Check Out the Best Free LinkedIn Feature that Most
People Haven’t Discovered Yet
By Wayne Breitbarth, Andersen
Alumnus and CEO-Power Formula LLC (Author of “The Power
Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-Start Your Business, Brand and Job Search’)
Whether
it's a referral to an exciting new customer with big potential, a new supplier
or vendor with a more effective solution, or a referral to your next great
employer, referrals are not only highly effective, but it can be fun meeting
your friends' friends.
However, it's not easy to ask the open-ended question, "Who in your network could help me find a job, customer, etc.?" So, rather than putting all the pressure on your
connection to come up with the right
people, why not use LinkedIn's Connections of feature to find the right people all by
yourself.
This
feature is so simple to use, and I've received tons of rave reviews about it.
So below you will find a step-by-step description of how to use this terrific
LinkedIn strategy.
For
more winning LinkedIn strategies just for you, book a one-hour one-on-one
virtual LinkedIn consultation with me for just $197. The price for this
consultation will be increasing soon. Book your time by clicking here.
.
Check
out your referral source's Rolodex in just minutes (People Search
Filter—Connections of)
Overview:
LinkedIn has lots of great ways to find the right people in its
one-billion-person database, but the one that seems to have the biggest wow
factor is using the Connections of feature to search for people who can
refer you to people in your target audience. I find that most people don't know
they can do this nor can they believe it's available on the free LinkedIn
account.
Think
of this LinkedIn feature as an easy-to-use electronic version of an old-school
Rolodex but with all the available filters to find just the right people in
mere seconds.
Note:
If you were born after the Rolodex died, it is a paper-based business card
filing system (see picture above).
Step-By-Step
Instructions
1. Put your cursor in the big, white search box in the
top toolbar and hit the return or enter key and then select People in
the white toolbar that appears (far left). Then select All Filters (far
right).
2.
Next, go to the Connections of box and type in your connection's
name. When his/her name appears in the drop-down menu, choose that entry, and
then click the blue Show results button.
3.
Now use any of the other available filters to narrow the search to people at
the right company, location, school attended, title, etc.
Caveat:
If your connection has chosen to hide their first-level network
from their connections, you'll only be able to see people to whom both of you
are connected.
What
to do with the search results
Review
the list LinkedIn provides for you. If you find people who look interesting to
you, check out their profiles, and then ask your connection how best to
approach the people (through a LinkedIn connection request, phone call, email,
in-person meeting, etc.).
The
four questions I would ask my connection about the people on the list are:
- Do you know them? (Not everyone knows the people
in their network well enough to refer you)
- Do you think they would be interested in hearing
about how I might be able to help them? (You're trying to find out if
your connection knows them well enough to know their level of interest about
you)
- Can I use your name and our relationship when I
reach out to them? (This is getting their permission to name drop)
- What do you think is the best way to get ahold of
them? (Send a customized LinkedIn connection request, email, phone call,
etc.)
If
you get "Yes" or "You bet" to the first three questions,
then go ahead, reach out and try to start a new relationship by referring to
your mutual connection. The reach-out could take place in the form of a
LinkedIn connection request, but you could also use more traditional methods,
like a phone call, email, or stopping by for a visit.
If
you're like most people, once they learn of this feature, they can't wait to
get started and put it to use.
What
are YOU waiting for? Get started NOW.
SPECIAL
OFFER
If
you'd like me to demo these LinkedIn features as part of a $197 one-on-one
LinkedIn consultation (price increase in early 2024), you can book your
session here. I will
share my computer screen with you during the call and send you a marked-up copy
of your profile prior to the call.
Whether
you’re using LinkedIn to find your next high-impact customer, raise your
organization’s profile, or land the job of your dreams, this session is for
you.
There
are limited spots available, so don't delay. Book your session today by
clicking here.