I’ve been reflecting on using LinkedIn and other approaches for building relationships.

Recently, Daniel Knight, CEO and “Chief Operating Unicorn” of Unicorn Universe, interviewed me on this topic. Use this link to access the recording of this interview, which was taped for the Unicorn Connector Show.

Proven Strategies for Using LinkedIn to Build Relationships

  • Prior to placing a phone call, sending an email or going into a meeting with someone, review their LinkedIn profile. Especially important areas to review are their profile headline, about section and experience section. Also, look to see where they have volunteered, projects they’ve done, and organizations they belong to.
  • Ask questions to obtain more information from the person, based on what you already know about them from their profile. Ask why they started their business or why they took their most recent job. Find out what prompted any pivots from one industry to another.
  • Check the Contact Info section of their profile to find out when the two of you connected on LinkedIn. This information can come in handy when doing an email (or LinkedIn) introduction of them.
  • When making these introductions, copy the link for their profiles (located at the top of their profile). Then paste the links into the email introduction. This process makes it easy for each of them to learn more about each other through LinkedIn.
  • Use the search filters of LinkedIn to find potential clients, referral partners, and people you’d simply like to meet. Type a job title or other search term into the search box and click on “see all results.” Then click on “People,” at the top of the screen. Doing that narrows your search filters to “Connections,” “Locations,” “Current Company,” and “All Filters.”

Other Strategies Related to Building Relationships

  • Approach connecting with new people and building relationships with a generous spirit. Think of what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.
  • Along with offering introductions to potential referral partners or clients, suggest groups they may want to check out.
  • Listen to the person you’re talking to with your whole heart and mind. Demonstrate that you are truly interested in getting to know them and helping them. Taking notes helps you to show you care about them.
  • Be organized. Take the information you’ve gained and put it into a CRM (Client Relationship Management) tool or a spreadsheet.
  • Take a proactive approach to connecting with people. Assume that others will respond positively to your LinkedIn connection request or email of introduction.

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel,Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, nonprofit leaders, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com