Linkedin is a world biggest professional networking site with over 500 million members nationwide, if you have a business to business organzation. linkedin should sit front and center of you corporate socail media effoets.
If you are into b2c linkedin has a valuable rule to play in building you own personal brand and in helping you connect with vendors, resources, and partners to help you successfully run your social media program.
LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn Answers furthers your professional reputation. You can drill into special-interest topics, connect with other members, and be recognized with “Best Answer” badges. Trending hot topics in business generate a buzz on LinkedIn that is unlike that of the other social networks. Being part of that conversation makes you better informed and ultimately more valuable in your job.
If you work in B2B sales and marketing, it’s natural to view LinkedIn as an opportunity to reach business prospects. I firmly agree. But I caution you to observe one cardinal rule: never send a sales inquiry in the form of a connection request on LinkedIn.
For more on how to employ LinkedIn as part of a B2B marketing program, I recommend LinkedIn for Business: How Advertisers, Marketers and Salespeople Get Leads, Sales and Profits from LinkedIn.
Today when I search the site, most people with whom I want to connect are inside that circle.