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	<title>Lewis Howes &#187; LinkedIn</title>
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	<link>http://www.lewishowes.com</link>
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		<title>The Key to Transparency In Business</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/entrepreneur/the-key-to-transparency-in-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/entrepreneur/the-key-to-transparency-in-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:46:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business user guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stuart Jenkins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transparancy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=1908</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Not all change is progress, but all progress requires change&#8221; &#8211; Stuart Jenkins Stuart Jenkins introduced me to LinkedIn. I received my first &#8220;invitation to connect&#8221; back in late 2007, and it came from him.  In a way, he is responsible for me growing two businesses, speaking all over the world about LinkedIn, and writing [...]]]></description>
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<blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;Not all change is progress, but all progress requires change&#8221; &#8211; Stuart Jenkins</strong></p></blockquote>
<p>Stuart Jenkins introduced me to LinkedIn.</p>
<p>I received my first &#8220;invitation to connect&#8221; back in late 2007, and it came from him.  In a way, he is responsible for me growing two businesses, speaking all over the world about LinkedIn, and writing two  <a title="LinkedIn book" href="http://www.linkedworkingbook.com" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> <a title="LinkedIn Marketing book" href="http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin-marketing" target="_blank">books</a>.</p>
<p>He was my first mentor in life and business, and every time I talk with him I feel like I should be taking notes.<span id="more-1908"></span></p>
<p>A story teller by nature, he seems to know how to share the right stories sprinkled with common sense to produce profound &#8220;Ah Ha&#8221; ideas that leave me gasping for more.  It&#8217;s no wonder he has invented a number of the technologies, was Chairman of an educational institution from pre-school to college, and is now Vice President Of Business Development at <a title="Deckers" href="http://www.deckers.com/" target="_blank">Deckers</a> Outdoor Corp.  Stock  Symbol DECK, makers of the footwear brands <a title="Ugg shoes" href="http://www.uggaustralia.com/" target="_blank">Ugg</a>, Teva, Simple, Tsubo,  Ahnu and MOZO (oh, and he also qualified for the <a title="Stuart Jenkins" href="http://www.mindperk.com/resources/articles/15/1/146/Discipline-the-Path-to-Freedom.html" target="_blank">Olympic trials</a> as a marathon runner on the side).</p>
<p>He&#8217;s the real deal when it comes to understanding technology, managing people, and growing a business.</p>
<h2>Creating A User Guide</h2>
<p>It&#8217;s simple.</p>
<p>When you enter a new situation with people you have never met or worked with, why not let them know up front what you are all about?</p>
<p>Why allow for confusion in communication to occur when you can give your self a better chance of running a smoother operation?</p>
<p>Often times we skip this part when we hire someone new, bring on a VA, or get a new job ourselves.  We don&#8217;t share enough about ourselves to help others work with us at optimal efficiency.</p>
<p>Here is an example of the exact user guide Stuart created back in 2008.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>DATE: June 2008</strong></p>
<p><strong>FROM: Stuart Jenkins<br />
</strong><br />
Re:</p>
<p><strong>User’s Guide</strong></p>
<p>I thought it might be helpful to give those who I will be working<br />
with a quick reference guide to how I manage. If you have<br />
any questions or would like to discuss this further, feel free to<br />
contact me.</p>
<p><strong>MY GOAL:</strong> “I’m consistent: I treat everybody differently.” I<br />
hope to achieve this!<br />
.</p>
<p><strong>ENVIRONMENT:</strong> Work should be done with alacrity while<br />
remembering that individuals and families are at the heart of<br />
why we come to work. We won’t be successful unless each<br />
individual is fulfilled in his or her work.</p>
<p><strong>MY STYLE:</strong> “Management By Wandering Around.” I will be<br />
out and about asking questions and following up on requests.<br />
Expect to see me in your office.</p>
<p>I am most effective as an auditory learner. This is because when<br />
I hear something, I am able to recall it with much more detail for<br />
long periods of time. I will read reports, but I prefer to get key<br />
data verbally and then read it as a follow-up.</p>
<p>Reports should be summarized at the top in bullet-point format,<br />
so I can quickly assess the topics and issues.</p>
<p>Humor is an important part of my style, and I will be prepared to<br />
laugh. I have a dry sense of humor and sometimes people can’t<br />
tell if I am joking or serious. If you can’t tell please ask!</p>
<p><strong>GO DIRECT:</strong> This is my natural personal and business<br />
approach to issues. I also expect the team to “go direct”, to one<br />
another and to me.</p>
<p><strong>SPEAK UP:</strong> Don’t carry something around for days and days.<br />
If it is important to you, it will be important to me. Don’t wait<br />
to be asked; share it!</p>
<p><strong>DECISIONS:</strong> Making decisions in a timely manner is a key<br />
leadership tenet.</p>
<p>I delegate liberally – if a person is tasked with a job, they will be<br />
tasked with the responsibility for doing the job. I will not micro<br />
manage, but I check results. I do not delegate final decision-<br />
making. I want to be involved in the final decision-making<br />
process.</p>
<p>When you disagree with a decision, I expect to know that you<br />
disagree and why. But I also expect you to support the decision<br />
wholeheartedly, once it has been made.</p>
<p><strong>PROBLEM SOLVING:</strong></p>
<p>Presenting Problems or Challenges: This will be important,<br />
and I want these issues brought forward. When a challenge is<br />
presented, bring along several solutions, one of which does not<br />
include spending more money.</p>
<p>My approach to solving challenges is question centered. These<br />
questions are intended to identify and define the problem and<br />
find all the options available to solve the problem.</p>
<p><strong>CONFIDENTIALITY:</strong> Confidentiality means that if you tell<br />
me not to tell anyone, then I will not tell anyone, not even my<br />
spouse. I expect the same from you.</p>
<p>I do not expect to hear my comments to this team being quoted<br />
by others outside of the team. Please do not quote me or share<br />
my opinion on a topic with others; that is my responsibility.</p>
<p><strong>ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION:</strong> I will not read or<br />
respond in any manner to unsigned or anonymous letters,<br />
comments, and suggestions. I view anonymous communications<br />
as dishonest and lacking moral courage.</p>
