This Slideshare deck contains a collection of "No Brainer" tips that I've learned through my experience of advising companies and individuals on they can best benefit from LinkedIn. If you're looking for a solid partner to help your organization get the most from LinkedIn, let me know and I'd be happy to explore how Valuecasters might serve you! Thanks, Patrick (Rafter)

1. Valuecasters
No-Brainer LinkedIn Tips
Patrick Rafter
Chief ValueCaster
Valuecasters
prafter@valuecasters.com
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/valuecasters
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

2. No Brainer LinkedIn Tips:
• LinkedIn Profile: Your real-time resume
• Company Page is your reception area
• Give and ye shall receive
• Groups are Great
• Protocol of LinkedIn Invitations
• Regularity
• Build LinkedIn into your business processes
• Protect your brand, manage your status
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

3. No Brainer LinkedIn Tips:
• Build a Powerful Profile
• Build and maintain a first-rate Company Page
• Mutually Beneficial Networking: Give before you ask
• Become a Groupie
• Don’t try to connect with people who don’t know you
• Make LinkedIn part of your day-to-day routine & spend
½ hr. week updating, your LinkedIn presence
• Teach LinkedIn “best practices” to all public-facing
employees (and be sure they follow them)!
• Be smart about “Status Updates”
(share what you want and not other info)
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

4. Checklist for a Powerful Profile:
Clean, Compelling
Correct, Complete
Quality Photo
Regular Updates +
Upcoming Events
Add Keywords to
“Get Found” Online
Inviting Title +
Short Summary
Create Pub. Profile
for your name +
add Twitter address
Detail Experience +
Education
Include Links to
3 Named Websites
Get Recommended Join Groups!
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

5. A Powerful Profile:

6. LinkedIn Companies

7. LinkedIn’s 3 Most Important Rules
1. Only invite people you know well and who know you
2. Always, Always Be Respectful
3. Don’t use LinkedIn to
“cold call” prospects!
• It’s rude and will backfire
• Instead:
**Connect with those who know you
**Help & serve them
**Ask for their help (when appropriate)
• LI is a research tool--- NOT a way to spam people
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

8. LI: Search, Then Soft-Sell
Respectful Engagement:
1) Research on LinkedIn,
2) Vet with Google, Website
3) ThenApproach via E-mail,
LI introduction, or
InMail message
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

9. Follow Rafter’s Recommendations
for LinkedIn Best Practices: The 6 C’s
Check Out
Communicate
ConnectCommunity
Continue Contact
LinkedIn
success
isa
continuous
cycle of
activity…
Adapted from: http://www.slideshare.net/patrickrafter/linkedin-best-practices-4765785
Copyright 2013 Patrick Rafter/Valuecasters --- All rights reserved.

10. Connect, Communicate, Engage
• LinkedIn is an extraordinary “free” business tool
• What you put into it governs what you can get out of it
• Jump in, today. Help Others. They’ll help you in return
Beyond these “No-Brainer” LinkedIn Tips,
be sure to check out my Slideshare presentation on
LinkedIn Best Practices: The 6 C’s©:
http://www.slideshare.net/patrickrafter/linkedin-best-practices-4765785

11. Thank You!
How are YOU using and benefitting from LinkedIn?
I’d love to know!
Send me an email: prafter@valuecasters.com
Follow me on Twitter: @prafter
Visit my LinkedIn Profile:
www.linkedin.com/in/patrickrafter/