Networking is an art that can be learned. You don’t have to be inherently gregarious and outgoing. Just have a genuine curiosity and interest in others. The result can be rewarding in your work and in your personal life. Here are a few tips on how to network effectively and, for those who may have difficulty networking, rather painlessly. Read the 10 ways at Blog Forward.

DABGO members can contact each other directly via Linkedin “InMail” which sends an e-mail to the other DABGO members inbox on Linkedin. This function does NOT allow other DABGO members to see each others e-mail addresses. To see another Linkedin members e-mail address and other contact information you need to be connected directly. You can also choose to ask for an Introduction through a shared connection.

Here is an example of how you can find who your searching for and how you can contact that person.

Let’s say you need a Photographer for a job, but do not know any photographers, then let’s try a search on Linkedin within the DABGO group. Remember always to try to give business to fellow DABGO members.

When you login into your Linkedin frontpage you will find the following functions on the lower right hand side of the page. Click on “See all members”

You will now see a complete list of all DABGO members:

In the upper right hand corner you will find the “Refine Search” button. Click it to make a more specific search.

Make sure that the “Limit search to your groups” is checked, and then enter “Photographer” in the “Titel” search box, or make a broader search by using the “Keywords” search box.

You will get a search result, and you can now click the profile that best matches your criteria and contact the person via InMail or via Introduction.

Here are some good tips from Linkedin employees on how to improve your profile. Read the tips at the blog How To Change The World.

As our personal contact database increases, it becomes a challenge to manage. Here is my 2 cents on how to create a well functioning personal contact management set-up for your private use:

- Install Plaxo + the Outlook toolbar
- Create a Linkedin account + install the Outlook toolbar
- Use Outlook to its full extend. Check the presentation “Outlook Features for Contact Management - 7 Steps to Success“
- For quick overview of contacts directly in your inbox install “Priasoft Outlook Contact View Add-in for Outlook“

With this set-up you will gain a quick overview of a contact directly in your Outlook Inbox view and automated update functions combined with easy to import/export/update/edit contacts.

Share your contact management solution by making a comment.

To get success with your LinkedIn profile you need to fully understand the possibilities and the “Do’s and Dont’s”. Below are listed some useful sources that will help you get started or improve your existing profile:

- A basic introduction to LinkedIn here…
- The “Do’s and Dont’s” on LinkedIn here…
- Find a job with LinkedIn here…
- Best practices for recruiters here…
- Distribute a new job here…
- Get the LinkedIn Outlook toolbar here…
- Search Tips here…
- Break unwanted connections here…
- How to contact a DABGO member here…

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