<p><strong>MEETINGS:</strong> I prefer meetings scheduled for the amount<br />
of work that is needed in order to complete the work, not<br />
by blocking out set amounts of time. Meetings will start on<br />
schedule and will end when the subject has been covered</p>
<p><strong>IMPROVEMENT:</strong> An outstanding Coach was right when he</p>
<p>said in order to improve a skill: “Observe others, do it, and get<br />
criticism/coaching”. I want to improve my management and<br />
team skills daily, so I’m counting on you to give me coaching,<br />
criticism and feedback.</p>
<p>If you have any criticism of my approach, conduct, job<br />
performance etc., I expect to hear about it from you personally<br />
and directly. I do want to hear it!</p>
<p>Winning: My definition of “winning” is that everyone wins:<br />
employees, investors, customers, and suppliers. This is<br />
achievable but can be achieved only if we strive for it as a team.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH OUT FOR THESE:</strong> I tend to multi-task and this can<br />
be disconcerting to people who come into my office. Call me on<br />
it if you think I am not listening.</p>
<p>I tend to give verbal instructions; at times you may need to push<br />
me to give you more depth or background.</p>
<p>I move through items quickly, and this can seem or even be<br />
abrupt. It is something I need to improve on; don’t let me get<br />
away with it!</p>
<p>Be prepared for ranch, running and animal analogies.</p>
<p>A Favorite Quote: “Who cares if the horses are blind just load<br />
the wagon.”</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/stuart-Jenkins.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1914" title="stuart Jenkins" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/stuart-Jenkins.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="263" /></a>Stuart likes to make things simple for his work environment.  That&#8217;s one of the reasons he created a user guide as it takes the guess work out of working with Stuart.</p>
<p>I recommend creating your own personal user guide for your teammates at work or in your business as seeing if this is something that helps out.</p>
<p>Feel free to keep it simple and use Stuart&#8217;s user guide as a blueprint for you as I&#8217;m sure he won&#8217;t mind.</p>
<p>Just make sure to repay him the favor as he did with me and send him an invitation to connect on LinkedIn <a title="Stuart Jenkins on LinkedIn " href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartjenkins" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>##</p>
<p>What&#8217;s your thoughts on having a personal user guide for your business?  Does it make sense to you or not something you find necessary?  Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.</p>
<p>If you enjoyed this article then sign up to receive an update every time I post a new article by clicking <a title="Sign up via email" href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=lewishowes/vhhs" target="_blank">HERE</a>, and feel free to share this with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.</p>
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		<title>The Shift Is Coming</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/social-media/the-shift/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/social-media/the-shift/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:50:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[offline networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shy Networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the shift]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=1619</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a shift happening. Everyone got so excited a few years back when &#8220;social media&#8221; became the happening thing to do. Men got pumped because it gave them an excuse to stay inside and play inside the Poker app on Facebook until 4 a.m., saying it was a way to connect with potential leads [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shifting-.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1628" title="shifting" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shifting-.jpg" alt="" width="563" height="291" /></a></p>
<p><strong>There is a shift happening.</strong></p>
<p>Everyone got so excited a few years back when &#8220;social media&#8221; became the happening thing to do.</p>
<p>Men got pumped because it gave them an excuse to stay inside and play inside the Poker app on Facebook until 4 a.m., saying it was a way to connect with potential leads online.</p>
<p><strong>Right</strong>.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the social media world has made a lot of people lazy.</p>
<p>Not everyone.  For some it has made them work harder in the offline world.  For others, it has made them lazy and it&#8217;s time we start shifting back.</p>
<h2>The Online Shift</h2>
<p>The online shift was fun at first.  Facebook was expanding rapidly to those that were outside of college, Twitter was emerging with celebrity status, LinkedIn became the online business networking resource, and everyone and their dog was blogging (literally, dogs are blogging with funny dog blogs like <a title="funny dog blog" href="http://www.thefunnydogs.com/" target="_blank">this one</a>!)</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve gotten so caught up in the idea of being able<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> to take away interaction with others (aka face-to-face)</span><strong> </strong>and instead just sit behind our laptops and connect with people online.</p>
<p><strong>Man, were we wrong.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span id="more-1619"></span></strong>Now I&#8217;ll have to admit, I love networking online.  There is an entirely different element happening when you connect virtually, but it was exactly that mindset that got everyone away from the real world connection.</p>
<p>Things became easy because we could sit in the comfort of our homes and say exactly what we wanted to online without having to worry about the fear of actually talking to anyone in person.</p>
<h2>We Forgot How To Be Personal</h2>
<p>In a sense, we have forgotten how to be human.  Humans are supposed to interact with one another, not with computers&#8230; right?  At least that&#8217;s what I&#8217;d always thought.  It&#8217;s much more fun having the feeling of looking into someone&#8217;s eyes, sensing their body language, expressing your emotions on one another, and getting the true sense behind<a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/free-hugs.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1632" title="free hugs" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/free-hugs.jpg" alt="" width="286" height="418" /></a> the genuine soul of another person.</p>
<p>Wouldn&#8217;t you agree that the online world takes all of that away from us?</p>
<p>I got an email from someone who said she had wanted to say hi at a recent event, but felt scared to approach me (and other people) in person.  She was so used to being behind a computer that her people skills had gotten rusty, so instead of taking advantage of the live event to interact with all the interesting people there who could help her build her business,  she attended only part of the event and spent the rest of the time in her hotel room doing what she had become comfortable with&#8230; being online!  Don&#8217;t let the online world make you a <a title="Shy Networking " href="http://www.shynetworking.com" target="_blank">Shy Networker</a>, get back offline and showcase who you really are.</p>
