Don’t want a barrage of unwanted emails containing pitches for the latest technology when your title clearly indicates you are an investment and banking reporter?
Here are a few tips for reporters:
As a reporter, you may not want to get the Normandy Invasion of pitches from folks like me in the PR field. So how do you filter out the credible and pertinent pitches from those that have absolutely nothing to do with you?
LINKEDin!
After reading hundreds of thousands of articles on LinkedIn and networking… ok, so it was really only a few articles but who’s counting? Anyhoo, after reading these articles, I’ve done it! The hard work. I’ve whittled the list down to five steps. And, here they are:
1) Set up a LinkedIn account and flesh it out. If you’re not on here, you nearly don’t exist. LinkedIn profiles are not only searchable online, but Google algorithms place LinkedIn profiles almost always at the top of their list when searching for names. (Here’s a link to a great YouTube piece on how it works: http://bit.ly/YouTubeLinkedIN)
a) If you have a blogsite or a website with your professional work, you can connect it to your LinkedIn page so viewers can see and link to it.
b) Keep it up to date. One of LinkedIn’s shortcomings is that there is no “as of” date. Yes, I’ve made the recommendations, but nothing yet. Continuously updating your page and refining it keeps it fresh and ensures your profile is listed in LinkedIn’s weekly Network Updates.
2) Begin building your network, however, and this is a “big” however, ensure your Account Settings are set to your desires. A few privacy considerations are listed below, but before we get there, you’ll need to begin building your network. Start with those you trust, respect, and need as potential resources. Afterwards, you can begin branching out from there.
a) Connections Browse – Do you want to allow anyone to see your connections? While those not connected to you cannot see your connections except the number, your connections may be able to rifle through your connections. Some enjoy a level of anonymity. If so, set it to “not allowed”.
b) Email Notifications – Do you want to allow complete strangers to contact you via LinkedIn? Or, you can set it up so only those who know your email will be able to contact you. We’re talking about non-connected folks right now. It’s just as easy to “ignore” a request when they come in, but perhaps you don’t even have time for that. In that case, set it to “I’ll only accept Introductions” AND unclick the 8 boxes next to it. All this is under “CONTACT SETTINGS”.
3) Browse and “ASK” questions. If you hover your rodent, I mean mouse over “MORE” near the top, then click “ANSWERS”, you’ll be taken to a Q & A section filled with the latest questions and answers on everything from “Which shampoo do red-heads recommend?” to “Are Municipal Bonds worth investing in?” (ok, so that last one was my own) This is a great resource. And if your answer is deemed worthy, the questioner may stamp it with a seal of “BEST ANSWER”.
4) Rifle through your connections’ CONNECTIONS. Yes, it’s a little creepy going through someone else’s connections, but hey, if they’re not secured, why not? HOWEVER, I always make an effort to contact my direct contact first if I plan on connecting with their connection. Are we connecting?
Plus, it makes a great segue to your intro by saying something like “Hi, we are both mutual acquaintances of Bill…”, or something to that effect. The point is, respect each person’s LinkedIn profile. Just because we’re hiding behind a computer doesn’t mean we cannot be civil.
5) Lastly, if your employer is willing to shell out the extra bucks per month, buy the upgrade. The upgrade allows you to better search results, to save and organize profiles, and to send InMails. InMails are emails sent within the LinkedIn realm, adding credibility.
Would love to hear your best practices and thoughts about my tips. You can always email me or InMail me on LinkedIn.
Best wishes.
-Danny
“Jarheadpao”