The Ultimate Guide to LinkedIn for Home Business

The first step to maximizing the power of LinkedIn is to understand what it is and how it works. Unlike other social networks such as Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn isn't about posting what you had for breakfast or funny cat videos. Instead, it's were professionals go to network online.

Get an overview of LinkedIn including what it is and how LinkedIn fits into the overall picture of social networking sites and online marketing.

Read more about LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is the professional person’s “Six Degrees of Separation,” in which you can connect with people you don't know through the people you do know. As a home business owner, it's an ideal way to mingle with influencers and potential partners, build your client base, and get referrals. 

 Read more on how LinkedIn can help your business.

Like most social networks, you need to create an account before you can start connecting with others and posting content. Here are step-by-step instructions to do just that. Please note, that on occasion, social networks change how their sites looks, however, the information required to create a LinkedIn account (i.e. name, profession, etc), won't change. 

Read how to create a LinkedIn Login.

Whether you use LinkedIn to network for your home business or to look for freelance work, your LinkedIn profile is the key to attracting business and partners. Once you've established a LinkedIn login (set up an account), you'll next create your profile. This is where you'll let others know about you and your home business. The LinkedIn profile is part resume and part marketing document, so you'll want to make sure you put your best foot forward when completing your profile. 

Read more on setting up a winning LinkedIn profile.

One benefit to LinkedIn is being able to control what others see on your public profile. LinkedIn makes controlling and protecting your privacy relatively simple compared to other networks, such as Facebook. While those who become part of your LinkedIn network will be able to see your complete LinkedIn profile, you have considerable control over what portions of your profile are displayed to the public.

Read more on how to control what's public on your LinkedIn Profile.

Your LinkedIn profile can be used to promote your business online, as well as on your business cards and other marketing tools. To make it easy for others to access your profile, you can create a custom URL for your profile that includes your name, business name and/or keywords. Creating a customer URL also makes it easy for search engines to find it, as well.

Read more on how to create a customer URL for your LinkedIn Profile.

Just like you include your other social media buttons on your website, you can also create a LinkedIn badge that will link visitors to your LinkedIn public profile when clicked. The badge can be added to any online resource including your website, email signature file, and any other online resource you're allowed to add your personal information.

Read more on creating a LinkedIn Badge

LinkedIn can help you find opportunities to work from home, whether that's freelance and contract work, or a telecommuting job. Not only is LinkedIn a resource for networking with potential clients and employers, but also, you can search for freelance work and telecommuting jobs. 

Read more on how to find work on LInkedIn.

Since LinkedIn is a networking site dedicated to career professionals, it's easy to see why it's ideal for the home business owner wanting to connect with influencers, potential clients, and like-minded professionals.  Done well, marketing a small or home business on LinkedIn is an affordable and effective way to build profitable connections,

Read on how to use LinkedIn to promote your home business.

Like most social networks, there is a learning curve to figuring out and taking advantage of all that they offer. LinkedIn is no different. The first steps are to create a profile and begin connecting with others. Once you have a basic understanding, it's time to dive in maximize all that LinkedIn has to offer. 

Read six steps to maximizing LinkedIn for your home business.