Social Networking: Does it Pay to Be ‘Linked In?’

I heard from Scott M. a couple of months ago. I went to college with the guy and I’m relatively sure that since I graduated in 1989, I haven’t seen or heard from him. While Scott M. was a nice guy, he was more of an acquaintance than a friend category.

So why did I hear from him? It’s part of the new craze toward social networking that is sweeping the nation ­– and that may eventually redefine how people in the kitchen and bath industry do business. Social networking breaks down just as easily as it sounds: it’s networking socially, online.

While social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook have been around for a while now, the professional networking site LinkedIn.com is a relatively recent addition to the online networking scene. Predicated on the notion of seven degrees of separation, the site is about having a formal forum to network with people you know, and the people they know – not just friends from college, but professional acquaintances, colleagues and clients – for mutual benefit.

When I first registered on LinkedIn, I did so because so many people had contacted me asking me to link to them. Yet, I hadn’t pursued it, in part because of time constraints, and in part because I wasn’t quite sure why I needed to.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t need anything else to do. I’m busy, I’m content, I have a lot going on in my life and I really don’t need another project! And social networking can be a project.

However, what I’ve since learned is that it can also be a fabulous avenue to bring clients to you.

Why Get ‘Linkedin?’

So, is LinkedIn.com something you should consider? What does LinkedIn.com do for you and your business and why should you join?

In search of an answer, I went to the site with renewed vigor. I filled out my profile, uploaded my photo and then wasn’t quite sure what to do. Did I just sit back and wait for people to contact me? Should I contact them? Unfortunately, the site doesn’t have a “Getting Started” section, so, in search of answers, I read the site’s “About LinkedIn.”

It said, “When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals.”

Next, I clicked on “Groups,” which offered lots of networking opportunities with groups ranging from college alumni groups to hobbyists to career groups.

I searched for Kitchen Design Professionals and came across “Friends of Kitchen Living,” which had this description: “Kitchen Living was founded in 2001 with strong principles and creative solutions. Located at the Boston Design Center, Kitchen Living is now one of the premiere customer cabinet design studios on the East Coast. Kitchen Living specializes in designing custom cabinetry for the private residence. This includes the kitchen as well as other rooms in the home: wet bars, libraries, wine cellars, baths, butler pantries and more. Kitchen Living aims to fashion the kitchen that perfectly complements clients’ lifestyle and home.”

Intrigued that a kitchen and bath dealer had recently created a group site, I picked up the phone and called Donna Venegas-Kenniston. This kitchen dealer in Boston is certainly a pioneer in regard to our industry and LinkedIn! When I asked her why she put her company on the site, she told me, “I was contacted via LinkedIn after my 20th high school reunion, so I just started to play with social networking.”