Welcome to the very first LinkedIn Blog Carnival - I hope it’s the first of many! The idea behind this carnival is for members of LinkedIn to showcase their writing talents via their blog entries, and in particular with posts about networking, blogging or the use of LinkedIn.

If you’re like me, a member of LinkedIn, you would have made many connections, new friends and done some business and I’ve found LinkedIn to be one of the most valuable networking tools I’ve experienced in the almost 14 years of my business ownership life.

Vikram Deo presents rAnDoM AnD rEstLeSS !!!!: Rafting, Trekking and Leeches!!!!! posted at rAnDoM AnD rEstLeSS !!!!.

Olga Kellen presents Online Networking posted at How I started on LinkedIn.

Sheila Scarborough presents 6 ways travelers can use social media posted at Perceptive Travel Blog, saying, “From the familiar blog to the lesser-known Twitter and even Second Life, here are some social media apps that travelers can use to improve their journeys.”

Charnell presents Join me at the Blog World & New Media Expo in Vegas! posted at Charnell Pugsley’s Weblog, saying, “I am really looking forward to going to the Blog World & New Media Expo in Las Vegas this year. I’ve recently moved into a new role at work that includes the task of blogging, so I hope to learn and experience a lot at the conference. Happy blogging!”

Michael@TSM presents Fall TSM Travel Writing Contest: Win $125! posted at Traveling Stories Magazine.

David Kam presents A Generous Leader, A Great Figure posted at MarketingDeviant.com.

isabella mori presents quit smoking posted at change therapy, saying, “great to have a new carnival! i’m a LinkedIn member but don’t have the LinkedIn badge on my blog right now - am changing my blog layout right now. hope that’s alright.”

Carol Sill presents Alphablogs - Musical Reminiscences posted at Alphablogs, saying, “Both princials at Alphablogs, Carol Sill and Isabella J. Mori, are LinkedIn members.”

Larry Russell presents Avoiding financial advisor and investment counselor frauds and scams - Overview posted at THE SKILLED INVESTOR Blog, saying, “The best way to avoid being defrauded or scammed by a financial or investment advisor is to investigate carefully several different advisers before hiring one of them. If you carefully choose a financial adviser or investment counselor, you have a far greater chance of finding one who is objective, competent, and ethical. This could help you to avoid significant problems in the future.”

Robinson Go presents Report Paid Links to Google posted at The Robinson Go Blog, saying, “Make the most out of your Google ranking for your blog.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of linkedin using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: linkedin, blog carnival.

Tags: Blog Carnival, LinkedIn, Networking for Business, Blogging by Kathie Thomas
3 Comments »

One of my VA team showed us an excerpt from a newsletter about networking. I was thrilled to read it and thought you might like to benefit from it too.

It’s often said that in five years, we will be the sum total of who we are today plus four other elements:
The books we read…
The CDs we listen to…
The seminars we attend…
The people with whom we spend our time…
I believe that. I read recently that 70% of new jobs are obtained through networking and I believe this figure is even higher for creating new business opportunities.

I fly frequently in my work, and I always make a point of meeting the person next to me on the plane and learning something about him or her. When I get home, I send a hand-written note thanking them for their time and conversation.

I recently sat next to a Vice President of Sales for a Fortune 500 company. We talked about sales in general and I wrote him my usual note. Two weeks later, he called and we talked more about my work.

After a few conversations, I signed a contract for multiple speaking engagements with his company. Over dinner at the first of these events, he told me that he had called because he was intrigued by my ideas, but mostly because he was impressed that I had written him the note.

We always hear that “little things mean a lot.” I believe they mean everything! In this case, a genuine interest in a person and his business, a stimulating conversation and a small courtesy resulted in a pleasant and profitable partnership.

In what way can you begin to utilize the “little things mean everything” principle in your business this week? What can you put in motion today?

Isn’t this a great message? I’ve had things happen because of off-chance connections with people. What’s that saying? Carpe Diem? Seize the day - it’s also about seizing the moment! That’s what I’ve done by posting this here!

Tags: Networking for Business by Kathie Thomas
No Comments »

Blog Carnival

carnival of australia

archives | submit post

Welcome to the October 10, 2007 edition of carnival of australia.

I’m delighted to be the host for this edition of Carnival of Australia! I hope you enjoy the posts here.

Micellaneous Mum presents Showtime - fun and sore stomachs for all posted at Miscellanous Adventures of an Aussie Mum, saying, “Who doesn’t love their local show?!”

Theodore Pappas presents Diana & the Celebrity Culture We Enjoy posted at Britannica Blog, saying, “Prominent Australian scholar Graeme Turner (University of Queensland) uses the hook of the recent 10-year anniversary of the death of Princess Di to discuss our cultural obsession with celebrities and what this obsession really means. Fascinating.”

Albert Foong presents The Flower of Love posted at Urban Monk.

Mad goat lady presents A what? posted at Mad Goat Lady.

Animals

Kirky presents Telstra BigBlog - posted at Kirkys Krafts & Chit Chat.

Business

Steve Gray presents Red hot testimonials, with ease. posted at Free Business Tips.

Monika Mundell presents Tutorial - Group Writing Project posted at TheWritersManifestoBlog, saying, “This particular entry is a competition that runs until the 20th of this month. Prize money is up for grabs by other bloggers for writing a tutorial.”

Culture

Cellobella presents Ugg Boot Miracle posted at SultanaBlog, saying, “Can there be anything more Australian than the humble ugg boot? But what happens if your ugg boot splits? Are you destined to live forever with cold tootsies - or could a simple and cheap solution be lurking in your underwear drawer…”

Duncan Macleod presents NAB Climb Every Mountain posted at Duncan’s TV Ad Land, saying, “NAB launched Climb Every Mountain, a new classic Australian TV ad, during the AFL Grand Final.”

Craig Harper presents The Power of an Idea. posted at Renovate your life with Craig, saying, “”Who we are, how we are and what our life becomes, is not pre-determined; it’s a choice.” Fate, schmate. Destiny, schmestiny. Both the refuge of the weak.”

Suzie Cheel presents Motivational Sayings: Take Your Passion… posted at The Abundance Highway, saying, “The quote “Take your passion and make it happen”, is from the song “What a feeling”, sung Irena Cara in the movie Flashdance. Come visit and dance.”

Current Affairs

swollenpickles presents Meg White sex tape fake yet still “news” posted at Swollen Pickles, saying, “Well here’s some sloppy reporting from the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), with the SMH website reporting that Meg White, “drummer” of the White Stripes, was the ’star’ of the latest celebrity sex video doing the rounds. As of writing this, the SMH “Meg White sex video claim” story is the second most viewed story on the SMH website. The story was first published on the SMH site at 12.30pm on the 26 September. The article signs off with: “Representatives for the band are yet to confirm or deny the video is genuine.” I have to say, it’s an attention grabbing story, I guess the only problem is that it’s not all that accurate.”

Gavin R. Putland presents A new way to beat traffic fines posted at Bush Lawyer.

Gavin R. Putland presents Cap-and-trade blog licensing posted at Gavonomics.

Hugh Manatee presents Newsworthiness - Beyonce, racism, or World War? posted at typing is not activism…., saying, “What’s a bit of harsh racial hatred from a warmongering ally anyway? I’m more worried about Beyonce cancelling her tour and Kevin cashing out his credibility.”

Leigh presents October is Breast Cancer Month-How you can help posted at All for Women.

Chris Lucas presents Australia and climate change: The official story posted at planet doom?, saying, “climate change and politics in Australia”

Family

Carole Fogarty presents Emotional care with Australian bush flower essences: posted at THE HEALTHY LIVING LOUNGE, saying, “Australian bush flower essences are a wonderful addition to your first aid tool box.”

Megan Bayliss presents Save the Children: The difference between sympathy and empathy. posted at Imaginif…, saying, “Are Aussies empathetic or sympathetic to the plight of those around us (I am down right shocked by the state in Burma!)? Before you read the difference between sympathy and empathy, have a think about what your definition of each is.”

