Why Get Linked In?
Linked In is the top social networking website for job seekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of Linked In, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to the people you trust, because if you’re connected to those people and you posted a profile, then when other people are searching for people, they might find you.”
With more than 120 million registered users (at the time of this printing) — and adding two new members every second — the rate at which your network expands on Linked In can be truly amazing. A hundred strategic contacts could mean access to millions of people in a short amount of time. You’d have to attend hundreds — of in-person networking events to equal the reach you can get on Linked In.
Linked In allows you to leverage the power of your network — the people you know, and the people those people know — to help you connect to the person (or people) who are in a position to offer you a job.
As the co-founder of Linked In, Reid Hoffman, puts it, Linked In is about “connecting talent with opportunity on a massive scale.”
Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are on Linked In. And 59 percent of folks who are active on social networking sites say Linked In is their platform of choice, according to a June 2011 report from Performics and ROI Research.
But author Guy Kawasaki puts it best, “I could make the case that Facebook is for show, and Linked In is for dough.”
Why Linked In Is Important In Your Networking Plan
Once upon a time, attending networking mixers, industry events, and Chamber of Commerce meetings were the best way to make new connections and build business relationships. Now, these activities have moved online within the Linked In community. Much like networking in person, professionals interact on LinkedIn with the explicit intention of making business connections. 
With Linked In, you get all the benefits of networking in person, with less of the hassle. Instead of going from business lunch to business lunch hoping to meet people, Linked In provides a platform for you to specifically search and research individuals who you know will directly add value to your job search.
Businesses can search for other businesses to buy from, network with and sell their products and/or services. Employers and recruiters use Linked In to locate both active job seekers and those who aren’t necessarily looking (passive candidates). They also use Linked In to vet job candidates before making an interview invitation or extending a job offer.
The ability to identify, research, contact, follow-up, engage, and maintain your contacts in one place is the power of Linked In. Its ability to facilitate business networking is unmatched by any other social network. Essentially, your Linked In profile is a résumé, business card, and elevator speech all rolled up into one.
However, your Linked In profile is not your resume. Linked In is a personal branding page. You need both a resume and a Linked In profile, and they should be in sync with one another, but not be exact copies. The information on your resume should match your profile (in terms of positions you’ve held, your educational credentials, etc.), but the content you include on your Linked In profile will be different than what is included on your resume.
How To Set Up A Basic Account
Setting up a Linked In account is a quick and easy seven step process. You can be listed in just five minutes. However, speed is not the objective if you want to use Linked In to facilitate your job search. Rushing could lead to a sloppy profile that doesn’t represent you well — or may even prevent you from getting called for an interview. In fact, slow and steady wins the race. Work slowly, get it right and get additional update postings along the way.
Basic memberships in Linked In are free. For most job seekers, the free option is adequate enough to effectively network on the site. (If you find you need the paid functionality, you can always upgrade your account later.)
To get started:
Go to www.linkedIn.com and fill in your first and last name, email address, and password. Then click “Join Now.” Here is what the screen will look like at the time of this printing. As Linked In is a dynamic system, they are constantly changing and updating screens.
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