<h2>It&#8217;s Time To Shift Back</h2>
<p>Let&#8217;s shift back offline.</p>
<p>It so much more fun interacting with people live, in person, instead of via an avatar.  Wouldn&#8217;t you agree?</p>
<p>There is so much more good you can do when you shake someone&#8217;s hand, smile at one another, and interact like human beings are supposed to.  This is how business happens, and this is how life happens.</p>
<p>There are too many misconceptions that come to be online (both good and bad) that could easily be set straight in real life.  I&#8217;m not saying it&#8217;s bad to be online, quite the opposite in fact.  It&#8217;s more important now than ever to have an online presence to create awareness, generate leads, and increase your business.  However, as much of the energy you put to your online efforts, you want to put at least half of that to connecting with people face-to-face in the real world.</p>
<p>This is the shift that needs to happen, and is happening, and I hope you join me in the shift sooner than later.</p>
<p>I recently caught up with <a title="Chris Pearson" href="http://www.pearsonified.com " target="_blank">Chris Pearson</a>, creator of <a title="Thesis Theme" href="http://redirectingat.com/?id=1174X510461&amp;xs=1&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shareasale.com%2Fr.cfm%3Fb%3D202504%26u%3D369036%26m%3D24570%26urllink%3D%26afftrack%3D&amp;sref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lewishowes.com%2Fmarketing%2Faffiliate-marketing-tips%2F" target="_blank">Thesis Theme</a> for WordPress, and he was the one who got this conversation started for me.  Check out what Chris had to say in a cab ride during a late night rally in Vegas during BlogWorld.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="560" height="340" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HSSQ6rg3ey8?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="340" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HSSQ6rg3ey8?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<h2>Those Who Shift, Win</h2>
<p>Those who are already out there connecting with others at events locally and nationally are the ones who get it.  <a title="Chris Brogan" href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com" target="_blank">Chris Brogan</a>, <a title="Scott Stratten" href="http://www.un-marketing.com/blog/" target="_blank">Scott Stratten</a>, <a title="Brian Solis" href="http://www.briansolis.com/" target="_blank">Brian Solis</a>, <a title="Gary Vaynerchuk" href="http://garyvaynerchuk.com/" target="_blank">Gary Vaynerchuk</a> (and many more)&#8230;. they get it.  They understand that you CAN create an amazing amount of awareness and exposure online, but the real business and quality relationships start with a hand shake and end with a smile or a hug.  As sappy as the hug part may seem, you create a deeper bond with people even if you give them one of those &#8220;bro hugs&#8221; with only one arm and half a shoulder.  It brings the connection to another level of intimacy which enhances the relationship more so than any amount of interaction could online.</p>
<h2>Next Steps</h2>
<p>If you are feeling timid or fearful at all to attend local networking events, then you need to take action and do it.  If you feel scared to say hi to people you have never met before but would love to talk to, then do it.  Start attending more events locally and around the country where your audience or target market are attending.</p>
<p><strong>Those who connect in person &#8211; win!</strong></p>
<p>I&#8217;d love to hear about your thoughts on &#8220;The Shift&#8221;.  Are you finding yourself online more now then before?  Is the comfort of your own home and computer stopping you from meeting with others face to face?  What are your biggest challenges or fears you would like to overcome?  Please share your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas in the comment section below so that the others feeling these same things can all benefit.</p>
<p>##</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowfactory/2875729918/" target="_blank">Image Credit: SNOWfactory<br />
</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/splat/500418812/" target="_blank">Image Credit: Patrick Haney</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>How to Rank Higher On LinkedIn</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/how-to-rank-high-on-linkedin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/how-to-rank-high-on-linkedin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 14:04:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Key word marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=1220</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wouldn&#8217;t it be nice to rank #1 on Google for a certain keyword in your industry or niche? It would be amazing, and that&#8217;s why brands spend a lot of money every month to SEO agencies in hopes of making the front page of Google for a certain keyword. I knew this concept was powerful [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Wouldn&#8217;t it be nice to rank #1 on Google for a certain keyword in your industry or niche?</p>
<p>It would be amazing, and that&#8217;s why brands spend a lot of money every month to SEO agencies in hopes of making the front page of Google for a certain keyword.</p>
<p>I knew this concept was powerful as well, but realized the more I taught others this concept of ranking high on LinkedIn, <a title="How to rank #1 on LinkedIn" href="http://activerain.com/blogsview/1641265/how-to-get-1-ranking-on-linkedin-search" target="_blank">they got excited about it</a>!</p>
<h2>Ranking High on LinkedIn</h2>
<p>When you look at the image below, you will see that I rank first when you type in the keyword &#8220;<a title="Sports Network" href="http://www.sportsnetworker.com" target="_blank">sports</a>&#8221; on LinkedIn.  For me this is very important as I want to dominate the online space with my site <a title="Sports Networker" href="http://www.sportsnetworker.com" target="_blank">SportsNetworker</a>, and the <a title="Sports Executives Association" href="http://www.sportsexec.net" target="_blank">Sports Executives Association</a>.  I want to be known as a credible resource in the sports industry, and by ranking first out of over 1.2 million (<em>image below is an old screen shot</em>) results for the word &#8220;sports&#8221; on LinkedIn this allows me to stay at the head of the pack in the <a title="Sports Business" href="http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com" target="_blank">sports business</a> world.</p>
<p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Screen-shot-2010-05-14-at-9.06.00-AM1.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1222" title="LinkedIn Key Words" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Screen-shot-2010-05-14-at-9.06.00-AM1.png" alt="" width="546" height="276" /></a></p>
<h2>5 Keys To Rank #1 On LinkedIn</h2>
