I have been on LinkedIn since 2007. LinkedIn is my go-to site for all of my online social interactions.
Throughout the years, I have used LinkedIn as a resource for staying connected with business associates and colleagues. I routinely send notes of congratulations and brief messages of good wishes to people in my network who change jobs or hit anniversaries. I also frequently ask for introductions and seek to connect with people with whom I have done or wish to do business.
Despite varying opinions and strategies (some suggesting a less detailed profile is more desireable) I have chosen to maintain a very detailed LinkedIn profile. I’ve taken the time to write each section like a story which includes all of my former employers.
I have used this site for job hunting and have even used this site to identify service providers for my procurement work. Most recently I have linked my WordPress site to my LinkedIn profile. Select blog articles are broadcast into LinkedIn automatically.
I’ve also use this site to research people that I am about to do business with or look up old contacts to see what they are up to. In short I feel I have done everything I can with LinkedIn.
The only thing I’ve never done is to purchase the premium version. Every week I receive an offer to try a premium for free. The site constantly tells me that I’m missing out on key features of the website because I’m not on premium.
So today I wanted to ask you if you use LinkedIn premium and if you do what are the benefits of paying for the service?
I also wanted to know if there are other features of LinkedIn I am unaware of or am not capitalizing on. Check out my profile here. What are your thoughts? How do you use LinkedIn?