Always great insight esp with #13 as really how can you say that it was made up. Selling on LinkedIn is almost pointless as people are there to connect, find resources and also get answers to questions.

Great to see you pop in over here. Appreciate that.

#10 I don't even sell or try much at all there. Thats like trying to sell you consultant and advisers. Linkedin is the ultimate database for knowledge.

#13 another thing you can do is use the recommendations as testimonials for your character. How can the FTC say you made that up??? LOL

Thanks for the great tips~I'm going to check my account now!
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 9:54 AM by Cynthia Cavoto

Excellent post. And I agree with you about auto-linking LI to Twitter. I don't think it's a great idea either.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:21 AM by Doreen Pendgracs

This is a great summary of important items to think of when using Linkedin. Linkedin is a great tool if used in this manner. Thanks for taking the time to accumulate this list.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:49 AM by Dan Lively

Paul – thanks for adding a link to an article you wrote. Not connecting with former co-workers is one that many do not think about. Great addition to add value to this post.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 11:56 AM by Suzanne Vara

Great advice. I just shared your blog with my colleagues.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 2:36 PM by Justin

Cindy – I wrote this list from seeing that people do and what I have done on LI that should not have been done. It is so easy to forget to take a peek at our own profiles and make minor adjustments.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 3:08 PM by Suzanne Vara

Doreen – yeah, I know I do not want to read every tweet that people write. Really no-one cares when I am chatting with my friends about the mets or the jets.

Dan – with the changes at LI, a refresher was needed as well as some new things.

Justin thanks, I appreciate that.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 3:12 PM by Suzanne Vara

The given information are very useful and important in the process of marketing our profile online. A good post to share with every one..thanks and keep it up sharing your ideas.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:48 PM by Baldev Garlyal

Suzanne, I love your posts. They are targeted and well organized and presented. I agree with all your LinkedIn instructions, but I'd be happier if you “practiced” what you preach.

Specifically #12.
I don't get many comments from you on my comments and my RT's of your great articles.

Re: #13 The jury is out on Recommendations ESPECIALLY when people ask for them. Personally, I think recommendations are wonderful when people give them because they WANT to, not because they've been asked.
Posted @ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 11:30 PM by Shari Weiss
Shari

I am confused here. I have responded to just about every comment on this blog that has ever been written. I get notifications on LI of the comments and respond to people there as well. There have been times that I have missed a few notifications and yes, there are times it takes a few days but I am pretty much on top of the comments.

I do thank you for pointing this out and taking the time to comment to show the importance of bloggers responding to their comments.

Retweets – I do not recall seeing any. I am @suzannevara. Thanking for a retweet is just as important as commenting to a comment. I will be sure to keep an eye out for these.

Posted @ Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:24 AM by Suzanne Vara

I want to thank you for being so generous. It is fun to see what cool thing you will remind us of each visit to linkedin. So, if you were wondering of the effect you have, it is priceless.
Posted @ Wednesday, December 23, 2009 8:47 AM by Michele Price

Very helpful article and made me go back and check my profile. Didn't realize how important it is to be active even on your profile. Always open to learning new things.

Thanks and happy holiday
Posted @ Wednesday, December 23, 2009 9:02 AM by fran zeiler

thanks, Suzanne, for the speedy acknowledgement

Commenting on other people's blogs is one of the most recommended ways to get people to read your own blog — or so I've read.
But commenting solely for that purpose seems senseless to me.

I like commenting on your articles because they are so appropriate to everything that I am learning and practicing at the moment.

Plus, it seems to me that blog commenting on some kind of regular basis is a great way to build community. And I like your “community.”

Keep on keepin' on.

Shari
Posted @ Wednesday, December 23, 2009 11:40 AM by Shari Weiss

If you wait for someone to give you an a recommendation on LinkedIn you could be waiting a long, long while. For this reason I agree that you should encourage your co-workers, peers and clients to write a recommendation for you. However I think it's very insincere to write a recommendation for someone just to receive one in return.

Here's a suggestion for getting recommendations on LinkedIn as well as testimonies for your website:

Ask the person to share their experience or result about the work you performed. Tell them that their comments will help you obtain more opportunities to do this for others.

People are more willing to help when they are asked, especially when you tell them how their actions will help you achieve something in particular.

Sonya Carmichael Jones
Web Copywriter, Internet Marketing Consultant
Posted @ Wednesday, December 23, 2009 11:58 AM by Sonya Carmichael Jones
Michele

Thank you so much for jumping in. Honored, humbled. See you all the time on twitter sharing such valuable info. @prosperitygal is a good follow for all the twitter folks!

I blog on what I have learned but yet tried.

Thank you so much Michele for stopping by and also for the recommendation.
Posted @ Thursday, December 24, 2009 2:07 AM by Suzanne Vara

Shari

Yes, commenting on a blog just to comment is useless. It was not in this blog but I did speak about commenting on blogs but to comment often if you like them. While sometimes it is hard to return to comment as the writer may hit a point that you like and can comment on and the next day go in a diff direction but that is not always the norm.

Love the comments to make me think and think.
Posted @ Thursday, December 24, 2009 2:15 AM by Suzanne Vara

Sonya – Great insight. Recommendations are hard to give and ask for at times. I thank you greatly for the comment as I have seen the same habits where a recommendation goes in and then here is another one back. Personally my rule of thumb is if I cannot gush then cannot give one. I

I hope that readers of the blog read the comment as this is such great info!

