LinkedIn

I never used it. The only reason I had a profile was that random people started sending me requests. Then I sent a few to others, but always on a whim when I had a few minutes to look around and see connections they recommended. Then I saw my girlfriend using it like crazy -- she is really good at relationships in general. She connected to a lot of people close to her, and through them, they started making introductions to people they were connected to who she wanted to get to. It has paid some VERY SERIOUS dividends for her.

My profile is only so full. And I don't have a ton of contacts. But I recently did a few things. I belong to a few groups, and one for where I went to school had a thread saying, "If you started a business, tell about it." I figured what the heck, and posted something brief with a link to some work samples, and that day I heard from half a dozen people I didn't know. Half of them wanted introductions to others from me (which I was happy to do for two of them), but you never know where those kinds of conversations might lead.

I also recently contacted a few people I don't talk to that often (who I had business ties to years ago) who might have ideas for reaching a new business segment I would love to expand into, and even though that kind of "marketing" has never been my forte, the interactions have been surprisingly good. A couple of people have already put me in touch with people more directly related to what I am trying to get to, and even though none of it might go anywhere, I am finding it to be an interesting resource.

I am usually dubious -- kind of cynical and try to be self-reliant -- the guy who never has to ask people for help! But face it, that isn't possible in this world anymore. I have had steady clients that fed me work for years who have had their budgets slashed and that means having to solicit work rather than waiting for it to come to me. It's difficult, but LinkedIn is a definite resource.

 

My advice. ... don't think of it as networking and bullshitting. I don't have much tolerance for bullshit.

Here is an example of something I have done. I will have an idea--an area of business related on the fringe to an area I am already in. Same kind of work, different kinds of clients. I want to expand and I need to get to specific types of people. I am not in that world. So it is intimidating. I am not going to cold call people. It is not very effective.

I will cull people I know (mostly not through LinkedIn, but this was about LinkedIn, and I have done this using LinkedIn a few times recently) who in their businesses deal with the people I want to get to. It made perfect sense in the case of one particular area, because some of the work I do has given me a Rolodex full of people that I know or have worked with. ... who, as part of their jobs, deal a lot with the type of person I want to be working with. (Their businesses are complimentary).

I know that was a bit vague, but hopefully it made sense. In any case, I then send some e-mails or pick up the phone, and ask the people I already know if they have any ideas; tell them what I am looking to do and see if they can make some introductions. And then I take it from there.

It's really a low bullshit game. I either have something to offer or I don't. I am approaching people who are receptive (because I serve a need for them), or they are not.