LinkedIn: Deciphering and Maximizing the Professional Networking Service

Since launching in 2003, the social networking service LinkedIn has become an increasingly popular avenue for professional networking and interaction. LinkedIn provides a valuable platform for business engagement in all industries, including government services, but its potential is wasted if you’re not properly educated or committed to maximizing your presence.

I recently had the opportunity to discuss this social medium as a guest, alongside Lee Frederiksen, managing director, Hinge Marketing, on Mark Amtower’s radio show Amtower Off Center on Federal News Radio. Lee, Mark and I all agreed that LinkedIn is the most prominent and well-respected networking service in business-to-business social media. Lee cited results from Hinge Marketing studies that confirms this – LinkedIn owns a 70 percent market share for B2B social media, and more prospective clients or employers scan your LinkedIn page than contact your references.

During our radio session, we discussed the value LinkedIn brings to the B2B community and the opportunities it provides. We also discussed how we each leverage LinkedIn to position ourselves and our companies as industry leaders while ensuring that we reach a wide and targeted audience. Perhaps most importantly, we shared advice for professionals looking to extract the most value from this networking service.

I encourage you to listen for yourself, and hopefully, you will glean some insights that can enable you to maximize your presence on LinkedIn.