<p>This is a simple process to rank on the first page of search results in the &#8220;people search&#8221; section on LinkedIn.  Although this doesn&#8217;t work every time, it works most of the time and I&#8217;ve seen it well over 100 times happen for people in real time.  There are five places you need to put your keywords when you use this strategy:</p>
<h3>1.  Headline</h3>
<p>Your headline is the first thing people see when they go to your LinkedIn profile, therefore (in my mind) it&#8217;s the most important or most relevant part.  If your headline doesn&#8217;t have your keywords in it, then you are missing the biggest section of the equation.</p>
<h3>2.  Current Work Experience</h3>
<p>Your current work experience is the next most relevant thing because it is what you are currently doing in business.</p>
<h3>3.  Past Work Experience</h3>
<p>You start to notice that this works in the top to bottom approach within your profile.  Start from the top, and working your way through your profile to the bottom.</p>
<h3>4.  Summary</h3>
<p>Your summary is the meat of your profile, or the body of your speech.  Make sure it looks clean and you don&#8217;t just add a line of key words next to each other or it won&#8217;t represent your <a title="Personal Brand" href="http://www.personalbrandingblog.com" target="_blank">personal brand </a>well.</p>
<h3>5.  Specialties</h3>
<p>This is the section you want to add a number of different keywords to showcase your talents in short phrases.</p>
<p>I go into more detail about each section during my video interview with the sassy <a title="Amanda Coolong" href="http://twitter.com/acoolong" target="_blank">Amanda Coolong</a> and good friend <a title="Efren Toscano" href="http://twitter.com/efren" target="_blank">Efren Toscano</a> on the <a title="TechZulu" href="http://www.techzulu.com/the-linkedin-guru-lewis-howes.html" target="_blank">TechZulu</a> show below.</p>
<p><object width="560" height="340" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ncwjlIYmk4o&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed width="560" height="340" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ncwjlIYmk4o&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" allowFullScreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" /></object></p>
<p>There are a number of other reasons LinkedIn can help you improve your reach within your industry or niche, simply starting a <a title="Starting a LinkedIn Group" href="http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/top-10-reasons-to-start-a-linkedin-group/" target="_blank">LinkedIn group</a> will help your build a loyal fan base of potential customers in no time.  Take advantage of this powerful site by optimizing your profile full of key words, then start using the other amazing features it has to take your brand or company to the next level.</p>
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		<title>7 Questions To Ponder When Using LinkedIn</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/7-questions-to-ask-when-using-linkedin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/7-questions-to-ask-when-using-linkedin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:34:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asking questions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=975</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s no secret that I&#8217;m a big fan of LinkedIn. When I co-wrote the LinkedIn book LinkedWorking nearly a year ago with Frank Agin, there were around 30 million users.  It has doubled to 60 million since then and it also has the highest average household income per user over the top social networking sites [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/AlbinoFlea.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-978" title="AlbinoFlea" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/AlbinoFlea-199x300.jpg" alt="" width="214" height="322" /></a>It&#8217;s no secret that I&#8217;m a big fan of LinkedIn.</p>
<p>When I co-wrote the LinkedIn book <a title="LinkedIn Book" href="http://www.linkedworkingbook.com" target="_blank"><em>LinkedWorking</em></a> nearly a year ago with <a title="Frank Agin" href="http://www.frankagin.com" target="_blank">Frank Agin</a>, there were around 30 million users.  It has doubled to 60 million since then and it also has the highest average household income per user over the top social networking sites (currently $109,000 per user).</p>
<p>These stats excite me, and they should excite you as well if you are serious about your personal brand, your career, and your business.</p>
<p><strong>Are you serious about that? </strong></p>
<p>If so, then LinkedIn is THE place to bring your briefcase, build amazing relationships and get down to work.</p>
<p>Whether you are using LinkedIn aggressively, or you don&#8217;t even have a profile, there are a number of questions you should be asking yourself <span id="more-975"></span>during the time you spend on this sexy business site.</p>
<h3><strong>Ask Yourself These 7 Questions On LinkedIn</strong></h3>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<h3>1.  Who am I?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Do you know who you are?  Do you know what you are passionate about?  If not, your profile will look more like your resume and you will lack the personality you need to shine on LinkedIn.  Make sure you know who you are before you craft your message on LinkedIn.</p>
<h3>2.  What are my goals?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Got goals?  If not, you might as well give up, or stop using LinkedIn all together.  The only way you are going to achieve something (unless you hit the lotto) is by setting goals for what you want to achieve.  By doing this, you will have a clear plan to take action, and you will focus on what matters most.</p>
<h3>3.  Who do I help?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">What is your niche and who are the people you help in that niche?  Do you help <a title="Entreprenuers " href="http://www.therisetothetop.com" target="_blank">entrepreneurs</a>, <a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/" target="_blank">small business owners</a>, fortune 500 companies, or others professionals?  Be clear about this so you can attract the people you help most to your profile.</p>
<h3>4.  How do I help them?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">If the people you help (work for/consult with/ etc) don&#8217;t know how you can help them, then why should they reach out to connect with you and eventually pay you?  You need to make it clear on your profile how you help the professionals in your niche, and it will attract more of the right clients by doing so.</p>
<h3>5.  Who do I want to connect with?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Simple.  Do you want to connect with everyone (recommended), a select few, those in your niche, outside your niche, top level executives, decision makers, or gatekeepers?  Figure it out, and start connecting with them.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
<h3>6.  How do I want people to perceive me?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">This is a question you really want to focus on.  Your LinkedIn profile (usually) ranks very high on Google when someone searches your name.  This empowers you to make a conscious decision on what people see, how much they see, showcase who has recommended you, and so on.  How do you want to be perceived by the world?  Make sure you fill out your profile accordingly to match what you want others to perceive.</p>
