By Monique Martin
Becoming an expert on LinkedIn is a great way to network and increase your business’s exposure. If you’re experienced or have special knowledge in your field, you can answer questions posted by other members and earn the label and reputation as an expert.
If you haven’t already created an account, you’ll need to before you can start answering questions and building your reputation as an expert. Be sure to fully complete your profile. The more information you provide the better. This is your chance to highlight your areas of expertise and show off your credentials.
Start adding connections. You can add connections by using your email contact list or by searching for colleagues and classmates. Once you’ve established a connection, ask your colleagues to recommend you. These endorsements increase your credibility and exposure.
Once you’ve established yourself on the site and built your connections, it’s time to start sharing your knowledge. Go to LinkedIn Answers. You can access this section of the site by clicking on “More…” in the top of the page navigation.
There are several ways to find questions.
- You can click on the “Answer Questions” tab, which will take you to a page with recent questions asked by your connections and extended connections. Browse through the open questions and answer any you feel confident in.
- You can also look for open questions by browsing categories.
- Use the Advanced Answer Search to search for questions by keyword.
Answer any questions that are in your areas of expertise. Well-written, informative answers that show off your topic knowledge without resorting to self-promotion are always best.
Once a question is closed, the questioner then rates the answers. If your answer is selected as “Best Answer”, this counts toward your expert status. Every “Best Answer” rating adds points toward your expert tally. The more “Best Answers” you receive, the higher your name will appear in the list of experts. Once you’ve established yourself as having expertise on a given topic, other members will begin to recommend you.
Join groups that match your area of expertise. Get involved. Share your experiences and widen the scope of your connections. Remember, LinkedIn Answers are indexed by search engines. You’re not just expanding your reputation within LinkedIn, but to the rest of the world. It’s a great way to leverage your knowledge to expand your business horizons.
About the Author
Monique Martin served as Chief Operating Officer for a successful online insurance marketing firm for five years.