My Boss in on Linkedin — Now What?

Your boss is on Linkedin? That’s Good News!

Be happy.

Linkedin is no longer just a job board. It’s a robust business communication and networking tool. Useful for researching leads, considering potential partnerships, and making other contacts that may turn into business for your company.

A smart  boss is on Linkedin to help make money for his or her company. Money your boss can use to help pay you.

Fair Warning: While on Linkedin, your boss might see your public profile. He or she might even ask to connect.

But, then again, your customers and prospects may be there, and they might look you up, too.

Ditto for your high school nemisis.

Public Profile means Public Visibility.

Not a good idea to put something on your Public Linkedin profile you don’t want viewed.

Bosses worry, too.

Some of my clients are initiating company-focused Linkedin networking strategies.

Management sometimes asks: Will being on Linkedin give a false signal that they’re looking for a job, or that the company is in trouble? Can helping staff improve personal Linkedin profiles in support of company goals backfire, making those staff members more attractive for others to hire away?

It’s all about tradeoffs. Markets are tough. Old ways of generating new business aren’t working so well. Finding new connections and nurturing them into solid business relationships matter, and you can do that on Linkedin.

Meanwhile, word about Linkedin’s changing use is spreading. More and more of us have logged on.

Using Linkedin to support business goals isn’t  just about looking good on line. It’s also a numbers game. The more connections back to your company across many employees, the more likely your company will be found by the people your trying to reach.

Getting Started on your Company Linkedin Strategy.

Start by taking stock.

When someone searches your company on Linkedin, what do they see? Search by company name. Search by employee name. Search by emails if you have them.

Who from the company is already on Linkedin? Examine those profiles. How do those profiles look individually and what, collectively, do those profiles seem to say about the company’s expertise, quality of deliverables, networking reach, and more.

Bottom line: Do the profiles support the company brand, or detract from it?

We’re looking for yet-to-be leveraged opportunity – tactical and strategic. Changes we can make as we add better keywords, target messaging in the Summary Section, and create a strategy for strengthening connections.

This is not big-time P.I. stuff. One of Linkedin best uses is as a Search Engine.

I recommend, though, that you go a few extra steps:

Google the company and employees. Double check Facebook and Twitter, too.

• What’s missing from the individual Linkedin profile?
• Are there potential links to add to the profiles?
• Any negatives that need to be addressed?

Not convinced? Someone considering doing business with you and your firm has probably already looked at your Linkedin profile, too. So will tomorrow’s prospect. That alone should encourage a second look at your LInkedin profile, even if your company isn’t pursuing an organized Linkedin strategy.

Have you checked my Linkedin profile yet?

Your Linkedin Profile — Through Client Eyes

An employee at one of my clients raised a flare: The boss was on Linkedin, he’d noticed. Why, was the boss snooping?

What if  your boss is “snooping” on your profile? How does the information on your Linkedin profile impact how the boss feels about you?

My client, though, wasn’t snooping; likely, your boss isn’t either.

Think bigger picture.

Ask yourself what I would ask your boss about how your profile reflects on the business brand:

• What would a client think about your profile? How about a new-to-you prospect?
• Does your profile invite people to build that “know, trust and like” quotient so crtiical in building business relationships?
• What does the profile imply about your firm’s expertise, and your role in helping deliver it?
• Do you look as good on the profile as the work you actually deliver, or wish you’d get promoted to deliver?
• Is the profile tactically optmized, like you’re always careful with your work?
• Is there a picture, and does it look like the person they’d want to hire?
• Does your profile support a solid businss referral?
• How large is  your Linkedin network compared to your Outlook or iPhone address book?

Bottom line: Don’t just dress for a job interview.

Remain flexible. Dress for success – in your current and any future employment.

That way everyone wins.

My boss is on Linkedin — but have you seen the profile?

Not sure if your boss is on Linkedin? Do a search. What do you see on his or her profile… how does it stack up against those same “branding” questions?

What if your boss’ profile needs work?

More good news: You now have an opportunity to offer a good networking idea to your boss.