Foreword

“Relationships Matter” is the LinkedIn slogan.

I didn’t realize how much relationships mattered until I started my business during the summer of 2006. I depended on relationships to find the core team to build my product, and then relied heavily on finding and nurturing relationships to help spread the word about my products and services.

I didn’t use LinkedIn much back then; the tool I had at my disposal was Google. I could find people, but it wasn’t until I started using LinkedIn that I could research them and figure out how to best communicate with them. LinkedIn let me learn about a prospect’s background and identify talking points, including where they worked, what they did, and what industry they were in.

Such information is difficult to glean from a Google search. LinkedIn had it all in one place!

I started telling my readers to use LinkedIn shortly after I got on LinkedIn. Many said, “Okay, I’m there, now what do I do?” Years later, people ask the same question! That’s probably why you bought this book, right?

If you mistakenly thought you could get on LinkedIn and set up a profile, and then you’d get business, you’ve probably been as disappointed. LinkedIn is a great tool, but it’s as useless as a tool left in a closet unless you do certain things.

Viveka’s ideas will help you get more out of LinkedIn. She’ll take you from beginner through advanced tactics. Following her processes and techniques with consistency will help you find new contacts, be found, have meaningful conversations, develop and nurture professional relationships, and grow your pipeline.

Read this book with a highlighter, and more importantly, put her tactics, techniques, and tips into practice. Then you can join the ranks of people who have increased sales and improved their professional standing through relationships found on LinkedIn.

Good luck!

Jason Alba

Founder of the popular job search organizer, JibberJobber.com

Author of I’m on LinkedIn—Now What???