Be sure to check out HowTo LinkedIn 1-6, starting with HowTo LinkedIn #1: Creating your unique URL.
If you’re networking to build relationships, you may find it easiest to make sure that you’re following up with people regularly by using a system of some kind. Some people invest in CRM software, others track their networking in an Excel spreadsheet, or on index cards, or whatever feels right to them.
Regardless of the method, you’ll need to make sure that all of your contacts are in the system. LinkedIn is no exception.
The easiest way to manipulate, sort, search, and track your contacts from LinkedIn is to get that data out of the system. Luckily, LinkedIn builds in a handy export feature.
To access the LinkedIn export, first click on Connections on the left navigation (underlined in the picture):
On the connections page, you’ll see your virtual address book, and in the bottom right corner, this icon:
All you need to do is click the icon, and you’ll have the option to save the data in .CSV format, or .VCF for you Mac types. You can open the file in a spreadsheet editor, or import into the software of your choice, including Microsoft Outlook.
I’d love to hear how you maximize your LinkedIn use. How do you use your LinkedIn data?
photo credit: Banalities
Related posts:
- HowTo LinkedIn #8: Using the Outlook Toolbar
- HowTo LinkedIn #3: Connect with the people that you know
- HowTo LinkedIn #6: Linking out
- HowTo LinkedIn #5: Add a photo
- HowTo LinkedIn #4: Your professional experience
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Great advice – as for tracking the job search, I highly recommend using http://www.JibberJobber.com — the basic freebie account is very robust, and you can easily switch back and forth between free / paid levels without losing content.
Heather: I’ve played with JibberJobber a bit and it’s definitely worth people exploring. Thanks for the tip!