Top 20 Ways to Quickly Becoming a Recognized Subject Matter Expert on LinkedIn

By Barbara Rozgonyi, who is a principal of CoryWest Media, LLC and creator of the Marketing Transformations Process™ in Glen Ellyn, IL. Barbara consults and speaks on how to translate branding, marketing, PR and social media into business development. Publisher of  http://wiredprworks.com, Barbara is the founder of Chicago’s Social Media Club chapter. Get in touch with Barbara at 630.207.7530 or corywestmedia@gmail.com.  Copyright 2008-2009 Barbara Rozgonyi

1. Grow your connections in the categories you want to reach; review every invitation before you accept to see if there’s a fit with your profile.

2. After you accept an invitation, reply with a quick personal message that includes a few bullet points about what you do, an opportunity to ask questions about your industry and additional ways to connect with you online such as your blog, e-zine or forum.

3. Present your profile to match the audience you want to target with benefits or accomplishments that highlight your expertise to draw them in.

4. In the websites section of your profile, add a link to a page that lists your news, social media bio, articles or publications.

5. In the answers area, post questions that collect information for a report or survey you’ll publish as a white paper based on your LinkedIn community’s experience.

6. Answer relevant questions with specific information based on your expertise and work your way up to becoming an expert by giving top-rated answers.

7. Match your industries to your network, unless you’re a consultant to a specific industry who will benefit from being visible to your peers as well as your consulting base.

8. Talk about your LinkedIn networking experiences on your blog and in your marketing communications and make your LinkedIn site [www.linkedin.com/in/yourname] as prominent as your home page URL in all communications.

9. Get recommended as an expert resource by asking those who value your insights to write a reference that promotes you [and them!].

10. Redirect interest to your own personal community, such a blog or forum, where people can learn, contribute and continue the dialogue with a link to or mention of the community in your public profile and track traffic to measure results.

11. If you see a fit, set up a time to talk to explore ways to work together.

12. Check into your profile page at least once a week to see what’s new in your community.

13. Explore groups and join one at a time. Begin by introducing yourself, what you do, why you’re there and what you can share.

14. Think of LinkedIn as a research tool and include searching on LinkedIn as an action step.

15. Invite your contacts from Facebook, Twitter and other networks to join your LinkedIn network.

16. Once a week, contact someone in your network you’d like to know better with a question or a comment.

17. In the answers section, look for people to invite – “I saw your answer to the question: ” is a natural door-opener.

18. Optimize your profile with keywords that relate to your area of subject matter expertise.

19. Host a LinkedIn meet up – virtual or real – in your town or at a conference.

20. Become the welcoming ambassador for your area of expertise by regularly searching for and greeting newcomers.