Unless you have lived under a log for the past several years you are well aware that social networking has become an integral part of business. One of the most clearly business-related sites is Linkedin. I was first invited to join Linkedin by a business colleague who was about to retire from one job but wanted to stay connected in her next career. Since that sleepy start I have found that I have been able to reconnect to a number of former and current colleagues from each of my “careers”. I went months without checking the site but now check it at least daily.
But this column is about iPhone apps so let’s talk about the Linkedin iPhone app. There are certain things you must do on the website, but the app is a simple way to connect and communicate using Linkedin. The main menu has 6 options. At the upper left is the “Share” icon that allows you to post a new message. You can limit your post to connections only or open it to anyone. I also post my Linkedin posts to Twitter by turning that feature on. At the upper right is a search button that allows you to search for people. You simply type their name and see if they are on Linkedin.
There are then four other menu items:
- Updates – This section gives you a listing of news stories on Linkedin Today and shows you recent updates from your contacts.
- Inbox – The inbox shows any invitations or messages.
- You – This menu section allows you to share an update, view recent activity, look at your connections, and review your profile.
- Groups and More – This allows you to view recent messages from groups to which you belong and makes suggestions regarding people that you may know.
So do you need yet another social networking site? Maybe so. I enjoy the fact that most of the updates are business related and not random thoughts or boasts about one’s virtual farming prowess. And I have connected with a number of people that I haven’t seen in many years. Check it out and see if it becomes one of the social networking sites that you regularly use.
By the way, you can find me on Linkedin here: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mike-kennamer/17/3a9/383
So let’s connect!
All the best…Mike
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A college administrator by profession, Mike Kennamer enjoys the opportunity to take photos and improve his skills by shooting events at work, church, and for friends. He enjoys landscape photography, portraiture and is starting to dabble in HDR. His current photography project involves learning to control flash manually. “My goal”, according to Kennamer, “is to be the best photographer I can be.”
Kennamer is also the President of Kennamer Media Group, Inc., a provider of traditional and online media, specializing in the healthcare industry. On CurrentPhotographer.com he writes about iPhone and iPad applications for photographers.