One of my favorite features of
LinkedIn is the Answers section. Talk about a fabulous way to get help on business issues!
A while back I needed to conduct several webinars for a client. Although I had participated in several webinars, I had never conducted one and had no idea which software/service to use.
So I asked the question,
What is the best webinar tool for a basic meeting, and why? Within hours, I had several incredibly informative responses recommending various webinar tools. Since the responders were experts in the field, their input was reliable. This simple use of LinkedIn saved me hours of research, and made me confident in my decision.
You can ask questions to your own network or the entire LinkedIn network. I've seen folks query their own network for input on an article, market research, and product or service offerings.
Answering questions in your area of expertise can help build your reputation and lead to new business connections and opportunities. (To say nothing of helping people out!) People in LinkedIn are very appreciative when they receive help. Truth be told, they should be, because preparing a good answer takes a fair amount of effort.
Remember - there is more knowledge outside your business than there can ever be inside. That's why a social network like LinkedIn has so much power. Today, collaboration is king!
