Back to basics Tuesday: using LinkedIn to expand relationships

Admittedly, I participate actively on LinkedIn to build business relationships.

But sometimes adding to a personal relationship builds the business side of it.

All true stories:

• You are walking during the weekend and see an opportunity to alert a friend that he would most certainly enjoy, and you flip to their LinkedIn app profile and call/email/text, whatever, to clue him in on the occurrence so he can see it himself. He will remember you for that!
• You are at a cocktail party and meet someone new and when she asks where you are from, she blurts, “Oh, my Aunt Shirley is from there.” And  that you not only know Shirley’s daughter but you went to school with her, grades 3-12! You can also determine after looking quickly for the old friend on LinkedIn what she is doing and where she is located to update the new friend as part of the conversation.
• You are at an outdoor concert, see someone you have not been in touch with for a few years, and piece together his name, look him up on LinkedIn to refresh your memory on what he does, how you are interconnected, and when we walks by, you offer your hand and say, “Hi Dennis, I haven’t seen you in years,” you chat, exchange ideas, and follow up to find ways to finally do business.

Yes, LinkedIn’s a great tool, a power tool, even when you have the LinkedIn app on your smartphone, with all its faults since it’s such a great vehicle to be in the moment and expand your future with people to open new horizons.

Proven over and over again to me and so many others!