<h3>7.  What results do I want?</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We all want results.  What are yours?  Do you want more leads, <a title="Drive traffic to your site using LinkedIn" href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2010/02/18/top-10-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog-using-linkedin/" target="_blank">more traffic to your site</a>, find a job, <a title="Market your business on LinkedIn " href="http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/top-5-ways-to-market-your-business-with-linkedin/" target="_blank">market your business</a>, get a book deal, find a sponsor, find funding, or are you just trying to make a name for yourself in your industry.  Figure out the exact results you are looking for and take action to reach them.</p>
<p>Questions are important.  They help us find the answer to what we are looking for.  Asking questions are especially important when using LinkedIn (along with other social networking sites) because you can waste a lot of time if you don&#8217;t know why you are spending time on it.</p>
<p>Are these questions helpful for your LinkedIn experience?  What other questions should you be asking yourself?  I have a question now&#8230; what are your thoughts?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
<p>###</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/albinoflea/" target="_blank">Image by AlbinoFlea</a></p>
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		<title>6 Reasons To Connect With Everyone On LinkedIn</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/6-reasons-to-connect-with-everyone-on-linkedin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/6-reasons-to-connect-with-everyone-on-linkedin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:06:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=962</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are two main approaches people have when connecting with others on LinkedIn. 1.  Is to connect with only those you know well 2.  Is to connect with everyone Sure there are cases in between, but for the most part those are the two main strategies people use. There was some recent discussion about a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/networking.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-966" title="networking" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/networking-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>There are two main approaches people have when connecting with others on LinkedIn.</p>
<p><strong>1.  Is to connect with only those you know well</strong></p>
<p><strong>2.  Is to connect with everyone</strong></p>
<p>Sure there are cases in between, but for the most part those are the two main strategies people use.</p>
<p>There was some recent discussion about a ProBlogger guest article I did on <a title="Using LinkedIn to drive traffic to your website" href="http://www.problogger.net/archives/2010/02/18/top-10-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-blog-using-linkedin/" target="_blank">using LinkedIn to drive traffic back to you website</a>, and the main reason why some only apply #1 is because they don&#8217;t want to jeopardize their top connections by having to forward along introductions from those they may not know that well.</p>
<p>However, you don&#8217;t have to forward all of your introductions, and you are missing a HUGE opportunity if you don&#8217;t connect with those you may not know very well.  Watch as I explain in the video below:</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="345" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/btJoIfIQ3Fk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/btJoIfIQ3Fk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<h2>Why You Should Connect With Everyone On LinkedIn:<span id="more-962"></span></h2>
<h2>1. To be found and contacted by more professionals:</h2>
<p>Increasing your 1st degree network grows your your 2nd and 3rd degree by millions more people.</p>
<h2>2. To drive more traffic to your site:</h2>
<p>Any time you update your status or profile, it shows up on the homepage of everyone you are connected to.  More connections = more eyeballs.</p>
<h2>3. To generate a TON more leads:</h2>
<p><strong></strong> Simple.  More connections = more potential leads</p>
<h2>4.  To build your database:</h2>
<p>Your database is one of your most valuable assets in business.  LinkedIn allows you to export your contacts (the other &#8220;top social networking sites&#8221; don&#8217;t).</p>
<h2>5. To create more opportunities:</h2>
<p>So many more opportunities come in that normally wouldn’t  because you are on the “top of mind” for people who might not know you that well (as opposed to the close network of people you already know).</p>
<h2>6. To build thought leadership:</h2>
<p><strong> </strong> The more people you connect with, inspire, help, and influence, the bigger impact you will have on the world.  This creates the potential for more recommendations, more referrals, and a bigger platform as a thought leader in your niche.</p>
<p>Do you connect with everyone who sends you an invite, or do you only add those you know very well?  What are some other reason for connecting with everyone, or not connecting with everyone?</p>
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		<title>13 Ways Gary Vaynerchuk Should Be Crushing It On LinkedIn</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/13-ways-gary-vaynerchuk-should-be-crushing-it-on-linkedin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/13-ways-gary-vaynerchuk-should-be-crushing-it-on-linkedin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:33:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gary Vaynerchuk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=885</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s a fact that Gary Vaynerchuk is completely dominating almost everything he is involved with.  He is a NY Times Best Selling Author, runs a killer media agency with cool and collected brother A.J., has a unique wine show, and everything he is passionate about seems to crush the competition (except for his NY Jets, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.lewishowes.com"><img class="alignright" title="Gary Vaynerchuk " src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1958/212/51/54801089/n54801089_31004832_5064.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="218" /></a></p>
<p>It&#8217;s a fact that Gary Vaynerchuk is completely dominating almost everything he is involved with.  He is a NY Times Best Selling Author, runs a killer <a title="Vayner Media" href="http://www.vaynermedia.com" target="_blank">media agency</a> with cool and collected brother <a title="AJ Vaynerchuk " href="http://www.twitter.com/ajv" target="_blank">A.J.</a>, has a unique wine show, and everything he is passionate about seems to crush the competition (except for his NY Jets, lol).</p>
