37 Ways to Thrive on LinkedIn

1. Update your status regularly with relevant information that shows you are a thought leader in your industry.

3. Complete all of the available fields: including some of the newer fields like projects, courses, and publications.

2. Make sure you have a great photo, it should be professional, should look like you, and should be a front-facing headshot.

4. Update your jobs to have keywords in the title and descriptions so that you show up more frequently in searches.

5. Update applications that show your interests, like your Amazon reading list, your blog, or your slideshows.

6. Write a catchy headline and summary - this is your first impression and it should be an attention grabber.

7. Join new groups that are relevant to your industry so you can share interesting content.

8. Share a discussion on something relevant to the group.

9. Comment on discussions that others have started.

10. Add a "promotion" if you have a special event or upcoming class that you want to promote and share.

11. Connect with people that you've interacted with in the groups you're part of.

12. Start a group so you can connect with like-minded people and come off as a passionate expert in your field.

13. Read the popular discussions in groups to learn what people in your field want to talk about.

14. Post a question in LinkedIn answers to get feedback and grow your reach beyond your current network and groups.

15. Try to answer questions related to your industry that other people may have use every opportunity.

16. Search questions in your industry to see what people need help with.

17. Comment on the status of your connections so you're always on the top of their minds.

18. Add the email tool Rapportive onto your email.

19. Write a recommendation for one of your close professional contacts.

20. Request a recommendation from a business contact that you have a good relationship with.

21. Request a "LinkedIn introduction" to someone you think you could collaborate with.

22. Send messages to those in your network - holiday greetings, birthday wishes, articles they would find interesting, etc.

23. Search for people who it would be good to have in your network.

24. Always respond to messages in your inbox promptly and enthusiastically.

25. Ensure your company has a page on LinkedIn -If not, create one immediately.

26. Add products and services to your page so that viewers know what you do.

27. Request reviews from as many clients as possible.

28. Post jobs so interested applicants always know when you're hiring.

29. Always make sure employees add your company to their profile so people get can a good view of your company.

30. Connect your blog and/or Twitter account to your company page so people are always kept up-to-date.

31. Look at the LinkedIn "PeopleYou May Know" recommendations every time you log-on.

32. Upload your emailaddress book and add your email connections to your network.

33. Think about people you've met in the real world business meetings or events and invite them into your network.

34. Invite thought-leaders and influencers from the groups.

35. Add your current business contacts, cowarkers, customers, suppliers to your network.

36. LinkedIn allows you to browse people who were in college with you or have the same former workplace.

37. View the LinkedIn connections of your existing contacts - are they connected to people that you'd like to add?