Here is our fifth exercise for wowOwow’s Virtual Executive "Interns." In this latest project, we will teach you how to grow your network on the social and professional networking site, LinkedIn. In our last exercise, we taught you the basics. In our next project — which we will post on Thursday, May 21 — we will show you how to search for jobs. Click here to see previous projects on using Facebook.

PROJECT #5 GROWING YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK

Project #5A: Add Connections
As with all social networks, the purpose is to build a strong network that can help you in getting your message out to appropriate contacts. It’s been suggested that a strong LinkedIn network has about 80-100 contacts. You’ll see how fast that connects you to thousands of others when you have access to these contacts’ connections.

1. From any page, click on the green button on the left, Add Connections.
2. Click on Colleagues tab. Did you enter your current/past employment as described in the previous project? If so, those companies will be listed with a button to view all of the people who also included that employer in their profile. Scroll through to look for people you know. Some probably worked there before or after you did. (See image above.)
3. Do the same by clicking on Classmates.
4. Click on Import Contacts. Depending on the type of e-mail account you have, follow the instructions to upload your contact list and match it against those who already have a LinkedIn account. Remember, you did this same thing to find friends on Facebook.
5. When you invite people to connect to you, LinkedIn offers a standard message for the invite. You have the option of customizing it. Once someone accepts your invite, you’ll get an e-mail message to alert you.
6. As you did with Facebook, look at the contacts of your connections to see if you know any of them. Click on their name, view their profile and on the upper right of page, select Add to my network. LinkedIn asks you to state how you know them. Review the choices and respond.
7. Advanced Networking – If you’d like to be connected to someone you don’t know but is on a connection’s contact list, ask your connection to introduce you by selecting Get introduced through a connection, which appears on the upper right of a profile.
8. You can also search for people by name using the Search field at the top of every page.

Project #5B– Join Groups
LinkedIn Groups are an opportunity for people with like interests to share relevant information through posts. Alumni organizations, companies and interest groups have formed groups on LinkedIn. Members can be helpful in extending your network as you research companies and jobs.

1. Select Groups on the left of any page and then select the Groups Directory tab.
2. Search for keywords that are related to your field, such as law, arts, nonprofit, marketing.
3. Search for your alumni organizations, trade organizations or employers.
4. Search for the wowOwow group by typing in “Women on Web.” Search for the wowOwow logo and click on Join this group. (See image above)

Once you have connections, use them to help you in your job search or business. Send messages to ask specific questions about their jobs, companies or successful strategies. Post questions on group discussion boards and offer information that others will find helpful.