<p>However, Gary made some comments a while back saying he was going to start taking <a title="Gary VAynerchuk on LinkedIn" href="http://garyvaynerchuk.com/search/linkedin" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> to the next level this year, and in my opinion he hasn&#8217;t done it yet.</p>
<p>I know Gary is one of the busiest people on the planet right now so I understand this may not be a top priority.  I do believe Gary could really start taking all of his projects and businesses to the next level if he implements 13 of the things I noticed wrong with his LinkedIn profile.</p>
<p>This video was created (out of pure love) specifically to show Gary what he can do to improve his profile and start helping that playoff beard fulfill its real purpose, but I want the rest of you to pay close attention to some of the slight changes you could be making as well.   These changes I demonstrate may just give you that extra opportunity you need to take things to the next level this year.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="465" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDAeYH00-O0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="465" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDAeYH00-O0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/gary-vaynerchuk-book-tour.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-888" title="gary vaynerchuk book tour" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/gary-vaynerchuk-book-tour-291x300.jpg" alt="" width="236" height="243" /></a></p>
<p>I realized I left one BIG point out of this video, and that was using the events section on LinkedIn.  I know Gary has a number of book signings, speaking gigs, and wine events around the country and he has not used the events section to its fullest potential.</p>
<p>I recently helped promote an event he had during his book signing in St. Louis.  I sent out a few messages and was able to get over 400 people to RSVP on LinkedIn, and there was a great turnout during the event (see 413 RSVP numbers in image).</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t think he was able to get that many to ever RSVP for an event on Facebook, and we all know Twitter doesn&#8217;t have an option for events.  Using the events section on LinkedIn is the 13th point of this post.  Think LinkedIn isn&#8217;t worth paying attention to? Look at the numbers and think again.</p>
<p>Do you see anything else Gary should be changing or implementing on LinkedIn?  Better yet, were there things I mentioned that you should be doing to your LinkedIn profile that you didn&#8217;t think about before?  If so, please let me know what they are in the comments below and start crushing it on LinkedIn.</p>
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		<title>Chris Brogan (And YOU) Should Stay On LinkedIn</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/chris-brogan-should-stay-on-linkedin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/chris-brogan-should-stay-on-linkedin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:20:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Brogan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=861</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chris Brogan recently said he was thinking about deleting his LinkedIn account. I was shocked when I first read this, but I also understand that he must be getting overwhelmed by the amount of people reaching out and asking for favors. Since Chris has given me amazing advice, and I consider him to be a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Screen-shot-2010-01-30-at-1.05.12-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-867" title="Chris Brogan on LinkedIn" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Screen-shot-2010-01-30-at-1.05.12-PM.png" alt="" width="544" height="107" /></a></p>
<p>Chris Brogan recently said he was thinking about <a title="Chris Brogan on LinkedIn" href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com/points-of-contact/" target="_blank">deleting his LinkedIn account</a>.</p>
<p>I was shocked when I first read this, but I also understand that he must be getting overwhelmed by the amount of people reaching out and asking for favors.</p>
<p>Since Chris has given me amazing advice, and I consider him to be a mentor of mine,  I decided to create a video to show you (and Chris) why I think it would be a mistake if he deleted <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrogan" target="_blank">his LinkedIn account.</a></p>
<p>The message in this video is not only for Chris, but for everyone who isn&#8217;t using LinkedIn to its fullest potential yet.  I urge you to start using it more aggressively, as you will see what the benefits are in this video.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="465" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0a7sFhEEQ44&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="465" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0a7sFhEEQ44&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<h3>Staying On LinkedIn</h3>
<p>Here are my 8 main reasons I feel Chris Brogan should stay on LinkedIn:</p>
<p><strong>1.    Google Juice:</strong> LinkedIn is one of the top search results for Chris (and most of us)</p>
<p><strong>2.    Recommendations:</strong> With 145+ recommendations you create more authority and social proof</p>
<p><strong>3.    Build and Manage a Powerful Database:</strong> More powerful than with Facebook and Twitter<br />
<strong><br />
4.    Exporting Contacts:</strong> No other *top* social networking site does this</p>
<p><strong>5.    Driving Traffic:</strong> Your status updates, links, and WP blog app drives organic traffic to your site</p>
<p><strong>6.    More Followers:</strong> People will follow you on Twitter, join your newsletter, and subscribe to your blog</p>
<p><strong>7.    Sells Books</strong>:  Need I say more?</p>
<p><strong>8.    Decision Makers:</strong> Higher net worth of people are on LinkedIn over the other traditional business sites</p>
<p>Do you think Chris should delete his LinkedIn profile?  Are my points compelling enough to keep him (and YOU) on LinkedIn?  I hope Chris decides to give it another chance and think about it differently from here on out, and I hope the rest of you understand how powerful LinkedIn can be for your business.</p>
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		<title>Top 10 Reasons To Start A LinkedIn Group</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/top-10-reasons-to-start-a-linkedin-group/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/linkedin/top-10-reasons-to-start-a-linkedin-group/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:08:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[building communities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn Groups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reasons to start a LinkedIn Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=766</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[LinkedIn groups are by far the most powerful aspect of LinkedIn.  Hands down. I have seen people build their entire business, market a number of products and services, sell out their paid events, and become thought leaders in their niche all around a single LinkedIn group. Most people who have created groups on LinkedIn know [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/LinkedIn-Blog.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-782" title="LinkedIn Blog" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/LinkedIn-Blog-300x199.jpg" alt="LinkedIn Blog" width="300" height="199" /></a>LinkedIn groups are by far the most powerful aspect of LinkedIn.  Hands down.</p>
