Internet Marketing Tools

An equally cool tool for quickly expanding your network is the Linkedin Browser Tool.  Like the Outlook took, the Browser tool interconnects your web browser, either Firefox or Internet Explorer with the Linkedin program.  When you down load the Browser toolbar, a small Linkedin Icon appears on the menu bar of your browser.  By clicking on the Icon, you can do the following:

• Go directly to your Linkedin home page
• Directly use Linkedin to find people
• Find Services
• Change your profile
• Find your connections
• Add connections
• Find Jobs
• Use Linkedin Job Insider

In short, instead of having to log into your Linkedin program, you can do it from your browser bar.  This makes it very convenient for you to the Linkedin tool always there to be put to use whenever you need it.

Downloading the Linkedin Outlook Toolbar and Browser Toolbar

Go the bottom of any Linkedin page on your Linkedin program and look for the category Tools.  You will see the Outlook Toolbar and the Browser Toolbar.  There are easy to follow download instructions.  Put these tools to work for you.

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

Use the Linkedin “Add Connections” Function

On the side of every Linkedin page you will find a green button Add Connections.  Click on this button to begin your first step in expanding your network.  This will take you to a page where you can manually add six invitations at one time.  We will come back to the manual input in a moment.  First we want to use Linkedin automated tools.

You will find a tab on that same page “Import Contacts”.  You will click here to import contacts from Outlook, and webmail services like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and other electronic address books.

I’ve had a Hotmail account for eight years.  From the choices, I clicked on Hotmail.  My connection did not go through the first time (See the tip at the end of this section).  The second time Linkedin connected to my entire email list in Hotmail and displayed a 193 contacts.  (Since I only use Hotmail as a back up email program, I had forgotten most of the people listed on this email file.)

If a person is already on Linkedin, they will have a small blue icon after their name.  This is a great place to make your first invitations to help in your job search.  These are people who are already familiar with Linkedin and suitable candidates to add to your network. (Use your own set of criteria for who you want on your network).

You then click to identify which of these people you want to send an invitation to.  In my case I choose 18 current Linkedin people as my first set of invitations.  This created a list (their names and email addresses are already on the Linkedin list because it extracted the list from your webmail accounts), on the right side of the page.

Personalize the Invitation

I checked the box that says I want to “Personalize my Invitation”.  I was given a screen box in which I could type my personalize invitation rather than the standard Linkedin form.

Since I was sending 18 of these invitations at one time, I wanted to make the invitation semi-personal.  This is not a mass mailing nor is it a one to one mailing.

Here’s what I wrote:  “I see that you are on Linkedin just as I am.  I would love to connect with you.  I am currently working on an e-book of tips for people using the Linkedin program and would like to send it to you.  Let’ connect on each others network.  Thanks.”  Al

Notice a couple of things about this semi-personal note.  It is more general than a one to one (you can always send out individual personal invitations).  Second, I offered them something in return for joining my network.  My mother taught me that whenever I visited a friend’s house, I should bring some type of treat or gift.  This is my version of “visiting” someone.  It is my hope that the email tips sheet will be seen as useful to the other person and an incentive to connect with me on Linkedin.

A Job Search Message

You can create your own personalized job search message.  Here’s one suggested message you may find useful.  “I see that you are on Linkedin just as I am.  I would love to connect with you.  I am currently in the process of a job search XYZ.  I am using Linkedin as a tool for my job search.  It would helpful to me, if we could connect and be part of each other’s network.  Let’ connect.  Thanks.”  Al

Once I was finished with my message, I click to send the invitation.  Linkedin will personalize the invitation with the person’s name.  I was immediately notified that 18 invitations were sent. By the next morning I already had four responses that people had joined my network.

Because my hotmail list had almost two hundred names, I went back several times and follow the above steps until I had send email invitation to all the people I wanted to from my Hotmail list.  If you have a large list you can go back to your list several times to do this process.

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

Your Choice Quality or Quantity Network

There are a number of choices you will make before you actually start creating and expanding your network.  Your first choice involves quality verses quantity networking.

