Monday, October 19, 2009

LinkedIn - 10 Tips for Effectively Using Your "Status Update"

One of the features of LinkedIn that tends to be underutilized is the "Status Update" (also called your "Network Update") in your LinkedIn Profile.  Your status update "block" is a white box located just below your picture on your "View My Profile" page.  If you don't see such a block, then you've not posted a status update.
Linkedin-status-update


From your LinkedIn Home Page or your "Edit My Profile" page, you can change your status update as frequently as you desireEVERY time you update your status, the home page of ALL of your network connections is "pinged" with your status update.  Status updates are also distributed to your network via email when LinkedIn sends you your weekly "Network Update."  Your latest status update is always displayed on your LinkedIn profile.
Your status updated is limited to 140 characters -- just like Twitter -- so keep that in mind, particularly when cutting and pasting information into your status update "window."
Updating your Status is a great way to "communicate" to your network on a frequent and ongoing basis.  


10 Tips for Effectively Using Your Status Update to distribute useful information are presented below:


  1. Insert the title and a "shortened" URL link to one of your recent blog articles (bit.ly is a great resource for shortening URL's)
  2. Insert the title and a "shortened" URL to a blog article that you read and really liked -- particularly one that is timely, informative and relates to your "brand" or area of specialty in some way.
  3. A link a newsworthy web posting or news item (include the title and a shortened URL). Alignment with you brand "voice" or area of specialty makes it more powerful.  I like to focus on POSITIVE news as opposed to negative news.
  4. A great "quote of the day."  A great source of quotes of to search the #quote "hashtag" on Twitter.  Since Twitter updates are limited to 140 characters, you'll find quotes that "fit" the LinkedIn status update window.
  5. A brief piece of advice relevant to your brand or area of specialty.
  6. A link to a great YouTube video (I recommend linking only to Videos that are less than about 3 to 5 minutes in length).  The video content should be consistent with your "brand" or area of specialty.
  7. A request to connect with you on Twitter, along with your Twitter URL.  http://www.twitter.com/langermike
  8. An important announcement about you or your company -- a brief "press release" type of communication.
  9. A link to an article in which YOU were quoted (I give the title of the article and a shortened URL link to the article).  The is a powerful PR and branding activity.
  10. Recent results and key activities at work.  Something like "Just landed three new Digital projects this week; excited about launching those engagements!"

By the way there are tools available that allow you to cross-post your Twitter updates DIRECTLY to your LinkedIn status udpates (as well as Facebook and other social media applications).  A couple of tools I really like are ping.fm and hellotxt.com (check them out).


Mike Langer
Red Hawk Technologies
langer@redhawk-tech.com
513-288-9918

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Newport Lunch 2.0 tech group gets off the ground

Did you know there are close to a dozen high-tech, IT companies in Newport?

Not many people do. That included many of those same company owners, who were brought together by Newport Main Street Coordinator Robert Yoder for lunch at Newport York St. Café about a month ago.

"I had realized around Newport, tucked into little corners and second floors of buildings, were a growing amount of high-tech, IT companies. They tend to be a quiet group," Yoder said.

About 14 people came to that little lunch meeting, including folks from Purple Trout, Can do, Red Hawk Technologies and Fan Mail Marketing .

The group, called Newport Lunch 2.0, plans to meet monthly, for lunch, drinks or at each other's offices. It gives members a chance to network, talk about best practices and even team up on projects.

"It’s one thing to work with someone in California or India, but if you can work with someone down the street, the logistics are a lot easier," Yoder said.

The Lunch 2.0 concept is familiar in west coast tech communities with 2.0 groups in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland.

Since forming the group, Yoder has been able to guide companies looking for new or bigger spots in Newport. He's also able to more easily get out information on funding and grant opportunities. Any Newport-based tech company owner interested in the group can contact Yoder at byoder@newportky.gov or (859) 292-3651.

Mike Langer

Red Hawk Technologies

langer@redhawk-tech.com