Linked-In
Business Networking Site
Linked-In is a business networking site, a lot like MySpace or Facebook, but unlike the two social sites, it allows you to showcase your business in the best way possible. A Linked-In account is free to open, and requests that you upload as much information as possible to receive the best possible experience; contact details, company website, company logo or photograph are all as standard, but here you can also detail your employment history, education and qualifications, honours and awards that you may have been awarded, and groups and associations you may be a member of.
Like updating your CV, it is essential that you include the most positive aspects and try and include information that is only relevant to your business - no-one wants to know if you have an NVQ in catering if your business is in hairdressing, but they will want to know that you won Wella Stylist of the year in 1997.
The applications you choose to utilise can then be tailored to suit your business needs. Linked-In can be linked directly to your company blog, meaning it's one more place it can be read by potential customers and one less place to upload it to. Remember that blog posts are ideal places to discuss your company promotions, services and products, an ideal place to display your designated keywords. Leaving the best until last, Linked-In allows you to make friends with existing customers and suppliers and gives you the opportunity to review their services, and for them to do the same to you.
Like updating your CV, it is essential that you include the most positive aspects and try and include information that is only relevant to your business - no-one wants to know if you have an NVQ in catering if your business is in hairdressing, but they will want to know that you won Wella Stylist of the year in 1997.
Use Applications to suit your Business
Linked-In also features lots of applications, including: My Travel - where you can easily see which cities your Linked-In clients are visiting and thus when the best time to approach them for a meeting; Company Buzz - A Twitter related application that shows activity in the form of designated keywords in relation to your business; and Slideshare/Google Presentations which allow you to upload a portfolio of your work which is then displayed on your profile, to name but a few.The applications you choose to utilise can then be tailored to suit your business needs. Linked-In can be linked directly to your company blog, meaning it's one more place it can be read by potential customers and one less place to upload it to. Remember that blog posts are ideal places to discuss your company promotions, services and products, an ideal place to display your designated keywords. Leaving the best until last, Linked-In allows you to make friends with existing customers and suppliers and gives you the opportunity to review their services, and for them to do the same to you.