The DABGO network is getting so large that it can from time to time be hard to find just the right Dane to contact for your challenge. Let us review a simple and easy way to use the search function in the DABGO network on Linkedin.

Let us assume for this exercise that we need to contact a friendly and likeminded Dane with IBM in Canada.

Here is how to do it:

Step 1:

Open Linkedin and select the menu option “People” on the top left hand side of the page:

Once you have clicked on the “People” menu option this screen will open:

Step 2:

Select the DABGO group for your search. Type in the specific terms you are looking for; in this case “IBM” and “Canada” as shown above then click “search”. You will now see a list with the results of your search, in this case 2.

Step 3:

Review the options presented from your search and decided who is most relevant to contact. Let us say in this case Mr. Christian Boserup is the ideal person for your question then you would click on his profile and see a new page like this:

Step 4:

Select the contact option “Send a message” on the right side of the screen next to the picture and a message box will then open.

Enter the message or question you would like to discuss with your fellow DABGO member and press “Send”.

It is that simple. Now, try it out with some terms relevant to your challenges. Remember you are also always more than welcome to contact your DABGO team if we can assist you in any way. Happy networking.

Your DABGO network is growing with leaps and bounds, which is great news, but it also results in an increased need to protect your time and ability to conduct your business without too many interruptions. 

From time to time we see individuals who, despite already being connected to all of you through the DABGO Group on Linkedin, attempts to connect with all directly. This is certainly not the idea with the DABGO network. Needless to mention, DABGO strongly encourage networking but we have a hard time believing all members in DABGO are the “right and perfect” networking partner so when we see efforts to connect with everybody, we fear it really just becomes time and energy robbery.  It may also lead to advertising spamming which we personally believe is one of our main missions to protect you from.

It is pretty safe to say that the amount of time and energy that would be consumed on all of us connecting with each other directly would destroy your value of Linkedin and DABGO. We reserve the right to ask members to leave DABGO should we feel they disrespect your time and value to the Danish business community abroad. 

We are trying to keep the networking going and the time robbers away but as you can imagine this is a fine line to walk. However, it is and will remain a key priority of DABGO. Should you have any concerns or feedback, please always feel free to contact the undersigned.

Henrik Hansen
Area Manager North America, The DABGO Network
hhansen@dabgo.net  |  210 535 3459
Profil: http://www.linkedin.com/in/henrikhansendk

Invitation from DABGO member Christina Fuglsbjerg

A network dedicated exclusively to Danish experts specializing in mobility topics: expatriation, relocation, transition and repatriation of key employees and accompanying families.

This group is formed with the intention to connect and share research, best practices, expertise and experiences within the field of mobility and across industries. The aim is to bring together HR professionals, executive decision-makers such as CEO, CFO or VP’s with mobility specialists, consultants, educators, trainers and service providers. (more…)

At DABGO we hope that 2007 has been a successful and wonderful year for you and your loved ones. Now is the time of year to make your New Year resolutions, and in addition to your goals for your personal life and work life. I have created a list that will make 2008 a successful networking year.

1. Get to know your network better - You cannot even begin to network, unless you know who is in your network. Make a complete list of everyone in your network, that being family, friends, coworkers, sports, organizations and online communities etc. Make notes on everything relevant you know about each person. If you have people in your online network that you do not know that well, then write them an e-mail and get updated on their current agenda. Know understand and appreciate your value to the people in your network. We all have unique interests, talents, and experiences which can be used to help others. Revel in knowing that you can touch the lives of everyone you meet if you are prepared to share your knowledge and resources with them.

2. Make introductions – When you meet new people or existing contacts, then ask them about their current challenges and then think creatively and remember what other contacts have told you about their business and expertise. If no one in your network comes to mind, then write down the challenges and keep it on your desk for a few weeks, in case you should stumble upon a possible candidate that can help. Use the new e-mail feature on Linkedin to make the introduction. You can get instruction on how here…

3. Update your Linkedin profile - So that it matches your skill set and experience. You can get some tips & tricks on how to update your profile by Linkedin employees here…

4. Arrange a lunch, dinner, event, meet-up for coffee etc. - Create an event for the local DABGO members where you live. Take the network offline locally, and connect in person with other members. A big part of networking effectively is keeping you visible. People will see you as a connector if you hold your own event.