At first blush, you want as many connections as possible on your Linkedin site to be a part of your job searching process.  If a hundred connections are good; a thousand is better.  Going for as many connections as possible is one strategy.

Choosing to build a large quantity of network connections is popular.  In sales, the expression goes, “The money is in the list!”  Statistics show that at any one point in time, only 3% of any group is ready to buy, with another 7% considering a purchase.  A network based largely on numbers probably has the same percentages of people helpful to your job search.

With the quantity strategy you build as many contacts as possible.  Some job searching strategies are built on “the numbers game.”  Go for as many numbers as possible and there will always be a certain number of jobs that will fit your situation.

Another strategy is the qualitative approach to networking building.  In this approach you seek a more limited number of connections.  Using your own criteria, you carefully select who to connect with on Linkedin.

If you have a hundred connections on your network and 30% of them are strong connections, then that number equals 3% of 1000 weaker connections.

Different people use different strategies.  Qualitative verses quantitative.  You choose the strategy you believe and feel comfortable using in your business.  You can start with a quantitative strategy and switch later to a qualitative strategy.

Linkedin Networking Strategy—Active Verses Passive

This is another strategic decision.  You can take a very active approach to expanding your network as part of your job searching efforts.  You will see the tools that Linkedin provides for this purpose.

Or you can use a passive approach.  You passively invite others to connect with you by adding a Linkedin Icon to your email signature or your website or your blog.  Anywhere people can click and connect with you.

Some people will click and will invite you to connect with them.  They take the action; you respond.  That is why I call this passive network building.

Linkedin Networking Strategy Other Considerations

Many people make the mistake of waiting to build a network only when they need it.  It takes time to build a Linkedin network.  Start expanding now for your job search but also see this as a future network that can help you once you are in a new job.

Manage your network.  You will need to sort your network, remove dead wood, repair emails, find missing people, etc.  A strong network needs to be managed.  This takes time.

Allow enough time and energy to create your network.  It is work.  It can be fun.  As part of your job search, plan to expand your network daily.

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

Let’s now apply the information about making powerful testimonials to the Making and Receiving Recommendations for your Linkedin Page.  I’ll start with Making a Recommendation.  If this is your first Recommendation, it is always good to spend a few minutes reviewing what other people are using for Recommendation.  You can learn what you like and dislike about these Recommendations by looking at the work of others.

You can initiate a Recommendation from your profile, from the profile of the person you are recommending or in direct response to a request you receive from the other person.  Here are the directions from Linkedin for using these three options:

                                          To recommend a person from your profile: 

1. Click the ‘Get Recommended’ link found in the ‘Recommended By’ section of the profile.

2. You’ll be taken to a page that allows you to ‘Mange recommendations you have received’ or ‘Make a Recommendation’.

3. Under the ‘Make a Recommendation’ section, enter a contact’s first/last name and their email address or click the ‘Select from your connections list’ link. Scroll to the lower part of the page.

4. Choose a category: service provider, business partner, colleague or student.

5. Follow the instructions provided based on the category you selected. 

                                              To recommend a person from their profile: 

1. Click ‘Recommend this person’ found in the upper right hand corner of the profile. You will also find a recommendation link in the Experience section under the position for which you want to recommend them.

2. Choose a category: service provider, business partner, student, or colleague.

3. Follow the instructions provided based on the category you selected. 

                                        To recommend a person in response to a request: 

1. Open the message in your email client or from the Received Recommendations page in your LinkedIn inbox.

2. Click ‘Write Recommendation’.

3. If this is an original request, you will be directed to a page where you can compose and submit your recommendation.

4. If this is a request to replace an existing recommendation, you will be taken to a page where you can edit the previous recommendation and submit the revised text. 

Once you have completed the name the person and identified your relationship with them (you are given a number of choices), then click on Continue and you are taken to series of questions to complete before you write your recommendation.  

What to Say?

Write the recommendation using the framework discussed in previous posts.  Make it exciting.  Be specific about the work done by the person, the strengths and responsibilities demonstrated by the person and the results or benefits produced. 

