Are you LinkedIn yet? Maybe you should be. Case in point is the following excerpt from Small Biz Pipeline article outlining one Washington D.C. attorney’s personal experience with LinkedIn.
Jeff Taylor, a lobbyist in the Washington D.C. office of Barnes & Thornburg, was invited by a friend of his to join LinkedIn a little more than a year ago. At first he declined, but went ahead with it when he was re-approached by the same friend a few months later.
Taylor, who joined the firm five years ago after working as a political campaign manager in Indiana, filled out the LinkedIn user profile, including professional background, experience, types of leads he was seeking, education, experience and other professional information. He also highlighted the capabilities of his firm…
"I liken it to golf," Taylor explains. "If you are an average golfer, you will tend to hit a lot of average shots, but every once in a while, you’ll hit a big one." That might be general counsel of another company looking for a law firm, he says. There’s also the opportunity for that hole in one. "[For example], there might be a CEO looking for a lobbyist in D.C. Hopefully, my profile will be compelling enough to get that opportunity," he says.
The benefit, Taylor says, is that LinkedIn augments more traditional marketing without the cost. LinkedIn provides much of the same information to potential clients as marketing materials that include bios and initial e-mail communications.
Taylor also adds that LinkedIn might provide some excellent contacts, but that is only the first step in landing business.
"For a guy like me, making the link is everything, but it’s only the first step," Taylor explains. "It’s like other networking, like [a chamber of commerce's] ‘Business After Hours’. If you make the link, then you get together for coffee or something to discuss business."
Ready to get started? Join other small business owners and great resources in my network – just ask for an invitation or check it out at http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannahayes.
