Using LinkedIn to increase business

LinkedIn is the “corporate boardroom” of social media sites, according to Ted Janusz, a professional speaker and marketing expert in Ohio.

“Too many people set up a profile on LinkedIn and forget about it but there are tremendous opportunities on LinkedIn,” the owner of Janus Presentations said. “You don’t have to be a computer guru to use the features.”

The professional contact social media site was launched in 2003. It has about 70 million users versus the 500 million on Facebook. Janusz said data shows two-thirds of LinkedIn users are male, four out of five are college graduates and the median age is 41.

REALTORS® should be using the site to get recommendations and make business contacts, Janusz advised. “The number-one marketing mistake people make is that they don’t use testimonies. People want to read what other people are saying about you. No one cares what you say about yourself,” he said.

Janusz offered five areas to maximize the benefits of a LinkedIn account:

• Groups — Join as many relevant groups as you can to network
• Jobs — Using the “Jobs” link, you can either pursue a new job or post a job. LinkedIn jobs receive an average of 30 applicants
• Companies — Enter a company name and search its profile. You may find a second degree contact and you could request an introduction through your direct contact. This may give you the “in” you need to make a connection
• Answers — Establish yourself as an expert and provide valuable real estate information or advice to other LinkedIn users
• People —   Search for LinkedIn members by name, company, location, school attended or job title.

“LinkedIn is 99 percent information and one percent promotion,” Janusz said. “People don’t connect with you because you’re promoting yourself. They connect with you because you’re providing valuable information.”