Thought you might have an interest in listening to an interview I did with David Crumby of Assist2Sell that he posted for his franchise network.

I found it with my Google Reader search for my own name (something you may want to consider as people are more and more writing online).

Here's a link to the post "LinkedIn Expert Audio Interview" on the Assist2Sell Today blog.

Or you can click here to listen to it.

I'm beginning to really use LinkedIn as a way to get the idea that a network is a powerful thing and that it takes strategy to work a network. 

I'm of the opinion that most people work networks from a tactical perspective, and I hope that this interview, which was originally designed as a conversation for LinkedIn for Realtors, sheds some light on that.

Let me know what you think.

Raymond Chip Lambert
Network 2 Networth
Your Outsourced Business Development Training Partner

Technorati Tags: David Crumby,linkedin,network development,positioning,Realtors

I've had the honor and pleasure to work with Real Estate professionals on all sides of the transaction for years now.

And the one thing I find consistently is the "transaction-focused" mindset across the industry.  Now, I know what you are thinking - "I'm relationship focused - I'm a consultant for life".  So is everyone else who has attended those workshops.  But what does that really mean?

Enter Linkedin.com

Truly one of the top business to business social networks out there on the web.

You may even have an account.

But do you know how to leverage it?

Do you know how to use it to build relationships?  To position yourself? To keep in touch with folks no matter where they end up?

With over 15 million members at the time of writing, it is one of the highest quality business social networks in the world.

But you can't use it like most marketers teach you to work.  What to do?

Here's a few tips to get you started:

1. Build a complete profile.  It's focused on you as an individual.  Not on you as a realtor.  People use linkedin for more than just finding resources.  Give a well rounded picture of yourself and your affiliations.
2. Search word optimize your profile.  Use key words that you want to be found for.  Linkedin submits to the search engines.  You have trust and authority on yourside with a Linkedin Profile.
3. Know the rules and follow them.  People get closed down on Linkedin within a blink of an eye for abusing the system.  I had a realtor who was a loose connection send me a listing through the system - a violation of the terms.  His account was shut down when I tried to connect with him.  This is a professional network - not your marketing machine.  Use it well and it will make you money.  Abuse it and you will loose access to it.
4. Build a strong network of trusted contacts.  This is where the power of Linkedin gets unleashed.  Without it, it's just another waste of time.

It you would like to learn the basic tricks and tips of the system in about 2 1/2 hours and know more that 99% of the other Linkedin users out there, check out our Linkedin Training Webinar.

Good luck!

Raymond Chip Lambert
Owner & Head Trainer
Network2Networth.com

Deep Business Development