Job seekers and hiring managers alike: your network is easily your most powerful tool. LinkedIn has proven itself as the most influential arena for professional networking. After attending a webinar hosted by Anna Wright, Social Media Consultant for LinkedIn, and Mike Dwyer, Managing Director at Quesocial, I gained some inside understanding to develop and nurture your network. Here are some key tips to get your network to its most powerful point.

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It all comes down to fishing, working out, and partying. Make sense? I didn’t think so either, so let me explain:

Fishing. Research the people you want in your network. Contact these folks and try to establish a relationship. You can ask for an introduction from a mutual contact but it’s imperative to give before you ask. Post interesting articles and information on your site and/or newsfeed. Make sure you are adding value to your network and not just expecting it in return. Using LinkedIn Signal, you can target the audience to direct your posts to the most relevant group or geographic area. You can also select a target audience for personal/company status updates.

Working out. Stay consistent in your network development and content sharing. Just like working out, you should form the habit of staying involved in your network and should feel guilty when you let things go. No time to find your own content? Utilize LinkedIn Today articles from your homepage. You can customize the articles that pop up to your own preferences by visiting your LinkedIn Today page.

Partying. Develop a social presence that is inviting, conversational, and relevant. Utilize the LinkedIn Developer site so people can share your content or follow you on LinkedIn from places like Twitter, Facebook, or your email signature. Get involved in groups on LinkedIn and engage in discussion. Make sure your picture is professional but also inviting and trustable. After all, LinkedIn is a social network.

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Your network is one of the most powerful tools at your fingertips. You can call on your network to seek a job, establish a prospect, or expand your market reach. Don’t let it fall by the wayside; fish, work out, and party to optimize your LinkedIn account and get the most out of your professional network.

Happy Hunting!

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