Positive experience with LinkedIn - Small-Business-Forum.net

huggytree · 04-25-2009, 02:09 PM

i was at a marketing roundtable 2 days ago with the local builders association

someone mentioned LinkedIn.com as a good place to find business

so i did it!

i joined several local business groups and left the post 'free plumbing advice given here'

i dont mind giving out free advice and i thought it was a good way to be noticed....2nd reply was from a 24 unit condo association in a rich community (i work there often)...they arent happy with their plumber and wanted my phone #

i recommend everyone try it!

vangogh · 04-25-2009, 04:48 PM

LinkedIn is a good site. Great way to connect with other business owners. I probably don't use the site as well as I should, but I do have a profile.

Congrats on making it work for you so fast. Look for people posting plumbing related questions and answer them. That should help set you up as the expert and hopefully lead to more jobs.

cbscreative · 04-26-2009, 10:45 PM

This seems more like a confession thread so far as I too have not used LinkedIn like I should. Maybe it's my ties to the "old ways" in spite of the fact that I welcome change and strive to stay current. I've had a profile for some time now, but have not fully taken the plunge.

vangogh · 04-27-2009, 06:34 AM

I'll have to look for it, but a couple of weeks ago I came across a video by a web designer(?) explaining how she used several social media sites, one of which was LinkedIn. I think she said she used LinkedIn much like a rolodex. She used the site mainly as a way to collect contacts. It made sense to me, though maybe you have to watch the video and see how she used the other sites as well to see how they all tied in.

I'll look for the video and maybe post a general social media thread about it.

rezzy · 04-27-2009, 01:41 PM

I have recently started re-examining my linkedin network and started adding some of groups and other friends and people I work with.

Its has given me exposure but no returns ATM.

KristineS · 04-27-2009, 08:52 PM

I like LinkedIn and I've made some connections through it, but I don't use it like I should either. I need to spend some more time on my profile there.

Glad to hear it worked for you huggy. That's great!

vangogh · 04-27-2009, 08:56 PM

By the way here's the other thread I started, How to make Social Media Work for Your Business.

I'd highly recommend watching the video I linked to in that thread. It's about 6 minutes and I think makes clear what social media and networking is all about.

SimplyBRG · 04-27-2009, 09:01 PM

I have been a member of LinkIN for about a year and I have not received one referral from anyone on that site. I am attorney so maybe it is more useful to other types of business. To me it seems like nothing more than an address book for friends and colleagues. Maybe I am not using it the right way.

vangogh · 04-28-2009, 12:34 AM

Try not to think of any specific social networking site as a direct means of business. I think they work best when used to build relationships with people who may then send you work indirectly.

For example someone who has your contact info from LinkedIn also connects with you at a site like Twitter. They recognize your name and you strike up small conversations. That leads them to visit your website and get a better feel for what you do. Perhaps they link to your site from their site or recommend someone to give you a call.

The business you get may not directly have come from LinkedIn, but LinkedIn may have contributed to business.

Watch the video in the post I linked to above. I think it will shed some light on the whole process.

huggytree · 04-28-2009, 02:15 AM

I have people coming out of the woodwork asking to be LinkedIn with me. People i met once months ago...its alittle strange...i made an impression on them obviously..good networkers remember everyone i guess....my memory isnt that good....i remember them when they tell me who they are....just seeing their name or company i draw a blank

another person offered to get me some plumbing work at a nursing home..i dont have the commercial experience...but its 2 possible plumbing offers in 4 days....ill be happy with a job or 2 from it a year...

04-25-2009, 02:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
huggytree Member Needs New Keyboard Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mukwonago, WI Posts: 851 Reputation: 17	Positive experience with LinkedIn i was at a marketing roundtable 2 days ago with the local builders association someone mentioned LinkedIn.com as a good place to find business so i did it! i joined several local business groups and left the post 'free plumbing advice given here' i dont mind giving out free advice and i thought it was a good way to be noticed....2nd reply was from a 24 unit condo association in a rich community (i work there often)...they arent happy with their plumber and wanted my phone # i recommend everyone try it!

