Good Morning, Social Rabbit here with your guide to the world of social media.

Monday was so mental that it has slipped into Tuesday, so sorry about that readers.  Today I am reviewing LinkedWorking: Generating Success on LinkedIn the Worlds Largest Professional Networking Website by Frank Agin and Lewis Howes.

This book is all about using LinkedIn effectively to produce results.  Each chapter covers a different aspect of LinkedIn, it relates it to networking in real life and then gives an example of someone on LinkedIn who has had success with it.  Below are some of my favourite bits from the book (these are all direct quotes):

• When you send an invitation you should always try to make it personal, or at least add some value to the message…. A personal touch always increased your chances of being accepted
• You never know which connections will come in handy in the future.  This is why it is important to never pass judgement while on LinkedIn
• Everyone is a networking opportunity for you (and you are an opportunity for everyone). This is a powerful networking concept. As powerful as it is, however, there are limitations to it. The primary limitation is that you have no control over where this networking strategy leads. That is, you can never tell when you will come across a networking opportunity and when you do, you have little control as to what might be.  You eliminate much of this limitation when you take it upon yourself to reconnect with people.
• This is the Golden Rule of Networking: Give first … get second.
• Eventually what you inject into your network – opportunities, information, support, energy and additional contacts – comes back to you.
• Here are several ideas for expressing true altruism on LinkedIn:
  1. Offer Help When It Is Least Expected
  2. Forward Important Introductions
  3. Make Introductions
  4. Provide Useful Feedback
  5. Make New-Comers Feel Welcome
  6. Make Recommendations
  7. Express Gratitude
  8. Ask A Question
  9. Start A Group
  10. Reach Out To Help Others
• The things you need to do in the real world of networking to get involved includes joining local groups, attending city meetings, doing community service, becoming an officer in the groups you join, and so on. The beautiful part about LinkedIn is it allows you to do those same activities in a virtual setting.
• Another way to become actively involved on LinkedIn is the Answers section. This section gives you the ability to ask and answer questions pertaining to any topic in any industry. People actively read these answers on a daily basis, and numerous business deals have come from individuals providing compelling information.
• Here are some suggestions for expanding your network into a variety of “cliques”:
  1. Group Diversification
  2. People Watch
  3. Group Introductions
  4. Offer Group Assistance
• To set yourself on the path of consistent action, start by establishing certain goals you want to achieve through your networking efforts. How many new people do you want to meet in a given period? How often do you want to connect with those you already know? How much and what type of value do you want to give to those you know?  Once you have established goals, plan out the required activities for meeting your goals.
• Your mission on LinkedIn is to follow the ABB’s of networking: Always Be Building your network. Whether you are trying to find a job, create new opportunities, close more deals, make more money or become a globally recognized industry leader, the success factor for every networker is to Always Be Building your network of connections and opportunities.

Obviously there is a lot of info in this book, whether you are new to LinkedIn or have been using it for years I am sure you will find something useful.  It is written in an easy to understand and read style, with only 100 pages it is a quick read.  It doesn’t go into details in terms of click here, do this, do that, but is more about the overall objectives and ways you can use LinkedIn.

If you have read this book and have any comments please let me know below or on the Social Rabbit Facebook Page. Or if you have any suggestions for what to read next.  I am still reading the New Rules of Marketing and PR, but I am finding it heavy going, hence why it didn’t get reviewed this week – next week I promise!