website in your LinkedIn profile. This will help you build credibility by displaying your full online presence.

What about you?

How are you using LinkedIn?  Are you a LinkedIn power user? What is your best story about the effectiveness of LinkedIn?

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/03/17/10-simple-tips-to-double-your-linkedin-connections/#EbM0sqALexaf7ozR.99