LinkedIn Audio Training Recording on How to Use LinkedIn for Sales and Marketing

Listen to this Audio Training Recording from the LinkedIn For Marketing Blog Talk Radio Show. It goes over all the tools and strategies you need to use the social network LinkedIn for self promotion, sales and marketing. Learn to sell yourself as well as your products, services and even your company.

Lear how to receive 5,000 or 10,000 unique visitors to your website, get dozens of incoming leads and close more sales.

Don’t forget to sign up for our LinkedIn For Marketing Newsletter below to get free videos, audios and strategy once per week.

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How To Boost Your LinkedIn Profile to Find a New Job

Learn How To Build Your LinkedIn Resume With A Simple Recommendation

I have decided to put together a series for finding a job on LinkedIn. I think it’s necessary as there so many people out there looking for a new job or career change, especially in recent times.

Finding a job is a daunting task and it requires a bit of leg work especially in this economy. As I have always said, “Finding a new job is a job in itself.”

That is why you have to utilize every aspect that you can to separate yourself from the competition. You have to put yourself out there to get what I call the “WOW” factor when people see your resume. You need to have a resume or LinkedIn profile that when people click on it, that they are so amazed they want to meet you.

In order to get there, they need to feel confident that you have the work experience that will give them that “WOW” factor.  So today’s post is about getting ‘recommendations’ from your LinkedIn network that can help boost your profile.

This is essential because a recommendation is a stamp of how you worked with other people or colleagues now or in the past.  You can have an ok resume, but if enough people recommend you and say great things about you that might be the difference to get you the job.

Also, nobody wants to work or hire people that can’t get along with others. The more testimonials or recommendations that you get, your credibility will build. Other employers want to know that you can execute on the job they are hiring you for, and just by having solid recommendations make recruiters feel more comfortable you can execute at that high level.

Now, if you can get 20 plus recommendations from your friends, family or people that you worked for on LinkedIn, you will get a “WOW” factor from recruiters because it’s impressive that you have so many people believe in you. For friends, family or colleagues to put their name on your profile is putting themselves out there as well and recruiters know that.

Also, depending on the recommendation, this can show leadership qualities, skill sets and people skills.

So, in the next week, make it your goal to go onto your profile and on the bottom right corner of your profile click on the “Ask for a recommendation” and send it out to your network. You will be surprised about the great responses you will get.

For more about building your recommendations join one of our live walkthrough webinars.   Our profile webinars are only $47 and we’ll give you your money back if you don’t accomplish your goals.

Tony Hanak

Business Growth Expert

What is social media really?

Social media, social networking, web 2.0 are probably terms you’ve heard of, but are they useful to you?

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter may be what you think of when you hear the buzzword “social media”. You may have decided to join the bandwagon and have a LinkedIn or Facebook profile. If you’re really hip (or you’re 17), you may even be tweeting throughout the day. But what really is social media? Why should I use it other than to do what everyone else is doing?

The answer to this will vary depending on who you ask. The academic crowd can give you a variety of information on network theories and how they apply to the newest internet technologies. I actually love the academia behind it, there is no doubt some powerful and more scientific concepts behind some of these new mediums A great introductory and fun read to this is

the bestseller Linked,check it out if you have time.

However, I am not writing this to talk about network theory academics, my purpose is to give you a better reason to dive into social media outside of sharing pictures on facebook, or reading meaningless posts and tweets from your circle of boring friends who feel compelled to broadcast “my weekend was too short”, “PHX>LAX”, or “taking the dog for a walk”.

Before we discuss the reason to use, let’s go back 50 years and take a look at how people got what they wanted without a post or tweet. If you were a business, it was easy, advertise. Send out print ads, get radio time, maybe even TV time if you were a big time business. This was a one way communication channel that told people about your product or service. If you got the message to enough people, you’d increase sales.

How about non-business related things you want? How about getting your kid into private school or starting an after work sports league? Well in both instances, you’d likely network with others to try to influence them to do what you wanted. For people in elite circles, doctors or lawyers, those who could afford a country club membership, etc they may leverage the “old boy’s network” to trade favors to accomplish something like getting their kid into an elite school. For simpler things such as organizing an event people would talk to what networks that where already established and a member of, many times a church related group.

These examples are similar in a few regards.

1) They required communication

2) They used an organized group of people

3) They leveraged some role or affiliation with a group (country club member, church, etc)

4) They had a goal in mind and accomplished it with above 3 things that would otherwise not have been possible by them individually

So my point is that social media today is the exact same as it was 50 years ago? NO!!! Although many today seem to view and use it as such. Social media today is very different in that networks and affiliation can be self-defined and interlinked.

What does this mean? Well it means I don’t need to be part of the local country club to promote my goals with the elite crowd, it means I can create my own country club. Not only that, I am not just creating a country club, I am creating a “node” of connections that allows me to use other peoples affiliations and networks indirectly. It also means my role can be self defined and not limit me in who I can access. 50 years ago, I may need to be part of the “Harvard Club” if I wanted to get an exclusive job offer. These “old school” networks still exists and are still powerful, however now I can create my own network identity and break into these groups!

