Getting the Most from LinkedIn

By Beth J. Bates, New Media Special Correspondent

The face of LinkedIn has undergone a variety of changes since the last time I blogged about it a year ago. LinkedIn's development team has added a variety of widgets giving users more functionality. LinkedIn can now be synced with Twitter. The design has experienced a much-needed facelift. But, that just scratches the surface. Let's break it down.

• The Application Directory adds new content to your profile.
  • Reading List by Amazon.com - enables you to share books you are enjoying.
  • Box.net Files - share files with other LinkedIn users.
  • Polls - this market research tool enables you to collect data from your connections.
  • Huddle Workspaces - for online collaboration with your connections.
  • WordPress - integrate your WordPress blog posts into your LinkedIn profile.
  • SAP Community Bio - display your SAP experience on LinkedIn.
  • Tweets - a Twitter client that can be used from LinkedIn.
  • BlogLink - integrate your TypePad blog posts into your LinkedIn profile.
  • Events - search professional events and see what events your connections are attending.
  • Company Buzz - displays Twitter activity associated with your company.
  • My Travel - share your upcoming trips, current location and travel stats.
  • Google Presentation - upload a .PPT or use Google’s online application to embed a presentation on your profile.

• New Widgets bring extended functionality to your website.
  • Company Insider enables users to discover how they are connected to companies on your site.
  • Profile allows you to show LinkedIn profiles on your blog, website, or application.
  • Share on LinkedIn enables your users to share your content with their LinkedIn connections or networks.

What LinkedIn tools have you found to be the most effective?

Beth J. Bates consults with Hinge on social media tool selection and strategy and helps its clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals.