I get a lot of e-mails asking me how people should use LinkedIn for business networking.  And the truth is, I’m not entirely sure myself, which is why I’m looking forward to my friend Jason Alba’s book on the topic.  This week, though, I came across a great post from Chris Brogan at Lifehack with some tips for making it easier for people to connect with you via your LinkedIn profile.  

1. Add your email address to your last name: For someone to connect to you without directly knowing you, they need to present your first and last name, as well as a valid email address. Make it easier by turning the last name field of your profile into your last name and then your email address. This gives folks an easier path to connecting.
2. Fill out your profile: Some people search profiles for keywords, so make sure the words you hope people are seeking when they think of you exist inside your profile. Use real captivating words up front, not like a resume or CV, but instead, like an advertisement for you, because that’s what LinkedIn is!
3. Solicit colleagues and friends for recommendations: People love to read reviews. We do it for books at Amazon. We do it for movies at IMDB or Netflix. Make sure you’ve got some great recommendations for the work you’ve performed. 
4. Ask and answer questions: Using the Answers feature brings your name and profile around to people you’re not exposed to directly. This means more opportunities for someone to recognize your authority in some field, and to reach out and contact you for something further. It means sharing the fruits of your networking with others, and potentially connecting 3rd parties to each other for something bigger.

I think LinkedIn is probably most valuable if you’re actively looking for a job.  I see hundreds of recruiters, HR types, and job postings on there, and I can only imagine how many candidate searches are being done a day.  So take a few minutes out of your day and follow these tips.  It can’t hurt!