I am overwhelmed by the amount of information that Linkedin provides. Until recently I thought of it just as a job seeking site. What I learned last week at the Nonprofit Technology Conference in Minneapolis, MN is it is a much more powerful tool than I had imagined. I took a few notes by Anthony Pisapia Director of Development and Programs at Tech Impact.
Let’s start with your network.
The six degrees of separation rule still stands. If you are looking for potential donors or influential board members, it is likely that those who you already know have a contact that would be a good fit.
Your 1st degree connections should be people you actually know and feel comfortable enough  to ask them for a favor.
If in your network a current board member is connected to a potential donor, you should feel ok asking for that introduction.
Tip: Ask for introductions outside of Linkedin, such as in an email or a phone call.
I am not strict on this rule for a couple of reasons. First, you can download the entire contact address book of your Linkedin connections. This is good for developing an email list and for CRM information. Second, potential volunteers and donors may be following you personally. Knowing you through Linkedin may give them the encouragement to connect.
Get your members to promote your organization.
Browse through the profiles of your board members and volunteers. Where does it say they are part of your organization? They can add information about their participation in the volunteer section.
For patrons and fans of your organization. They can promote you in the Organizations section of Linkedin.
Tip: Provide the text you want them to put into their Linkedin Profiles. Make sure your organization and staff profile is updated.
Tap into your alumni network.
Your alumni network is strong. When you click on a school it shows you options such as years attended, industry, location, etc. Use this to your advantage when identifying potential board members and donors.
Add reminder notes to profiles.
After a conference or meeting someone, check out their profile and add information about your conversation with them. They will not be able to see what you have written. This is for your personal information only.
Tip: Use the Linkedin App for notes and reminders before you head out to a meeting.