<p>I have seen people build their entire business, market a number of products and services, sell out their paid events, and become thought leaders in their niche all around a single LinkedIn group.</p>
<p>Most people who have created groups on LinkedIn know the benefits. However, for those who have not created one yet, or don&#8217;t think it is valuable to do so, here are my top 10 reasons that you must start one today (before someone else beats you to it).</p>
<h2>1.  Builds Thought Leadership</h2>
<p>I have several LinkedIn groups.  One has more than 20,000 members, and around five of them have 5,000+ members.  Each group has (one of) <a title="Sports Networker" href="http://www.sportsnetworker.com" target="_blank">my websites</a> as the featured site for the group.  This is one of the first things people see when they join the group.  My name is also featured as the owner of the group.  Based off of perception alone, the owner is a thought leader for that groups niche (until proven otherwise).  The more you back this up with quality content, and <a title="Community management " href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com/essential-skills-of-a-community-manager/" target="_blank">positive group management</a>, your community will support you and anoint you a leader in that niche.</p>
<h2>2.  Connects A Thriving Community</h2>
<p>People love to belong to a community, or a <a title="Seth Godin on Tribes" href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/10/free-tribes-ebo.html" target="_blank">Tribe as Seth Godin puts it</a>.  The more you are able to connect like-minded people together, the more they will appreciate you for doing so.  Create an opportunity for passionate people to come together because the leader that does this *usually* reaps the benefits.</p>
<h2>3.  Drives Traffic To Your Site</h2>
<p>Looking to drive traffic to your blog or company website?  Look no further, a LinkedIn group is a great way to do this.  Here are a few ways you can drive traffic to your site from your group:</p>
<ul>
<li>Put your website link in the group profile</li>
<li>Add the site RSS feed to the News Section</li>
<li>Send a weekly message to you group, and include a niche related article from your site</li>
<li>Add your site in the group welcome message (more on this below)</li>
<li>Create a discussion and include your link</li>
</ul>
<h2>4.  Builds Personal Network</h2>
<p>I get roughly 15-20 new invites to connect (as a 1st degree connection) every day.  Most of them come from my groups.  Why?  People love to connect with the community leader.  Since I run a number of &#8220;communities&#8221; within my LinkedIn groups, I am looked at as someone to connect with.  This is almost true for all group owners, they seem to rack up bonus points from starting the group, therefore having more connections than the average LinkedIn user.</p>
<h2>5.  Sending Weekly Messages</h2>
<p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/linkedin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-777" title="linkedin " src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/linkedin.jpg" alt="linkedin " width="369" height="290" /></a></p>
<p>This may be the most powerful feature within the groups.  A great example is Robert Flemming, who runs the <a title="Robert Flemming LinkedIn eMarketing Group" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&amp;gid=41352&amp;trk=anet_ug_grppro" target="_blank">eMark</a><a title="Robert Flemming LinkedIn eMarketing Group" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&amp;gid=41352&amp;trk=anet_ug_grppro" target="_blank">eting</a><a title="Robert Flemming LinkedIn eMarketing Group" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&amp;gid=41352&amp;trk=anet_ug_grppro" target="_blank"> </a><a title="Robert Flemming LinkedIn eMarketing Group" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&amp;gid=41352&amp;trk=anet_ug_grppro" target="_blank">Association group on LinkedIn</a>.  It has almost 200,000 members.  Instead of having to spend thousands of dollars each year on email marketing you could simply create a group, and send them a weekly message for free.</p>
<p>The downside to this is you can&#8217;t brand your emails they way you could from a <a title="iContact Email Marketing " href=" http://www.icontact.com/a.pl/394306" target="_blank">custom email marketing provider</a> (affiliate link), but you can still do some damage in terms of getting your message out there to your members.</p>
<p>The upside, Robert has events with ticket prices of over $1,000 and he sells a ton of them because of his group.  His LinkedIn group helps him achieve his event marketing goals, and it doesn&#8217;t cost a dime.  Tough sell, eh?</p>
<h2>6.  Create Auto-Responder Email</h2>
<p>This is a no-brainer.  Who wants to send a message one-by-one to someone every time they join a group?  Not me, that would take hours of management time every week.  LinkedIn was wise enough to make this easy for the group managers by enabling a welcome message.  Every time someone joins, you can send your own automatic message that delivers to their email account (not their LinkedIn account, but their actual email provider).</p>
<p>This means that you can create a decent sales funnel by first welcoming people to the group, telling them a little about how the group can benefit them and where they can go to get more information.  Hopefully you have them sign up for your newsletter, or connect with you on other social networking sites.  This will help you generate sales in the long run&#8230; if you set it up correctly.</p>
<h2>7.  Lead Generator</h2>
<p>The more you give, the more you will receive.  <a title="Robert Cialdini " href="http://www.influenceatwork.com/index2.html" target="_blank">Dr. Robert Cialdini </a>talks to us about the proven power of reciprocity in his best selling book <a title="Influence " href="http://store.influenceatwork.com/Influence-Psychology-Of-Persuasion-by-Cialdini-p/bookpop.htm" target="_blank"><em>Influence</em></a>, and it holds true within a LinkedIn group as well (on LinkedIn, or any other social networking site for that matter).</p>
<p>Connecting people, providing job leads, referrals, valuable content to help them achieve their goals: these are things that you can give to people, and by doing so they will give you an abundance of leads (or whatever it is you need in your business) in return.  It has happened to me, and a number of other group owners who are &#8220;doing it right&#8221;, and it will also happen for you.</p>
<h2>8.  Creating Sub Groups</h2>
<p>Want to target people in various locations around the world, or sub niches within a niche?  LinkedIn allows you to create up to 10 subgroups.  It&#8217;s a great way to throw events all around the country and only have to send a message out to the subgroup, as opposed to the entire group about a regional event.  Make sure you take advantage of this feature (in an ethical manner of course).</p>
<h2>9.  Managing Content</h2>
