Linkedin Connections

I earn my living as a Professional Blogger and Social Networker. I use sites like Linkedin to build connections and make money. Since the founding of the Internet there have been many people that get offended by people trying to make money on the Internet. I am a capitalist, no apologies. It is my belief that social networking and sites like Linkedin are going to become very valuable in the next few years for companies that want to increase their presence on the Internet and entrepreneurs that want to make money.

A while back I was talking to a Linkedin connection, Andrew Stephens, a SEO expert out of Cincinnati Ohio. Andrew indicated that he believes Google will be changing the way their search engine operates in the next few years. He believes that in order to get your website ranked on page one, instead of hiring a SEO expert you will need votes. Kind of like Digg. With that in mind, building a powerful network of connections on a site like Linkedin could be not only a good idea, but a great one.

In a previous article I published called "Linkedin" I explained how I got started on Linkedin and started building connections. If you are new to Linkedin and social networking that would be a good place to start.

I believe that in life, you are either the chess player or a chess piece. Google owns their search engine and can do whatever they want. We as business people, can not be mere pawns in the game of Google. To become a Grandmaster in the game of capitalism, we must be a chess player, not a chess piece. We must adapt and overcome Today that means we must become adept at marketing by means of social networking.

How involved in social networking should a business person be? How many social networking sites should one person or business be on? As for the first question I say, budget your time. Set up a specific amount of time to devote to social networking and stick to it. As for the second question, I am on a few social networking sites, but primarily like to work with my Linkedin Connections. If you have a team of individuals within a company that you can have to start social networking, I would split them between different social networking sites. Find social networks that are relevant to your industry and market, and start making connections.

Whether you are dealing with Linkedin connections or connections on another social networking site, I am in favor of doing business. Some people seem to be insulted if you offer a special promotion to them or blatantly ask for their business. My opinion is simple, delete them as a connection. Stop pussy footing around! No one joins a social network like Linkedin with the expectation that they will not be solicited. Now I am not saying that you should spam your connections with an new email offer every day. But let's get serious, you are here to do business. I am sure there are a few people that have no friends and thought they could make a few with Linkedin, but most people are on Linkedin for professional contacts. Professional contacts do business with each other.

Build connections on Linkedin that want to do business. If you end up with 3,000 connections, obviously not everyone will need you, your service or product everyday, but sooner or later they will. Otherwise who needs them? You do not become a Grandmaster in the game of capitalism by moving checkers pieces on a chess board.

Make yourself available to your Linkedin connections. I have had a few people that when I send them an email I get a message from their autoresponder that tells me how to become connected to them. We are already connected! Or at least I am connected with their autoresponder. Autoresponders have their purpose, but doing business has a two way connotation. It is not a one way street. If anyone I am connected to asks me for help, I try to help. I would be embarrassed to ask for someones business if I could not honor the "social" aspect of networking.

It is my belief that building a social network on Linkedin or some of the other social networking sites will not only be a valuable tool, but a necessary one in the next few years. Those that learn, will earn! Live long, prosper and get LINKEDIN!