The Professional Social Network. Setting Up and Using LinkedIn

One of the most exciting qualities of the internet and technology in general is their exceptional ability to enhance and increase the quality of the average person?s everyday life. Virtually every major part of most people?s most common activities have been able to benefit from the connectivity and resources that these invaluable tools can provide.

Two areas that have most likely seen the most profound changes as a result of the rise of the internet are business and social interaction. With business, not only is the ability present for job seekers to find employment on a much higher level, but also the opportunity for businesses to promote their products and corporate brand is enhanced by an order of magnitude. Social interaction has seen such improvements as the ability for people all over the globe to connect with friends and loved ones in real time, as well as meet new people with similar interests.

As a result of the impact that the internet has shown in these two major areas, the introduction of a site that took the benefits bestowed on both and combined them into a single package was nothing short of revolutionary. Enter LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a unique blend of both corporate and social interaction and provides an excellent method for people to make and develop new business contacts. The company was initially launched in May of 2003 and has quickly risen to become one of Silicon Valley Insider?s top 10 most valuable internet start ups.

LinkedIn provides a wide variety of different services that have made it invaluable to any business-minded individual who has the desire to stay in contact with people throughout their area of business. In addition, it is also simple to find new contacts that can help enhance their current business practices and activities. One of the most effective methods by which this is accomplished is through the use of ?Connections.? Connections are formed when a LinkedIn user sends an invitation to someone, regardless of whether or not the person is a LinkedIn member. Once this invitation has been accepted, the user?s details are displayed in their LinkedIn page.

However, while this is an excellent way for people who are already in contact with each other to stay connected, it is not the primary method that is used for people to expand their list of business contacts. This is accomplished through the use of both second-degree and third-degree contacts. This area is where the LinkedIn site shines and sets itself apart from the rest of the pack. Once two people are Connected, each user has the opportunity to see which contacts the other person has in their list. These are called second-degree contacts. To take things even further, people in the second-degree contact?s lists are also available and are called third-degree contacts. As you can see, the opportunity to find new business people to connect with is virtually limitless.

Another popular feature of the site takes the form of its various interest groups. These groups are founded by LinkedIn members and allows for different people with the same business focus to meet and discuss topics pertaining to its subject matter. Each group is moderated by its founders and can be designated as private, members-only or open to any internet user.

In 2008, LinkedIn introduced another feature named Applications, which would go on to become one of the most successful features of the site. With applications, different online services can be embedded into a person?s LinkedIn page. This allows users to include things like blogs, as well as promote different products and services directly from their own corporate website.

Signing up for LinkedIn is simple and can be accomplished in minutes. Once you visit their homepage, located at http://www.linkedin.com/, fill in the initial registration information, which includes the usual suspects such as your name, email address and a self-designated password. Submission of this information will take you to the beginning of the profile-building phase. The information requested here is also very basic and can be finished in about a minute. This will take you to a few pages that will list both different existing LinkedIn members, as well as people that have not yet joined LinkedIn, all who have some affiliation with the email address that you have specified. This step is helpful in providing a core base of your LinkedIn contacts. Select as few or as many as you like, keeping in mind that the more people that you are Connected with, the more second and third-degree contacts you will have.

Once you have completed this step of the profile, you will be provided with a link that people can use to join your list of Connections directly. This link can also be promoted by two of the most popular social networking websites, Facebook and Twitter.

The basic service with LinkedIn is absolutely free. This level of service allows you to do many things such as create and build your network, join groups and apply for jobs. However, if your needs are a bit more in depth, you have the option of becoming a paid member, which starts at $24.95 per month. A paid subscription provides additional perks such as the ability to send messages to people you are not directly connected with, access to premium search features and the capacity to reach out to any of their over 175 million users.

After selecting which subscription you are interested in, you will be taken to your member?s page. The layout is very simple and straightforward, with each section clearly marked. At the top of the page you will see what type of account you have, a menu bar that contains navigation to each part of the site and a handy ?Add Connections? for when you are ready to get started building your network.

LinkedIn is the perfect blend of both business and social interaction and provides you with a place that can potentially launch your business to heights of success previously unknown. Since one of the keys to success is found in who you know, this website is perfect for achieving this goal.

Source: http://www.techtous.com/blog/the-professional-social-network-setting-up-and-using-linkedin/

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