Before I give you my non-paid sales pitch about Linkedin and how to use Linkedin. Let me explain the background information needed to understand sites like Linkedin, Facebook & Twitter

First thing you want to know is that all social networking sites are part of the Web 2.0 evolution of online applications. Back in 2004 Tim O’Rielly of O’Reilly Media was credited with first using the term, “Web 2.0″.

This term was used to describe the evolution of traditional websites from one way communication to two way communication to all out user driven content and interaction.

The strange thing about the concept of Web 2.0 is that in 2004 Tim Berners-Lee who is the inventor of the World Wide Web, said the following:

”I think Web 2.0 is, of course, a piece of jargon, nobody even knows what it means. If Web 2.0 for you is blogs and wikis, then that is people to people. But that was what the Web was supposed to be all along.” (source: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/podcast/dwi/cm-int082206txt.html)

Fast forward to 2010, Mr. Berners-Lee now has a Linkedin profile: Click here to go to his Linkedin profile

Keep in mind, that Mr. Berners-Lee was trying to say that there is no difference between Web 1.0, 2.0 or even Web 1000.993 when we get there. To him it is all the same; a means for people to interact and connect.

Enter Linkedin. Socio-Professional Interactive Application Extraordinaire!

If you are a working professional, then you need to be on Linkedin. It is an incredible networking site and everyone that matters is on it. It is not a job site, although 80% of recruiters use it. And 90% of users are open to hearing about opportunities. Even still, it is not a job site. It is a social networking site for professionals.

The information you post on Linkedin can be used to find jobs, build relationships within your industry or just give people a place to find you on the web.

Check out this Linkedin demographic chart, it should give you an idea of what kind of people are on it:

Here are some key stats from this chart:

69% of Linkedin users earn $60k – to more than $100k

75% of Linkedin users hold a Bachelors degree or greater

68% of Linkedin users are 35 years old and older

What do these stats tell you? They tell me that the educated working professionals with money are on Linkedin exchange ideas and opportunities with one another.

Sounds like they kinds of people that I want to know and would like to introduce myself to. What you don’t want to be is that person who gets on Linkedin after they have lost their job. It does not work like that.

You have to build some sort of network equity before it can be of any use to you. So get started now before something better comes along, then you will be even more behind the times.

Also, don’t worry if you don’t have a bunch of connections at first, that is not the point of being on Linkedin. You want to build as many quality connections as you can. These are connections are people of influence within your industry.

Keep in mind that it will take time to build up your professional contact list, but once you have done it; the value of it can not be quantified.

A perfect example of a well utilized Linkedin account is of Nayeem Chowdhury, North American Recruiting Manager for one of the worlds largest conglomerates. Click here to check out his Linkedin profile

While you are on his profile go ahead and send him an invite. Go ahead and send me an invite to, I will gladly accept: My Linkedin Profile

You will notice that Mr. Chowdhury is connected to 2,800+ professionals. But they are not a random 2,800, they are all high value contacts within the Oil & Gas industry. Through these contacts, Mr. Chowdhury is able to establish his presence in the Oil & Gas industry. He is also able to follow people around as they change jobs, move to different cities, etc…

Some of you are thinking, “my email does that.” Sure, your email is a place for you to be contacted online, but no one is looking for your email address. The people who have social profiles up are the ones who are being found online and get first dibs at the best opportunities.

Here is the bottom line, being on Linkedin will not break your career. But there are a lot of great connections and opportunities that you are missing out on. Since I have been on Linkedin, I have made numerous friends with quality backgrounds who I know will help me if I ever need the help and I will gladly help if they ever need it.

If want a great presence on Linkedin, but don’t know how to achieve it. Then shoot me a message and I will gladly answer any of your questions. And if you come back to my blog in a couple of days, I will have posted a, “How to Use Social Media to find Jobs Video.”

Till then, Make it Happen!

Visit: http://www.akajohnsanders.com to see the rest of my posts and videos.