This is an interesting question that I have posted on LinkedIn back in APR-2011 where I have received 52 Answers for.
Why are you using LinkedIn? What are the benefits of using LinkedIn? What have you gained by using it so far?
I am preparing a presentation for a networking event in Jeddah about Networking & LinkedIn.
Here are some reasons why I think people may use LinkedIn for, would appreciate it if you have others to add to the list:
- To stay in touch with friends and colleagues.
- To reconnect with old friends and colleagues that you may have not been able to find or be found by otherwise when emails and phone numbers are changed.
- To get introduced to new interesting friends and business connections.
- To promote your products and services, find or be found by new customers.
- To find or be found by new vendors, suppliers or service providers.
- To find a job through your network and to make it easy for employers and recruiters to find you.
- To find someone to fill a vacancy that you may have.
- To find experts and get advices.
- To share your experience, help others and give advices.
- To stay updated with the latest news especially about your network and whats new.
- To join groups and start or join in interesting discussions.
- To build and strengthen your personal branding and online presence for you or your company (improving the chances of being found on Google).
- To find new opportunities for business, partners or investors
- To consolidate in one place trusted (to some degree) recommendations that you can get from your colleagues, friends and business contacts.
- To use who you know in common to ask for reference about someone or a company before working or doing business with them.
- To look up anyone that you need to meet or speak to and find out what you can about them to understand them better and to make a good impression.
- To be able to post questions and get different answers
- To be able to create or participate in polls (surveys) and find out the results.
- To be able to post and share announcements, updates, news, cool things.
- To be recognized as a subject matter expert in your area of expertise.
....??
Here are some reasons why I think people may use LinkedIn for, would appreciate it if you have others to add to the list:
- To stay in touch with friends and colleagues.
- To reconnect with old friends and colleagues that you may have not been able to find or be found by otherwise when emails and phone numbers are changed.
- To get introduced to new interesting friends and business connections.
- To promote your products and services, find or be found by new customers.
- To find or be found by new vendors, suppliers or service providers.
- To find a job through your network and to make it easy for employers and recruiters to find you.
- To find someone to fill a vacancy that you may have.
- To find experts and get advices.
- To share your experience, help others and give advices.
- To stay updated with the latest news especially about your network and whats new.
- To join groups and start or join in interesting discussions.
- To build and strengthen your personal branding and online presence for you or your company (improving the chances of being found on Google).
- To find new opportunities for business, partners or investors
- To consolidate in one place trusted (to some degree) recommendations that you can get from your colleagues, friends and business contacts.
- To use who you know in common to ask for reference about someone or a company before working or doing business with them.
- To look up anyone that you need to meet or speak to and find out what you can about them to understand them better and to make a good impression.
- To be able to post questions and get different answers
- To be able to create or participate in polls (surveys) and find out the results.
- To be able to post and share announcements, updates, news, cool things.
- To be recognized as a subject matter expert in your area of expertise.
....??
Clarification added August 17, 2010:
I noticed a great interest in this question and participating in answering it, so I am re-opening it, I would like to thank each and everyone contributing even if it is just with a little comment. Will try to keep you updated with the final list if I get to finish it or if it stops : )
Clarification added March 25, 2011:
Reopening the question again as the reasons and benefits are almost endless ..
This time planning to run a seminar in CAIRO.
This time planning to run a seminar in CAIRO.
