How to Monetize LinkedIn Engage Your Connections Part 1



Posted: Sunday, July 26, 2009

by
Online Business Networker

If you want to monetize your LinkedIn networking efforts you only need really do one thing "reach out" to your connections.

WAIT… I don't mean with your sales pitch, keep reading. Note that I did not say prospect them.
It's absolutely amazing but in over 18 months on LinkedIn I have had less than a hand full of connections who actually reached out to me. I'm not talking about someone sending a summary of their business or product. I talking about someone reaching out to see what potential there might be in the connection and relationship.

I would bet the first reason this is such and uncommon practice (reaching out) is that most people don't have a clue how to go about it. Thus the purpose of this post, I'm going to tell you how to do it.
Are you ready?

Good lets get started.

Step #1: Correct Motive

You cannot reach out to your connections with the wrong motivation or you will soon have what I call the "LinkedIn plague" – that's were you get complaints, IDKs, and are in general ignored by your fellow LinkedIners.

You catch this LinkedIn plague by advertising, promoting, selling, and prospecting your fellow LinkedIners.

The only correct motive for reaching out to your connections is to see how YOU can HELP THEM. Your goal in reaching out is NOT to get business, although getting business will be the result of doing this correctly. Your goal is to build a valued relationship.

The only way to build valued relationships is to INCREASE YOUR VALUE to your connection. Trying to prospect or sell them is not part increasing your value but part of increasing your customer base.

Step #2: Finding a Target

Once you have the correct motivation you can begin.

You start by finding someone in your network to approach. The best person to start with would be someone you have engaged in the Question and Answer forum simply because they may already know your name. Not a big deal but helpful.

If you can find someone that is a "center of influence" (COI) (See my free report on "Working a Room at a Live Event" for information on COIs.). COIs represent the best leverage for your effort. This would be a high profile person on LinkedIn such as someone that answers tons of questions, or a group leader, or a thought leader – this person probably has a blog.

This is the end of Part 1. I know I'm leaving you hanging, but putting the rest of the information in this post would make it quite long. So use the break between now and the posting of the second part to go find five good people in your network you would like to approach. When I return I'll show you how to approach them.

DO NOT just pick people who you think are prospects. You may actually discover that people who don't feel they are potential prospects are far more receptive and frequently more valuable.
Remember that any "valued relationship" will strengthen your network.


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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Teresa Ortiz
 2 years 197 days ago.
187 fans.
HI Flynn, welcome to searchwarp. This is a unique article. I love how you end with challenging your readers to put into action the tips you shared. Way to go! I find myself anticipating part 2 even though this is not an area of need or interest for me. Kudos to you! Blessings to you! Teresa
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