Although professionals have always acknowledged the value of networking, today’s economic climate makes developing a solid network even more critical. LinkedIn, the leading social networking site for professionals, is the ideal tool for maximizing the potential of an online network. LinkedIn currently has more than 65 million members worldwide, including executives from all Fortune 500 firms and President Barack Obama, and is growing rapidly. A new member joins approximately every second.

It’s clear that today’s technology has forever changed the way people find a job, promote their businesses, foster strategic partnerships, and develop their professional networks. Social networking continues to generate media buzz and mainstream appeal. According to a March 2009 study by Nielsen Online, participating on social networking sites is now more popular than reading email. But technology is just the enabler. The fundamental concepts of professional networking remain the same both online and off. Building relationships through mutual connections and trust is the foundation of success on LinkedIn just as it is in the real world.

This book is for anyone who wants to tap into the power of LinkedIn for professional reasons. LinkedIn connects you with a network of professional colleagues and enables you to maintain an online presence, find a job, recruit employees, promote your business, find clients and partners, get answers to professional questions, perform market research, and much more. It’s a viable business tool that opens up new ways to connect with others who can help you achieve your business goals.

Using LinkedIn is designed to get you up and running on LinkedIn as quickly as possible. This book focuses on standard LinkedIn functionality. LinkedIn rolls out beta functionality and new features on a regular basis, so the features available to you might vary at any given time. The companion website to this book will help keep you updated on what’s new with LinkedIn.