How LinkedIn can benefit your small business

Unlike other social networking sites, LinkedIn is geared towards connecting professionals so could the network benefit your business? Yes, says Derek Kelly.

They say it’s not what you know, but who you know, and for a small business, knowing the right people and contacting them at the right time could make the difference between make or break. These days, online tools like LinkedIn mean it has never been easier to build up a valuable network, and the site could be a beneficial tool for small businesses with limited resources.

What is LinkedIn – just another Facebook, MySpace or Twitter?
Unlike other social networking sites, LinkedIn is geared towards connecting professionals. It was set up six years ago and now has over 50 million users worldwide with one new member signing up every second.

People create a kind of online CV when they join. Information about employment, professional expertise, accomplishments and qualifications can be added to each profile.

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