A message will be sent to the person through Linkened sharing the Recommendation you have just written.  You can customize this message that goes along with your recommendation.

If the person you are giving the recommendation for is not on your first level network, check the box “Invite XYZ to join your professional network.  When you send this you will be sending a Recommendation and an invitation all at the same time.

Click Send and submit your Recommendation to the person.  They will have the opportunity to review it, accept it or ask for revisions.  Most people will accept what you write, however, they can ask for revisions to clarify points they want in the Recommendation.

Email or Call

I’ve found the best method is to email or call a colleague and offer to exchange Recommendations.  They supply one for you and you supply one for them.  In this way, you can specify what each person would like in a Recommendation.   You can always send an email with a draft of your recommendation.   The other person can send it back to you with the changes they would like.  Then you put the revised Recommendation through the Linkedin process.  This is an easy way to quickly generate recommendations.  

Withdraing a Recommendation

You can Withdraw your recommendation.  Situations changes; jobs may change.  You are allowed to withdraw your Recommendation.  When you do this, it is permanently removed from Linkedin and the recipient is not notified.  To withdraw a Recommendation go to your Managing your Recommendations and click on Withdraw Recommendations.

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

You created a Linkedin Job Searching Profile to attract help with your job search.  ”Build it and they will come” only happens in the movies.  You must now promote your new Profile.  Promoting and marketing your Profile is just as important as creating your Profile.  Later we will deal with how to use your network, the major effort to promote your job search.  Here, I will share with you six additional ways you can promote your Profile.  The more people that see your Profile, the more exposure your job search gets.

Status Update

You have an opportunity to type in on a regular basis the current Status on what you are doing.  You know about Twitter which is the fastest growing social networking program on the internet.  Twitter has made its mark from this one feature “What are you doing now”.  Twitter allows only 140 characters to complete this sentence.  Millions are joining Twitter each month. (If you are linked to Twitter, your Twitter updates will appear on your Linkedin page).

The Status Line on Linkedin can be used much like the Twitter 140 character line.  It keeps people informed. And each time you change your Status, word automatically goes to all your Linkedin connections.

This is a great tool to keep people in your network informed.    In advertising they have the expression, “Top of the mind awareness” which means keeping your product in front of people.  You can use the Linkedin Status Line function to keep your job search in front of your connections.

Make these Status updates about your job search.   For example, you might write,  “I just finished an interview with XYZ company about their accounting position.”  Or, “I am currently involved in a forum discussing new accounting ethical standards.”   You can occasionally write something more personal in this Status line to show people that all work and no play make Jonnie a dull boy.

During your job search, you should be updating your Status line on a daily basis.  It will take less than five minutes to do so.  Think of the exposure this gives you to your connections with just five minutes of effort?

Email Signature

You have probably noticed more and more people have social networking logos attached to their email signature.  (An email signature is that special one line sentence automatically attached to every email you send.)  You can create a Linkedin email signature.  When someone receives an email from you and clicks on the Linkedin logo, they are immediately taken to a very nice summary of your Profile.  From there they can click to see your complete Job Searching Profile.  You can even include your photo.  This means that any time, you are emailing someone, you let them know about access to your Profile.

Go here and follow the step by step instructions to develop your Linkedin email signature.  http://www.linkedin.com/signature

Create a Vanity URL

When you first joined Linkedin, Linkedin gave you a number to identify your Linkedin account.  You want to be known as more than a number!  Linkedin allows you to customize your Linkedin address, or a Vanity URL. For example, if you type in www.linkedincom/in/alhanzal, you will be taken directly to my Linkedin summary page.  Use this Linkedin tool to create your own URL and get even more exposure for your job search.  Here is how to do it.

Click on your current Public Profile URL link, you’ll see the edit box.  You will see the original number address you were given at sign up.  Click on Edit and it will take you to a new page and a box where you can change the address.  Type in your full name–all in lower case letters as one word.   Then click Set Address.

Your Linkedin address changes from numbers to your name.  Now you can put this on your signature file, websites, and other marketing pieces to let people know that you are on Linkedin.  You now have given people another way to contact you.

