JUNE 11, 2009

LinkedIn: Worth Your Time?

You rose to the top by being results-oriented and managing your precious time to a "t." You joined LinkedIn, posted your picture and filled in the profile blanks, and then it just became a virtual Rolodex. So you stopped expending any energy on it other than occasionally accepting contacts who found you.

But you know people who've used it to grow their businesses or land top jobs at major corporations – people who swear by it like your teenagers do Facebook. Of course, you don't have extra hours to spend cultivating your account, so here are some strategies for effectively – and efficiently – modifying your profile to get results.

Bnet.com provides a step-by-step guide to setting up your account effectively – from what keywords to include, to whom to connect with, to getting recommendations.

Make your account pop up higher on search engines when someone Googles your name with these suggestions.

If you're looking for a job, here are eight things you can do to get work using LinkedIn, one of the top 10 most effective websites for job searchers.

Bonus PINK Link: How do you manage your online identity? Downtown Women's Club Founder, Diane Danielson, weighs in.