I could write a whole book just on how networks operate, but others already have and surely have done much better than what I would. Rather than focus on how it works, I want to get you thinking how to make it work for you! Don’t just think of social media as some websites that allow you to see what your friends are up to. Think of them as a way to create two-way communication channels with any group in the world, even that country club group you may not be able to pay your way into. Think of them as a way to influence every person you need to in order to accomplish whatever goal you have. Think of them as a way to define your own position and access privileges without money or permission.

This is the power of social media and it starts with you learning the basics of self-promotion and social networking using LinkedIn. If you are ready to dive in and get the most out of these opportunities, try joining one of our live walkthrough webinars. Our country club is only $47 and we’ll give you your money back if you don’t accomplish your goals.

Dave Albertson

Business Growth Expert

I just lost my job, now what?

If you have recently lost your job or are concerned you may, don’t feel bad, let it go… You’ll get a new job!

Before you start looking for a new job…

Losing your job can be one of the hardest things a person goes through: financial stress, potential of having to move, not knowing what job you’ll be able to find next, having to sell possessions or losing your home are some of the immediate jarring realities that many face.

However, let’s face it, this is not even the worse part. Feeling humiliated. Having to tell your loved ones. Going through the emotional roller coaster of depression, anger, and frustration. Seeing the impact on your family and feeling you are letting them down. Not knowing if

what you have to offer is good enough to get back to what you once had……….these are the parts of job lose that really cause emotional harm.

I know this because I went through it. I am here to tell you to “let it go” for a reason. All of the emotions you feel above have a few very specific and often hidden set of consequences.

First of all, it can cause you to retreat. If you feel depressed, humiliated, etc that last thing you want to do is go and talk to people or try something you’re not comfortable with.

Second, it can cause you to be on the defensive. How can I focus on seizing new opportunity when I am so worried about protecting or regaining what I once had?

Last, it can cause you to under-sell yourself. If I am questioning my own self, how can I brag to others about how good I am at something.

Some people may not think this is occurring or feel they are working through this. As soon as I got fired I scrambled to all the contacts I knew and started pitching to them for a job. This is being aggressive and attempting to oversell, right? Likely not, if you feel any of the emotions above, I guarantee that others pick up on this in your communication. Your emotions, no matter how guarded, translate to neediness, lack of confidence, and desperation.

You may already feel bad or worried, why am I telling you all this. Well, the secret to success no matter what your situation lies in your own self-promotion.

It just so happens that one of the best professional self promotion tools, LinkedIn, is also one of the best job search tools available. If you can successfully promote on LinkedIn, you can replace a job, or even find a completely new career.

The key to success on LinkedIn is utilizing the opposite behaviors I highlighted above. Be aggressive, oversell your expertise, and position yourself as an expert. Engage with new communities of people and discussions then what would normally be in your comfort zone.

We tell people in our LinkedIn training that your LinkedIn profile is 10x more powerful than a resume. We say this, because we know it to be true. Your profile is not a piece of paper delivered to someone, it is an engagement tool that allows you to network and attract new opportunities.

You should not be scared, depressed, or humiliated. If you are – let it go. Use this time in your life as a spring board to something better. It will get better. Know this first. Next, be open to the things you don’t know and get busy on LinkedIn.

For more tips and tricks, join our RSS or newsletter with form below. If you are ready to dive in and want more hands on help, checkout our training page for various options at http://linkedinformarketing.com/

Dave Albertson

Business Growth Expert

Read more articles on the blog abour looking for a new job

How to Find Talented Interns for Your Small Business through LinkedIn

Summer Interns Bring Value When You Least Expect It!

It’s summertime and remarkably there are hundreds of thousands of students looking for summer jobs or internships. This is the best time to get some really talented and bright students who can help you or your business and to leverage man power to increase your revenue.

I was recently talking to a close friend of mine that is about to finish up her exams and she is currently getting her business degree. She is just finishing up her sophomore year.

Just last week she was inquiring about a couple businesses that I own and wanted to know if I had any internships open.

I asked her what her objectives were and she inquired about learning more about advertising, sales and marketing, the cornerstone for any small business.

We chatted a little further about her wants and I agreed to put something together for her and have it by the end of the week. Today she just looked over the description and said that this was perfect as she was eager to learn about marketing and advertising.

So now we have a partnership for the summer.

The best part i that she is willing to work 15-20 hours a week and not take pay. When I was in school I always had paid internships, so I was shocked that so many college students are willing to go above and beyond to learn and not get paid.

Although I found her a position, I also found her a way to make money through our company. She said she is super excited. We now have a win win situation.

This was a good lesson for me as I hope to motivate her through an internship that she wanted and provide some incentive at the same time. I truly believe that if you find people that are passionate about what you are doing and help them grow through the process, you get talented and eager working employees or interns.

So what are my next steps. Well, I am going to utilize LinkedIn to find our next 3 interns. The first thing I am going to do is sign up for 2-3 groups on LinkedIn that are “Internship” focused. There should be a few thousand targeted list for me.

Post on the discussion groups and I am bound to get some leads and 4 solid interns for the summer…

And the best part is that I am going to give them a glowing review and recommendation that should help build a killer resume so they can land their dream job when they graduate.