5. Budget time for networking - Networking will not pay off instantly. So make a networking schedule (goal) for yourself that fits your schedule. Here are some examples of what could be included:

• Reach out to “X number” of people in your network via e-mail and phone every
• Have lunch with “X number” of new contact/s every month
• Have lunch with X number old contact/s every month
• Attend “X number” of networking event/s every month
• Check the www.dabgo.com site “X number” of times every month for new articles and your local network websites for upcoming events.

6. Pace yourself - Get involved in online and offline networking groups and communities at a pace that you can maintain. It is better to get involved gradually than to make a big splash and then fade away. Let your involvement and presence is a process that grows in momentum, visibility and value over time. This gives you and others a chance to develop trust and rapport. It doesn’t matter what you decided to do to get yourself noticed. Just do it, and do it consistently. You’ll find it’s a low cost way to build your business; you’ll learn a lot from others and have fun at the same time.

7. Your Introduction - Plan and practice your introduction of yourself and your company, also known as the elevator pitch. Check this YouTube movie on what an elevator pitch is here… (it is meant for venture capital, but works for any product or service pitch to a potential customer or network contact to understand your business)
Also check the following link to a fast pitch approach to generate interest here…

8. Follow up – Very few people follow up when meeting a new person and receiving a business card or contact details. Make sure to follow up within 24 business hours it will make you stand out, and increase your credibility. Your follow-up displays your level of commitment to relationships.

9. Help DABGO grow – The strength of DABGO will have a direct or indirect impact on the opportunities and wisdom you will receive in return from the network. So please go through your contact list and see if there should be any Danes living abroad or living in Denmark with two or more years abroad. Please send them the www.dabgo.com link and invite them to the network, or send me their names and e-mail addresses and I will do it for you.

10. Recommend a person - Write a Linkedin recommendation for a colleague or business partner that you value. It is a great way to say that you appreciate the person. A public recommendation is much better that sending flowers or wine with a card. It will also last longer and strengthen your connection with that person. Get some tips & tricks on how to write a recommendation here…

Linkedin has a built in functionality that allows you to save a profile in PDF. As an example you can see my PDF profile here

Here is what this feature can be useful for:

- Forward profile to colleagues / friends who might not be within 3 degrees of the person or have a premium membership.
- You can work with profiles offline.
- File the profile locally making it searchable for yourself and others on the network. Attach to e-mail or snail mails.

The feature is located just above the persons name

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.

“Haven’t made a dime on LinkedIn? A lot of people on LinkedIn haven’t made a dime from it. Chances are you haven’t made anyone else money either. In expanding your network, the main point is to help you phone or meet someone who may be able to help you in whatever it is you are trying to do. The flip side is you need to help others meet their needs too. Until you think of helping others get what they want, you won’t likely get what you want.”

Read the rest of this interesting article posted on lifehack.org

If you want to know more about Linkedin, the company’s history and where it’s going, then read this interesting article posted on CNN Money.

“Social networking has been great for the kids, but not of much use to business - until now. With Reid Hoffman’s MySpace-for-grown-ups at a tipping point, these days you’re either LinkedIn or left out.”

“For many, it’s become irresponsible to not invite business associates into your LinkedIn network,” says Mikolaj Jan Piskorski, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School who specializes in sociology and strategy.

LinkedIn has launched LinkedIn Answers (www.linkedin.com/answers), a first-of-its-kind answers service that leverages the power of the user’s trusted professional network to receive business-related advice. LinkedIn Answers allows members to ask their business-related questions, and receive answers from their personal networks and the hundreds of thousands of experts in the LinkedIn network as a whole. The service gives the site’s 9 million users a quick and reliable way to get industry specific answers to business questions and to build upon their professional reputation by responding to questions relevant to their expertise.

I tried this new service about 2 weeks ago with the questions “Do you know any Danish people in the USA??” and in the context gave a little description of DABGO. This resulted in increased traffic to www.dabgo.com and new members. So it does work, and the answers were positive and informative.

It’s interesting that LinkedIn is launching the new service straight after the closing down of Google Answers due to poor performance.