LinkedIn Database

LinkedIn for Professional Networking

Launched in May 2003, the LinkedIn network consists of more than 17 million members who are involved in more than 150 different industries. It is free to join this professional networking site, although there is also the choice of upgrading to a paid membership, which will give you the opportunity of reaching other professionals in your field even if they are not in your network.

Once you join LinkedIn, you are asked to create a professional profile that gives a summary of your skills, business accomplishments, the companies you have worked for and the schools you have attended.

Your profile will help you to locate, or be located by, former business associates and clients. For example, if there is a member that worked at the same company or went to the same school as you, you can ask for a direct connection to that person. He then becomes part of your network. You are also able to invite contacts to be added to your LinkedIn network once they join the site.

How Your Network Grows

LinkedIn is based on the concept of connection to the third power. Your network does not only consist of your immediate connections but also of their connections and the connections of those people also. In effect, your network consists of two levels of connections of everyone connected to your network. You are permitted to contact any of those connections.

Depending on how many links each connection has, many members find their professional network is expanded significantly by adding just one or two connections. As your network continues to grow, you will be introduced to many qualified professionals in your field.

Business Benefits of LinkedIn

Being a member of LinkedIn will help you to build a professional network to find possible clients, partners, service providers and experts in your field. If you are looking for a position, it can provide excellent business opportunities and available positions. LinkedIn is the networking site to find the inside connections you need to grow your business, close deals or get the perfect position.

Many recruiters belong to LinkedIn and are some of the Top Linkers, members who try to collect as many links as they can. These members generally do not pay attention to the LinkedIn policy of only connecting to people that you know and trust. Although LinkedIn does have this policy, it is not strictly enforced. Recruiters want as many connections as possible so they have a better response to a job posting. If you are looking for a position, it is also beneficial to have as many connections as possible. This will give you more visibility and you will show up in more searches.

How to Build Your LinkedIn Network

There are many ways to build your professional LinkedIn network aside from searching for people who went to the same school or worked at the same company:

• If you know someone’s e-mail address you can request a connection.
• Go through your business cards and search for people you know.
• Check for old friends with whom you have lost contact with over the years’
• Accept connections from people you may not know. Joining their network will expand your network and LinkedIn visibility.
• Request an introduction to someone you would like to connect with but do not have a direct affiliation or their e-mail address.
• Put your LinkedIn link on your Web site or in your blog.

LinkedIn Database has Protection Against Spammers

Members of LinkedIn do not have to worry about being spammed. If anyone tries to connect to the entire LinkedIn network, it only takes five members to report them and say I don’t know this person and the spammers account will be frozen.

Conclusion

The LinkedIn database is a tool that will help you to expand you business by finding opportunities using its resources as a professional networking site.