04-25-2009, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
vangogh Post Impressionist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 6,470 Reputation: 59	LinkedIn is a good site. Great way to connect with other business owners. I probably don't use the site as well as I should, but I do have a profile. Congrats on making it work for you so fast. Look for people posting plumbing related questions and answer them. That should help set you up as the expert and hopefully lead to more jobs. __________________ l Search Engine Friendly Web Design \| Van SEO Design l Tips On Marketing, SEO, Design, and Development \| TheVanBlog l Custom WordPress Themes

04-26-2009, 10:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
cbscreative Refugee from the .com Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Right here Posts: 1,669 Reputation: 43	This seems more like a confession thread so far as I too have not used LinkedIn like I should. Maybe it's my ties to the "old ways" in spite of the fact that I welcome change and strive to stay current. I've had a profile for some time now, but have not fully taken the plunge. __________________ Steve Chittenden Graphic design, web design, professional writing, and marketing. "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." -- Theodore Roosevelt

04-27-2009, 06:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
vangogh Post Impressionist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 6,470 Reputation: 59	I'll have to look for it, but a couple of weeks ago I came across a video by a web designer(?) explaining how she used several social media sites, one of which was LinkedIn. I think she said she used LinkedIn much like a rolodex. She used the site mainly as a way to collect contacts. It made sense to me, though maybe you have to watch the video and see how she used the other sites as well to see how they all tied in. I'll look for the video and maybe post a general social media thread about it. __________________ l Search Engine Friendly Web Design \| Van SEO Design l Tips On Marketing, SEO, Design, and Development \| TheVanBlog l Custom WordPress Themes

04-27-2009, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
rezzy Member Needs New Keyboard Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 602 Reputation: 23	I have recently started re-examining my linkedin network and started adding some of groups and other friends and people I work with. Its has given me exposure but no returns ATM. __________________ Site Design - ResnoDesigns

04-27-2009, 08:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
KristineS Queen of the Forum Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Traverse City, MI Posts: 2,378 Reputation: 34	I like LinkedIn and I've made some connections through it, but I don't use it like I should either. I need to spend some more time on my profile there. Glad to hear it worked for you huggy. That's great! __________________ Settling for More\| When I'm Thin\|The Tenderfoot Diaries\| Outdoor Bloggers Summit Blog\|

04-27-2009, 08:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
vangogh Post Impressionist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 6,470 Reputation: 59	By the way here's the other thread I started, How to make Social Media Work for Your Business. I'd highly recommend watching the video I linked to in that thread. It's about 6 minutes and I think makes clear what social media and networking is all about. __________________ l Search Engine Friendly Web Design \| Van SEO Design l Tips On Marketing, SEO, Design, and Development \| TheVanBlog l Custom WordPress Themes

04-27-2009, 09:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
SimplyBRG Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 18 Reputation: 10	I have been a member of LinkIN for about a year and I have not received one referral from anyone on that site. I am attorney so maybe it is more useful to other types of business. To me it seems like nothing more than an address book for friends and colleagues. Maybe I am not using it the right way. __________________ Join a locally based online referral group at www.SimplyBRG.com

04-28-2009, 12:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
vangogh Post Impressionist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 6,470 Reputation: 59	Try not to think of any specific social networking site as a direct means of business. I think they work best when used to build relationships with people who may then send you work indirectly. For example someone who has your contact info from LinkedIn also connects with you at a site like Twitter. They recognize your name and you strike up small conversations. That leads them to visit your website and get a better feel for what you do. Perhaps they link to your site from their site or recommend someone to give you a call. The business you get may not directly have come from LinkedIn, but LinkedIn may have contributed to business. Watch the video in the post I linked to above. I think it will shed some light on the whole process. __________________ l Search Engine Friendly Web Design \| Van SEO Design l Tips On Marketing, SEO, Design, and Development \| TheVanBlog l Custom WordPress Themes

04-28-2009, 02:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
huggytree Member Needs New Keyboard Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mukwonago, WI Posts: 851 Reputation: 17	I have people coming out of the woodwork asking to be LinkedIn with me. People i met once months ago...its alittle strange...i made an impression on them obviously..good networkers remember everyone i guess....my memory isnt that good....i remember them when they tell me who they are....just seeing their name or company i draw a blank another person offered to get me some plumbing work at a nursing home..i dont have the commercial experience...but its 2 possible plumbing offers in 4 days....ill be happy with a job or 2 from it a year...