This month...

• Growing Your Network Online
• Top 100 Aussie Bloggers
• Thought for the Day

Growing Your Network Online

Have you been approached to join LinkedIn yet? You most likely have, but like me, knew very little about it, joined and then nothing much happened, except for the occasional email from a stranger asking to connect with you. And so for a year I've just let my membership sit, with less than 50 contacts, from a few people in my own database and the occasional other. But recently I read a post in Des Walsh's blog about LinkedIn that made me sit up and take notice. I had seen a post earlier in the year by Guy Kawasaki and I began to follow that up, but it came at a time when I really was rather busy and so couldn't spend time reading and following links. Easter with a 4 day break meant that Des' post was better timed for me and I began to explore.

What I found most interesting was the story about Stan Relihan who is Australia's 'most connected person' through LinkedIn with over 5,000 connections. Stan is a Head Hunter and originally saw LinkedIn as an opportunity to view people's resumes and find people for roles he was filling but it has grown far beyond that with the result of many overseas connections and people clamouring to get connected with him. Stan was interviewd about his experience with LinkedIn and how it has worked for him and you can hear the Podcast for this at GDay World Podcast Network. If you want to learn more about LinkedIn then listening to this podcast is a good start. Click on icon immediately under the title of the post.

Des' post on his blog further highlighted other posts to read and two other networks worth considering - both are sub-networks of LinkedIn. One is for bloggers and the other for Australians. They are with yahoogroups and of course, I joined them, to find out more, only to meet one of my own team on the Australian LinkedIn list.

When you get invited to join networks of this kind it is worth doing the homework and exploring. I've been invited to join many and you don't always see what's under the surface on first look. So perhaps seeking out articles, Q&As or people who have been using those networks for awhile is an ideal way to learn more. The more I read the more I realise that I have been missing what LinkedIn is all about and it is a good way of remaining connected, or being reconnected, with people you have worked with in the past. Let's face it, we all know that often it's not what you know, but who you know when connecting in business. If you're good at what you do, and people know it, they will refer you to others if they have the ability to do so. LinkedIn will help assist that process. But you have to get involved - the Answers section which is almost like a forum is a great way to connect with people and let them know you exist.

One thing that Stan was asked that I had also been concerned about and that was the possibility of being spammed. He told the listener that LinkedIn is about connections with existing relationships, either direct or through someone else you know. Anyone found doing the wrong thing can be reported. And I doubt that will go down very well if people are working at building a profile to help develop business or career options.

Why not go back and explore it again? And if you wish, you are welcome to ask to be connected with me via LinkedIn - my profile can be found below.

Top 100 Aussie Bloggers

If you haven't recently read my blog Virtual Assistant - THE Blog you might not be aware that it was recently listed amongst the Top 100 Aussie Blogs. I was first made aware of it early in the third week of April on Craig Harper's website and a couple of days later Melbourne's newspaper The Age carried a story about Australian bloggers with a link to Meg's updated listing of the Top 100 on her blog, Blogpond.

For those who are regular visitors of the blog you'll note we have a new look! Please do let me know what you think of it when visiting the blog.

If you haven't yet gotten into blogging, you might be wondering what it's all about. All I can do is encourage you to explore. I have information on the blog listed above, and also at SOHO-Life which explains how to get started and where to go for a free blog of your own. If you enjoy writing this is a wonderful tool for you. If you want to let people know more about you and what you do, again this is a fantastic tool for you. If you just want to keep in touch with family and friends and let them know what you're doing, it's the right tool for you. Enjoy!

Have a great month everyone!

Kathie M. Thomas

Thought for the day:

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily". Zig Ziglar

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