LinkedIn's search power is unleashed when you use it to find or be found by a key individual or target company. Here's how to find and get found.
HOW TO FIND A KEY INDIVIDUAL WITH LINKEDIN
I prefer to use the advanced search function to move my search faster and further. This is what I do:
1. Begin with the advanced people search function found on the Home, Profile, or Contacts pages by clicking on the word Advanced, with the word People showing in the drop down box. This box is located at the top right of the page. Doing this takes you to the Advanced People Search tab.
2. On the Advanced People Search page, add as appropriate:
-Keywords
-First Name
-Last Name
-Title (current or past)
-Company (current or past)
-School
-Location (can be narrowed- use "located in or near")
-Country
Postal Code
-Distance within postal code (10-100 miles)
3. Refine your search further with these filters:
-Industries
-Relationship to LinkedIn Members (includes Group members)
-Language (language of profile content)
4. With a Premium Membership, the following filters are also available:
-Company Size
-Seniority Level
-Interested In (these are the categories LinkedIn uses, like deal-making contacts)
-Fortune 1000 (between Fortune 50 and 1000)
5. Click Search
Search results are returned under the Find People tab; the search criteria you entered are indicated in the left hand column, and search results are provided in the middle column. Continue to refine your search.
HOW TO FIND A TARGET COMPANY
Again, I prefer to use the advanced method. Here's what I do:
1. Using the search box at the top right of any page, click Companies in the drop down box then click the magnifying glass icon to the right. This brings you to the Search Companies tab.
2. Add search keywords in the search box in the left hand column, and refine your search using these filters (also in the left hand column):
-Locations
-Job Opportunities (if the company is hiring on LinkedIn)
Industry
-Relationship to LinkedIn Members
-Company Size
-Number of Followers
-Fortune ranking (from Fortune 50 to 1000)
3. Click Search
HOW YOU AND YOUR COMPANY CAN GET FOUND
To get found, simply position yourself and your company in the most favorable way on LinkedIn. This includes managing keywords and content, and using LinkedIn's power search extenders like Groups.
Learn how: click on the other articles in the Social Media sections (see the left hand column).
POWER TIPS FOR GETTING FOUND:
POWER TIP #1: Build your connections daily.The search power of LinkedIn is proportionate to the number of unique connections you have.
POWER TIP #2: Use Saved Searches (save your search by clicking on +Save found on the bar above the search results) to have LinkedIn automatically update you whenever new content relevant to your search has been received.
POWER TIP #3: Use "Follow Company" to have LinkedIn automatically update you whenever new profile content for the followed company has been received. (The "Follow Company" link appears when you hover over any company brought up in the search.)