Posted @ Thursday, December 24, 2009 2:25 AM by Suzanne Vara

Suzane, just a tip for helping you to stay up to date on the RT and T is a toll called TweetDeck…….very useful. And great article, by the way…… almost done in my profile.
Happy hollydays.
Posted @ Friday, December 25, 2009 2:28 PM by Luiz Carlos Conte

Luis – I am a big fan of tweetdeck. I have it open all day and night. I find it to be such a valuable tool for staying connected on twitter.

thanks for bring this to the forefront.
Posted @ Saturday, December 26, 2009 3:10 PM by Suzanne Vara

Charle – Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. LinkedIn is such a great tool and there are simple changes to make that do have a big impact on your profile. As LinkedIn grows I am sure this list will change or be added to.
Posted @ Monday, December 28, 2009 12:20 AM by Suzanne Vara

I discovered this article just as I've been assessing how I use LinkedIn and searching for a way to make it more meaningful. Thank you!
Posted @ Wednesday, December 30, 2009 2:49 PM by Margaret

Margaret – Great to see you taking the time to see how you can get more out of LinkedIn. It is a great tool that continues to grow and allow more sharing and chances to interact.

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I appreciate you dropping in.
Posted @ Wednesday, December 30, 2009 3:50 PM by Suzanne Vara

I will continue to follow your blog, Suzanne. This was a valuable set of tips. I've found LinkedIn to be one of the better connected, informative social media sources available. What I learn from my groups is priceless. Keep up the great work!
Posted @ Thursday, December 31, 2009 10:27 AM by Jill Freeman, Digital Harbor

Thanks for the tips. I haven't done much with Linkedin in the past, but I am planning on taking advantage of the possibilities in the coming year.
Posted @ Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:53 AM by Jim Smoot

Jill – Thanks for the kind words. LinkedIn will continue to be a resource for social media as well information on many industries. We have just started with technology as it relates to social media and being in groups and having that presence on LI and other platforms that work for you are a step in the right direction.
Posted @ Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:40 PM by Suzanne Vara

Jim – I will keep my eye on you this year. LinkedIn is really emerging as an information source for questions and answers as well as personal connections that are not about twitter or facebook but about interacting in groups that are of interest.

Posted @ Thursday, December 31, 2009 3:43 PM by Suzanne Vara

Hi Suzanne and Jim, Jill, Margaret, Charlie, Luis, Sonya, Michele, Paul, Cindy, Justin, Dan, and Doreen — I'd love to Link up with any and all of you NOW that we are all in Suzanne's community

http://www.linkedin.com/in/shariweisssf
Posted @ Thursday, December 31, 2009 5:11 PM by Shari Weiss

Nice post.
I don't agree with you that you have to give a recommendation to get one. As you know there is default LinkedIn feature that allows you to request for a recommendation to many number of people. You certainly won't have time to recommend them all if you have more than 100 people on your list.
If you certainly believe that you are worthy of a recommendation, you should ask and earn regardless.
Posted @ Monday, January 04, 2010 11:31 PM by David Lee

David – I do not necessarily think that you have to but it is a nice nudge. Some are very resistant to give recommendations as they are afraid of how it will affect THEM and not how it will help you. I am going to say that I believe we will be seeing much more in the recommendations this year as it is a part of engagement and since social media is about engagement, how much you are active and recommend people very well will be a factor as it shows that you are a team player and recognize someones efforts.

I agree that the recommendations are earned as you point out at the end.

thanks so much for adding your thoughts, I appreciate!
Posted @ Tuesday, January 05, 2010 12:19 AM by Suzanne Vara

Great article, Suzanne! I went back and took another look at my profile and did indeed find some things to update. My goal this year is to more regularly post updates to my status, something I haven't been good it so far.
Posted @ Tuesday, January 05, 2010 5:51 PM by Margaret

Suzanne,

Thanks for writting these tips, their very helpful and I already made a few changes to my own profile.

I found that former co workers were more then willing to write recommendations for me, some patience is requires after making the request, everyone's busy with work and family, the last thing they want to do when they get home is sit down and write about someone.

If I can add to your list, here are a few things that people should do which I have to admit I did not do myself but sure wish I had.

When your working on a project with other people, ask for their recommendations following the end of that project while it's still fresh in their minds and before moving on to new projects

Don't wait until your looking for your next opportunity to add contacts to LI, its easy to build your network over time and you might find that the effort comes with a reward like a new position!

That's my two cents worth,

Keith
Posted @ Thursday, January 07, 2010 9:37 AM by Keith

This is the sign of a Really Great Article: the fact that people continue to find it and continue to add to the conversation

Although I've commented twice previously, I notice that a few of the commentors are mentioning their profiles, so I thought I'd add my 2 cents in the way of a link to my article on Formatting your summary on your LinkedIn profile: http://sharisax.com/2009/10/06/the-magic-of-lin...
Posted @ Thursday, January 07, 2010 7:03 PM by Shari Weiss

Keith – Excellent advice to get people to write the recommendation when you are working on the project. That is great as if all is going well, they will gladly provide the recomm.
The waiting to add contacts until you need them is such a bad way to go about it. Hi, I am so and so, great to meet ya, oh can you help me a get a job? Sometimes it is unavoidable but for the vast majority of the time, it is great practice to contact people when you do not need them so that when you do, they are there to help.
Posted @ Friday, January 08, 2010 3:16 AM by Suzanne Vara
Shari

Thanks for jumping in again. You are always welcome to throw in your $.02 as many times as you like.

Thanks for adding your article link, I am heading over right now to dive in.
Posted @ Friday, January 08, 2010 3:18 AM by Suzanne Vara