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The 4 Best Things About Networking With LinkedIn
LinkedIn has revolutionized professional networking, and I would not have had some of the career successes I have with the platform. Here are four reasons I love it.
It’s Free
When I first entered the business world, the only way to network was at in-person events. These could get expensive quickly. The best places to network were usually for paying members. (For example, Chamber of Commerce events when I owned a brick-and-mortar fitness studio, or Association of Fundraising Professionals events when I started my fundraising career.) Even when networking events were free and open to the public, there was the cost of transportation to get there.
On the other hand, LinkedIn is a completely free place to engage with professional connections. (Yes, there is a paid version, but the vast majority of professionals do not need it.) I’m always excited to find a bargain!
830 Million Members
There are so many people on LinkedIn. 830 million and counting! While I definitely believe quality beats quantity every time in networking (and most other aspects of life), some basic math says that if there are more people “in the room,” you’ll be more likely to find the people that you need to. The largest networking event I have been to was related to a conference that had a few…