LinkedIn For Dummies, 5th Edition

Chapter 19

Discovering Creative Uses of LinkedIn

IN THIS CHAPTER

Using other types of services with LinkedIn

Creating a focus group to gain knowledge and expand opportunities

Using LinkedIn to smooth the way when relocating

When you think of a business networking site such as LinkedIn, the most obvious applications spring to mind pretty quickly: finding a job, finding an employee, meeting new people, building a new business, getting funding and partners for that new business, and so on. But LinkedIn has even more uses than the obvious ones. The power of the Internet and hundreds of millions of LinkedIn members have encouraged people to use this large community to accomplish other goals, both close to home and around the world.

In this chapter, you look at some of the creative uses people have found for LinkedIn. Some people use LinkedIn with other services, such as Google Alerts. Other people use LinkedIn as a gathering place to find recruits to help mold a new venture. Yet others have been using LinkedIn to meet each other in person! I describe these endeavors as well as provide several case studies with some points to keep in mind if you feel like doing something similar.