MARKETING
LinkedIn
Thanks to online tools such as LinkedIn, it is now easy and acceptable to reach out to people you may never meet in person. If you don’ t have a LinkedIn profile, create one. If you already have one, update it regularly. An easy way to expand your LinkedIn network is to reach out to people who are already part of your broader network. Next, connect with people you have something in common with, such as your alma mater or an organization membership.
If you send a connection invitation to your best friend, college roommate, significant other or cousin, you don’ t need to send a personalized invitation. They know who you are and will( hopefully) accept your invitation. If you send a connection invitation to someone you don’ t know well send a personalized message with your invitation, though LinkedIn might limit the number of messages you can send in a month.
Additionally, join groups and follow organizations and company pages that interest you. Then start engaging with their content. This will help you build more connections while staying abreast of industry trends, research and best practices. You can find suggestions on who to follow via the“ My Network” section within your profile.
Additional tips:
Demonstrate your expertise by posting valuable content and engaging authentically with others.
Check your LinkedIn messages and connection requests regularly, and respond in a timely manner( within one week).
Take your LinkedIn relationships offline. For example, if you are going to be in the city of one of your new connections, invite them to meet for coffee or ask to tour their facility.
Now that you have a few ideas on how to grow your network, think about what you can do to start implementing these tips. Is there an upcoming industry conference? Set a goal to make at least five new connections
Editor ' s note: These people are a part of my regular network. And they ' re an important part of my professional and personal life. We meet monthly for professional development and often in social settings like this one. Networking makes a lot of things possible that I thought were impossible.
while you are there. Every time you drive by the local animal shelter, do you grimace at the sight of their flower beds? Send an email asking about volunteer opportunities to help them care for their landscaped areas. Do you enjoy reading science fiction novels in your free time? Do a quick online search to see if there is a sci-fi book club in your city. These small steps can create new connections and help you grow personally and professionally. You never know; the next person you meet may know of a great person to fill a job opening at your facility or know someone who knows someone who will pave the way to your dream job.
Kerri Day Keller has been director of the Career Center at Kansas State University( K-State) since 2003. Her more than 30 years of tenure in career services also includes work at University of North Carolina Asheville, Denison University in Ohio, Northwest Missouri State University, and Indiana State University. Day Keller received a bachelor’ s degree from Pittsburg State University, a master’ s degree from Indiana State University and a Ph. D. in Higher Education from K-State in May 2012.
Erin Wolfram has more than 15 years of experience in career services and owns and operates Career Advantage Golf, specializing in career services for those in the turf management field. Wolfram has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and Master of Science in Educational Technology. She can be reached at erin @ careeradvantagegolf. com
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