Promote Your Linkedin Profile Everywhere

Put your new Linkedin address on your business card, your website and any contacts points where people might want to see your resume.  By promoting your Linkedin Profile offline, it can work while you sleep.

Here’s another specific way to promote your Profile.  Join online forums.  Online forums are where thousands of people go to ask questions, seek answers about specific issues and topics.  There are forums for almost anything.  Go to Google and search “Forums for XYZ (your job search area).  Check them out by reading through some of the discussion topics and determine which ones would be most appropriate for your job search.  Join the forums and regularly participate.

Forums allow you to use your email signature.  Besides getting known for your comments and questions, you can sign each comment with your email signature.  Those people interested will click on it be taken to your Profile summary.  You will find forums for your actual business area as well as plenty of forums about career changing and job searching. (Do a Google search for Job Searching Forums) Participate, learn and get more exposure for your Job Searching Profile. 

Google Alerts

Google has an Alert function.  Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.  You can go to Google and set up an alert function for key phrases and words in your job search, for companies or other key items in your job search.  Once you set up the Alert and how often you want to be notified, Google will send you an email every time new information arises about the terms, the company or other items you are using for the Alert.  Get Google to be helping you in your job search.

Regularly update your Profile

Did you know that every time you update your Profile, your connections are sent a notice that you have updated your Profile on Network Update pages?  Make a change once a week to your Profile and automatically get additional exposure with your Linkedin your connections.   

Conclusion

These are just a few of the additional ways you can promote our Job Searching Profile.  Make time each day to promote your Job Searching Profile.  

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal

When you’re looking for a job, you want to use every available tool.  This includes Want Ads in the newspaper, online Job Searches, networking with professionals, head hunters and now social networking programs like Linkedin.  At its heart, Linkedin allows you to find and create networks of people without the traditional limitations of time and space.

As an introduction to Linkedin Job Seeking functions, let me share with you my own experience from a hundred years ago on the power of networking to obtain a job.  You will see from this experience why I am partial to using networking (Linkedin is today’s digital version) as the best avenue to find a new job.

My Job Search

For six years, I had a career in the ministry.  When I decided to leave, I remember many people telling me, “Father, you are going to find it very tough in the ‘real world’.”  I had a lot of people skills and public speaking skills.  I could speak Latin and Greek.  Where were the experiences to show potential employers?

A friend shared with me a networking model for finding a job.  I started with one person I knew who was several positions higher than the level of jobs I was seeking.  (Because he was higher, I was never a threat to his job).  This man had a position in the public energy company—not a place where I was seeking employment.  I asked him if I could meet with him to help me with my job search.  I made it clear that I was not asking him for a job, just asking for his help.  He was happy to meet with me.  

I shared with him my resume and talked about the skills I possessed.  He gave me suggestions and new ideas.  Before I left, I asked him if he could give me the names of two other people who might be helpful to my job search.  He was happy to do so.  When I called these two people, I used his name to be introduced to them and again said “I was asking for help with my job search, not asking for a job”.  

This was the start of 58 interviews I did over a two month process—starting with just one person and creating my own network.  Each day, I would do two interviews.  I would do research about the company (at the library because Google was not yet born—told you it was a hundred years ago!).  In the interviews I would relate my skills to the company’s business.  From each interview I would get two more names.  

After each interview I would sent a letter (didn’t have email in those days) saying thank you and promising to keep the person in the loop about my job searching progress.   I provided these people with updates every Monday.    What was the result of this process?

Results of Networking

At the end of sixty days (I had budgeted for three months of finding a job as my full time job) I had three different job offers with pluses and minuses for each offer.  I found 20% of the people I interviewed became active supporters in my job search, working for me while I slept.  I build a network of people some of whom I called upon for professional help in my new job.  The process was not a negative process.  These two months were like a college education about how business operates and jobs are found.

I have shared this process with many people over the years and they have found similar success using it.  You can see from my successful experience with networking, why I think so highly of Linkedin which can now make the networking component in a job search so much wider, bigger and more efficient than the street work I did many years ago. 

To be continued, your comments are welcomed…

Al Hanzal