LinkedIn Primer, Part 2

Last week, I blogged about LinkedIn and it’s appropriateness for business networking. In this entry, I will explore the question, why is LinkedIn useful?

The LinkedIn user pool -- 53 million members as of January 2010 -- is uniquely qualified for event and business marketing. Users of LinkedIn are active and upwardly mobile professionals, eager to expand their professional reach and abilities. Unlinke Facebook, the chances that your great aunt Sally will become your organization’s biggest fan are slim.

LinkedIn also allows professional group pages, such as alumni organizations, companies, and professional groups. Group pages serve as a central gathering spot for persons of similar interest as well as a resource for expert advice or help. Group discussion pages provide a safe space for peers to share information and converse about current issues in their field. Participating in group discussions gives users visibility and allows you to build credibility as an expert in your field.

LinkedIn groups are designed to have longevity – so while you may not want to create one for a one-time event, LinkedIn is an appropriate place to nurture an online community around your organization, topic, or issue. Once your community begins to grow, you can then tap that community for ideas and participation in your meetings and events.

LinkedIn for Business Primer, Part 1

I’ve blogged a lot about social media this year, talking about the most common platforms including Facebook and Twitter. In my opinion, these two along with LinkedIn form the trifecta of free social networking applications that are useful for conference marketing. In this two-part entry, I will discuss LinkedIn and offer some tips for getting started with the site.

Let’s start with the basics: what is LinkedIn? LinkedIn is a professional networking site, designed for business use – networking, self-promotion, and job seeking. If Facebook is a family picnic, LinkedIn is an after-work cocktail reception.

A user’s LinkedIn profile is essentially a professional resume, complete with job titles, dates, and descriptions. Because everyone is on their best behavior, there are limited opportunities for personalization such as photos (save for a single profile picture), video, or other multimedia content.

Because it’s geared towards working professionals, LinkedIn has a few features not found on other social networking sites. There are opportunities to ask someone to recommend your work, providing opportunities to create an online brag book. You can also ask a contact to “introduce” you to someone else, expanding your network through that of others.

To learn more about LinkedIn, here’s a short video on how it works.

Gaylord Opryland Sets Opening Date of November 15, 2010

From the USAE newswire: Gaylord Opryland Resort Sets Re-opening ... The Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville will re-open Nov. 15.The resort closed in early May following disastrous flooding that left the city reeling. Due to the closing, 1,743 employees will be released from their contracts on June 12. The re-opening will follow months of extensive rebuilding and repair of structural damage. The total cost of repair, according to Gaylord, will be between $215 million and $225 million.