Make sure to choose the questions you want to answer carefully. When picking a question make sure that you truly know the answers to, like you know the back of your own hand. If you’re not sure about something skip it  and move on to a different question, don’t take the chance of not posting a  correct  answer.

Let your fingers do the typing on Google and research your answers to ensure accuracy if you’re not 100% sure about something. It’s okay not to know something but it’s not really okay to post incorrect information.

To make sure you can check your grammar and spelling use open office or word to type out your response.  When answering questions on LinkedIn.com  don’t view it as posting in forums and discussion boards because it is a professional network.  LinkedIn commands a higher standard than what is expected  many other places online. Using good grammar, correct spelling, and answering as truthfully and as factually as possible, you will find success participating in LinkedIn.com’s Answer section.

Try to spend about 15 minutes per day answering questions on LinkedIn.com.  In addition, you can use the system to ask questions that are designed to get participation from group members. You can use questions as a way to help you know what to blog about, write about, and even help you create new information products for your online business. The best products are the ones that your clients and potential clients wanted you to create.

Automate some of the process on LinkedIn.com by putting a LinkedIn widget or button on your website or blog. Connect your LinkedIn.com account with Twitter and share your blogs by including a feed on you home page on LinkedIn.com.  A really helpful way to do this if you have multiple blogs is to create one more website that simply feeds all your blogs into one page, then put that feed into your LinkedIn.com profile.

A quick easy way to do this and I only know how to do this via WordPress I created a new installation of WordPress in a folder. I named it http://yourvirtualgirlfriday.com/blog and then I posted for help in the StudioPress Themes for WordPress forum and @Nick_theGeek suggested I use this Plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/feedwordpress/. Now when you go to my LinkedIn profile and look at my WordPress Application it has all my latest posts from all three of my websites and it clicks straight through to that respective site.

Don’t forget to grab my free ebook Demystifying the LinkedIn Files.  Also, I’m an open networker and my profile states this, I’d love to accept your connection!

In order for you to use LinkedIn successfully your profile will need to be completed all the way, if it isn’t no one will really know what you can offer them. They won’t be able to access the value of connecting with you. Your profile on LinkedIn.com has every aspect of your business, your education, current and former employment listed. When you open a LinkedIn.com account, fill out a complete profile. Include your education, your experience, and very importantly, a professional profile picture. I suggest having your resume near by for referring to important dates. Or consult with a social media specialist like myself to walk you through your profile and set up a strategy for LinkedIn. Yes, you will want a strategy and by having one you will be able to measure your return. I can not stress the value of your profile on LinkedIn.

You will need and want to use keyword to describe what you do. By using keywords it will make it easier for others to find you in LinkedIn’s search engine. Being found is the whole point! Include links to your website and examples of your work. Include as much as you reasonably can and most importantly, be yourself. Do not try to be incognito on, if you are and do not have a good picture with a completely filled out profile you will not be taken seriously. Would you hand out a blank business card? Think about it, who do you want to do business with? Someone who hides who they are, or someone who is open about who they are? Who are you going to trust?

My suggestion is that you sit down and select 5 people you are willing to write a recommendation for before you ask for them in return. People are very likely to reciprocate with a recommendation for you. Having recommendations will help your complete your profile and make you more interesting to people who are searching profiles for possible business partners. Side note, when you give recommendations and they are accepted they show up on your recommendation’s profile with a link back to you the one who gave the recommendation.

Adding connections to people on LinkedIn is very important. The more impressive your connections the more impressive your profile will be to potential clients or JV partners. As an online business owner LinkedIn.com is one of the most useful of all the “social media” marketing channels that you can use because it is so professional in nature. You will be taken seriously if you make LinkedIn.com the hub of your social media marketing.

I told you I would share my success stories as of late I have two. The first one is a new client I landed through posting, messaging, basically being active in LinkedIn. He was in the process of interviewing other social media specialists in our area and because I was consistently in his face on LinkedIn, not physically of course but on the screen, this prompted him to reach out and set up a meeting.

My second success was responding to an 8 day old post in a LinkedIn group that was looking for a “Social Media Diva” I landed a speaking gig! I’m the only girl, check out my speaker bio. So not just having a profile that is 100% complete but by actively participating in LinkedIn you will find success.

By the way I’m an open networker on LinkedIn, visit my profile and let’s connect:

http://LinkedIn.com./in/yourvirtualgirlfriday

Then it came time to plan Foursquare Day Las Vegas with the Foodtrucks, I wanted her there and this would be the first conversation via phone that Marianne and I would have, it lasted about an hour.  It was like we where old friends, not like we where just talking for the first time on the phone.   I began telling her how Madeline my 17 year old could not find a job and the next thing I knew Marianne was hiring her. “Go get her a health card and she can work for me”-Marianne

Marianne had never met me in person, just tweeted with me, had no clue what my daughter looked like or anything.  Now my brat is her brat, they our (not that any of us are Hawaiian) Ohana, The Ohana Created by Social Media.  Marianne and Roxy have Dallice and Makenna my other daughters so spoiled with Shaved Ice.