<p>If people are posting MLM type content, or someone is using foul language or attacking others in an unproductive way, you have the ability to remove individuals or delete inappropriate content.  Simple as that.  If it isn&#8217;t helping the community, you have the power to make it better.</p>
<h2>10.  Helping Others</h2>
<p>Ultimately, every good leader helps his team or community rise to the top.  I&#8217;m sure 99% of group owners have their own agenda when creating a group, but the more they focus on helping it&#8217;s members achieve their goals, that group owner will achieve their goals as well.  It feels good to have the opportunity to help others.  LinkedIn helps us everyday by letting us see how we are connected to one another, and allows us to build stronger, more meaningful relationships.  Let&#8217;s face it, business (and life) is about all about the relationships we have, right?</p>
<p>In closing, LinkedIn is a powerful platform to help you achieve your business goals, and the groups aspect is a vital part to helping you achieve those goals faster and in a more meaningful way.  Be willing to take some time to better understand them, as you may find a new way to help yourself, or others, by using them each day.</p>
<p>###</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8633528@N06/" target="_blank">Image by LinkedIn Blog</a></p>
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		<title>LinkedIn vs. Twitter:  Which One Is Better?</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/linkedin-vs-twitter-which-one-is-better/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/linkedin-vs-twitter-which-one-is-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:18:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media Smack Down]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=731</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[LinkedIn is better than Twitter.  Isn&#8217;t it? In my mind LinkedIn is one of the most powerful business networking resources on the planet.  However, my good friend Sean Malarkey believes Twitter is more powerful.  Who is right and who is wrong?  It&#8217;s like saying which team is better in the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/twitter-linkedin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-733" title="twitter and linkedin" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/twitter-linkedin.jpg" alt="twitter and linkedin" width="173" height="130" /></a><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/lewishowes" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> is better than <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lewishowes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.  <em>Isn&#8217;t it?</em> In my mind LinkedIn is one of the most powerful business networking resources on the planet.  However, my good friend <a href="http://www.twitter.com/seanmalarkey" target="_blank">Sean Malarkey</a> believes Twitter is more powerful.  Who is right and who is wrong?  It&#8217;s like saying which team is better in the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry.  Both teams have great tradition and are two of the most successful college football teams of all time.  Luckily, Sean and I both agree that Ohio State is much better, and since they won 8 our out of the last 9 meetings with &#8220;the school up north&#8221;, there isn&#8217;t much to debate about which team is better (Go Bucks!).</p>
<p>Seeing that we could not come to an agreement as to which site is better (Twitter and LinkedIn), I thought I would duke it out with Sean to show you that LinkedIn is more powerful for your business.  Sean, being the competitive guy that he is, accepted my challenge.  Make sure you watch this brief video below to see how <a href="https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/386236963" target="_blank">YOU</a> will decide who is the winner.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fee4BTtrUCk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fee4BTtrUCk&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x2b405b&amp;color2=0x6b8ab6" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Sean and I will be giving away our best content, and sharing with you how you can maximize some of the latest tools that both Twitter and LinkedIn have recently released.  <a title="Twitter vs. LinkedIn" href="https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/386236963" target="_blank">Register Here for this content packed web show, take notes, and get ready to choose your winner in the Twitter vs. LinkedIn rivalry game! </a></p>
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		<title>How To Best Use The LinkedIn and Twitter Feature</title>
		<link>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/linkedin-and-twitter-status/</link>
		<comments>http://www.lewishowes.com/featured-articles/linkedin-and-twitter-status/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:39:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lewis</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Status Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.lewishowes.com/?p=721</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[LinkedIn and Twitter finally join forces and connect via their &#8220;status updates&#8221;.  I have a number of questions on Twitter if I like it, and how others should be utilizing it.  In short, I think it&#8217;s great they did this, however, I don&#8217;t think the average LinkedIn user is ready to be bombarded by 50 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a title="Lewis on LinkedIn" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/lewishowes" target="_blank">LinkedIn </a>and <a title="Lewis on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/lewishowes" target="_blank">Twitter </a><a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/11/09/allen-blue-twitter-and-linkedin-go-together-like-peanut-butter-and-chocolate/"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-722" title="linkedin and twitter" src="http://lewishowes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/linkedin-and-twitter.jpg" alt="linkedin and twitter" width="168" height="158" /></a>finally join forces and connect via their &#8220;status updates&#8221;.  I have a number of questions on Twitter if I like it, and how others should be utilizing it.  In short, I think it&#8217;s great they did this, however, I don&#8217;t think the average LinkedIn user is ready to be bombarded by 50 tweets a day from the same person on their LinkedIn home page.</p>
<p>LinkedIn users are different than Twitter users, and they use LinkedIn for a completely different reason.  I still think it is great the two sites have joined forces in a sense, but I think the LinkedIn users will need a little time to get used to things until they fully adapt.  Check out how I think you should be using the new LinkedIn and Twitter status update feature in my brief video below.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="480" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HGcUTRwFD-0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HGcUTRwFD-0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>What are your thoughts?  Should people be updating all of their random Tweets to their LinkedIn connections?  Or should they separate the two?</p>
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