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If you don’t know what LinkedIn is, or haven’t heard about it, you should go to the site immediately and check it out. Initially launched in 2003, consider it the Social Media network for the working professional. Over the years it has prove that from a business perspective, it is an excellent place to make and expand contacts, and is fertile recruiting ground.<\/p>\n
How Does It Work?<\/strong><\/p>\n Unlike Facebook and other social media sites, LinkedIn is geared toward professionals. Its profile pages read a lot like resumes, with background notes, job experiences, competencies, and skill sets. Profiles are also media rich, enabling members to really show off their skills and make themselves shine.<\/p>\n The site shares many features in common with Facebook, most notably the ability to \u201cfriend\u201d other users, which is the process by which you add them to your \u201cnetwork.\u201d Users can build a virtual network of friends, allies, and contacts that they can use for the rest of their professional lives. You can benefit from this in any number of ways. As you’re reading this, I’m sure a number of them are already coming to mind, but if you’re struggling to wrap your head around how you can use a tool like this, let me give you some signposts to get you started:<\/p>\n Joint Ventures & Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n Is your next \u201cbig idea\u201d too big to be a one man show? Creating your own LinkedIn account can allow you to start building your own network, and you can begin systematically reaching out to, and keeping in touch with people who have the skill sets you may need for your future endeavors.<\/p>\n The flip side of that is also true. You never know when some other entrepreneurial sort will appear before you, wanting to add you to his network in order to bring you in on his next \u201cbig idea.\u201d<\/p>\n