Photo courtesy of  Ryan Shewchuck

Yeah sure, eventually I would of got around maybe to trying @SnOwONOShaveice, but with out Twitter or other social media outlets the Foodtruck Revolution that is spreading like wildfire would not of peaked my interest.  If Marianne would not of been paying attention to her brand #foodtrucks and joined in on the conversation with myself and Jolene from @Sloppijos my interest would not of turned towards her. Seriously, I live in the desert never been to Hawaiian, had no clue what shaved ice was..

Now time for me to go on my rampage!  Shaved Ice is not  and I repeat NOT a Snow cone, it takes time to shave the ice and Marianne is a perfectionist!  Your shaved ice is made to order and made with Love!  So what I am saying is it is so worth the wait.  If you are into instant gratification then I suggest a snow cone, but if you believe that “Good things come to those who wait” then you will value and appreciate your shaved ice the minute it starts it’s dance on your taste buds.

The best way I can describe it, is sticking your tongue out when it is snowing and catching snowflakes with your tongue. (like I would know what that feels like, living in the desert)

I hope you will share this Ohana’s story and get yourself some #ONOlicious shaved ice!

Almost forgot!  If you are one of those that doubt the “Power of Twitter”, ponder on this story for a while…

By creating a company page you are allowing LinkedIn to promote the interests of your business. LinkedIn business profiles have the ability to appear in Google search results. You could view it as LinkedIn giving your company a recommendation.

The creation of a page helps build thought leadership and credibilty for your business. How? By valuable recommendations from followers that continually bring new opportunities to build your brand, secure new clients/referrals, and develop/improve your reputation.

Company pages from LinkedIn serve as a provision for business owners to promote their products or services, and the only cost is the time it takes to create the page, or what you pay your Virtual Assistant to create it for you. Shameless plug, or grab my new pdf guide, checklist and video “Discover How  and Why To Create LinkedIn Company Pages“.

With company pages you can enjoy increased traffic to your site when you link your site to your profile and company page.

Some of the basic info you’ll include on your Company Page:

• Company Name
• Logo – Visual Branding
• Business Description – Make it a keyword rich description
• Twitter Username – more link love as this will pull in your recent tweets
• Link to your website and your RSS Feed – increasing traffic to your site as stated above
• Specialties – more opportunities for keywords

In this quote from Jeff  Weiner of LinkedIn when he was interviewed at Web 2.0 Summit 2010 he sums up the power of being connected on LinkedIn.

“LinkedIn connects talent with opportunity at massive scale, scale that was never possible before because we did not have infrastructure that enabled us to connect 100s of millions of people world wide.”- Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn

Make sure to visit Your Virtual Girl Friday’s LinkedIn Company Page and click the follow button.

Craig Cannings Co-Founder of VAClassroom.com:

“I was recently reading a 2010 Predictions post from one of my favorite blogs, Social Media Today and they were forecasting what trends would take shape in the coming year. Interestingly enough, the 2nd prediction on this blogger’s list was that “The Social Media Specialist position will become mainstream.” In fact, a few months prior, she did a post on the “Responsibilities of the Social Media Specialist (AKA Community Manager)” and she mentioned that this particular post was the most popular one she did all year.

It seems like the writing is officially on the wall: Your Social Media Skills will continue to be in serious demand in 2010! However, like any skill, it is important that it is developed and updated on a consistent basis in order to effectively service your clients’ evolving needs.”

Needless to say, I’m very excited about this prediction.  Vaclassroom.com is rolling out a updated version of their Social Marketing Specialist Program  which I have enrolled in.  In 2010 it is my goal to continue to be “Your Go To Girl For All Your Virtual Needs!”

Eleanor

Your Virtual Girl Friday

Remember those commercials (ok I’m totally carbon dating myself here) where one person would be eating peanut butter out of the jar and then another would be eating a chocolate bar?  Then some how they became clutzy and the chocolate ended up in the peanut butter.   There was the moment of annoyance and then the moment of divine sweet discovery.  The Taste-sensation your taste buds experienced when the combo hit them..

Well,  Linkedin AKA the Chocolate has ended up in the Peanut Butter AKA Twitter!

Did I tell you I love Chocolate and Peanut butter everything.  Ok let’s get down to business because when it comes to my chocolate and peanut butter I don’t play.

Here are the Features:

1. Make your Twitter account visible on your profile
2. Use #in or #li to share posts from Twitter to your LinkedIn status
3. Add the Tweets app to share your Twitter activity on your profile

Linkedin has a great blog post on how to do put your chocolate in your peanut butter.  Plus if you are not following Linkedin on Twitter I suggest you do.  Linkedin is so much more then just a digital resume as alot of people assume.  But that’s several other blog posts….