LinkedIn is an Internet platform company focused on connecting the world's professionals. It is the world's largest professional network, with more than 80 million members, representing every country and executives from every Fortune 500 company.

There are many benefits to using LinkedIn. You can use LinkedIn to:

Expand your network of professional contacts LinkedIn Groups allow you locate and interact with experts through trusted introductions. LinkedIn Search allows you to explore the network by name, title, company, location, and other attributes. Improve your ranking on search engines Completing your LinkedIn profile is a good way to influence what people see when they search for you. When you create a public profile, select "Full View" and customize your public profile's URL to be your actual name. This will increase your visibility in search engines.

Improve your ranking on search engines: select Full View

Get answers to your business-related questions LinkedIn Answers gives you access to business advice from hundreds of thousands of experts and lets you share your expertise by answering a question.

Survey your audience Use LinkedIn Polls to survey audiences and analyze the results. Your poll can be distributed to your connections and other professionals on LinkedIn, or the survey can be embedded in your blog or website.

Recruit LinkedIn is a powerful tool for finding potential candidates to recruit. LinkedIn profiles often include recommendations from other LinkedIn members, and let you see each member's professional network. LinkedIn setup 1. Set up an account We recommend against using your IBM email address to sign up for social platforms. Instead use a personal email account.

2. Enter your profile information so people know who you are 3. Locate your colleagues and friends Use the main search box to search for your friends and colleagues. Simply type in the name you are looking for and press "Enter." If the person you want to invite is not yet on LinkedIn, you can invite him or her to join, by selecting "Add Connections."

Once you click "Add Connections" you will be taken to a screen that allows you to choose a method of adding connections. You can email a connection directly, browse through current and past colleagues, locate college classmates, or select from a list of "People you may know" who have been identified by LinkedIn. Next: Facebook

What you will find in this section

Introduction to LinkedIn

LinkedIn setup

Already have a LinkedIn account?

Please take a moment to add it to your Lotus Connections profile.

Videos

What is LinkedIn? Short URL: http://bit.ly/hFuqWn

Tell your story through your job history Short URL: http://bit.ly/eJlo7U

Create a 100% complete LinkedIn profile Short URL: http://bit.ly/ezxZ1E

Resources

Attend a LinkedIn Webinar Short URL: http://bit.ly/fnaXJA

New User Starter Guide Short URL: http://bit.ly/hssm6C

Benefits of URL shortening tools

Did you know?

There are more than 200,000 IBMers on LinkedIn.