Food

John Mundell presents Is the Catering Industry in Crisis? posted at Top Chef John Mundell, saying, “food, photos, reviews, recipes, and more can be found here, written by a professional chef.”

Helping a mate

Sue presents Dystonia support group posted at Spasmodic Dysphonia, saying, “Do you live in Far North Queensland? Do you suffer from the many forms of Dystonia? We have started a support group and are active in educating the medical professionals and wider community about this dreadful disease.”

Andrew Boyd presents Boobiethon: Topless bloggers for a good cause posted at Facibus On Blogging, saying, “Boobiethon sees women (and men) exposing their breasts for a good cause - breast cancer support and research.”

Mates

Andrew Boyd presents Interview with Snoskred of Life in the Country posted at On Blogging Australia, saying, “Interview with Snoskred of Life in the Country”

Music

DigitalBurn presents How to convert vinyl LPs to CD (WAV or MP3) posted at Electronic Music Production | DigitalBurn.org, saying, “If you’ve got a stack of vinyl LP’s lying around and have been putting off transferring them to CD because you believe that it’s either too hard, or too expensive, then it’s time to think again!”

Technology

John Lampard presents Fluster posted at disassociated.com.

jen presents Web Directions South 2007 - the last word posted at Semantically driven, saying, “If you wanted to get along to Web Directions South, but couldn’t this might tide you over.”

Des Walsh presents blogoz - Australian Blogging Conference Roundup posted at deswalsh.com, saying, “One week on from the Australian Blogging Conference held in Brisbane on Sept 28, Des Walsh, one of the discussion leaders provides a roundup of blog posts about the conference.”

Travel

Alex Garcia presents Cycling in Brisbane posted at Life in Brisbane - Queensland - Australia, saying, “Brisbane is a cyclist’s paradise”

Walkabout

Laurie Joyce presents You know you’re really in trouble when… posted at Laurie Joyce.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of australia using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of australia, blog carnival.

Tags: Blog Carnival, Blogging by Kathie Thomas
6 Comments »

There are a number of LinkedIn Bloggers out there and I thought it would be good to showcase them in one place. So enter the LinkedIn Blog Carnival. Submissions will be accepted up to 15th every month and then posted on the 17th by the hosting blog. I welcome your involvement!

Just some simple ground rules:

All topics are welcome from LinkedIn members who blog. NO adult content, or abusive and racist comments. One submission per site please. If you keep two or three sites, you can submit one article from each. Topic MUST relate to networking, blogging or the use of LinkedIn.

Submission time: 15th each month Australian time.

Submit your article here.

Tags: Blog Carnival, LinkedIn, Blogging by Kathie Thomas
No Comments »

As my profile at LinkedIn grows and I remain active on the forums and the Q&A section, I receive constant invitations to other social and business networks. I often wonder what the thinking is behind this? Perhaps it’s because I am seen to be so active.

I’ve elected to make LinkedIn my preferred business networking tool and I am aware there are heaps out there. But how do you choose and where do you draw the line? There are a number of things you need to weigh up:

1. How long has the network been around?
2. Are there people you know and trust already connected?
3. What have you read about the network - has the information been worthwhile?
4. How much time will you need to spend on a daily or weekly basis to make the network work for you?
5. How much time can you afford if you join more than one network?
6. What is the benefit of joining more than one network if you’re just going to keep inviting your existing contacts to each network? Or, are you separating the groups and by what process?

For me I have a business network and I do belong to a social network reserved for friends and family - a small number of people will be in both but I make sure I don’t blur the lines and keep business for business and social for social.

It stuns me though that when I accept an invitation from someone I don’t know personally at LinkedIn that often I will then get a number of invitations from the same person for several other networks. I don’t get that. I do say on my profile I’m not accepting invitations from other networks but perhaps they didn’t get that far in my profile (assuming they have looked at it or read it). And the other day I received an invitation for a brand new network from someone who isn’t directly connected to me at LinkedIn but is a second level connection. I didn’t know why they were but because they sent it to my linkedin email address I knew where it had come and was able to look them up. But I don’t understand why they haven’t sent a linkedin invite? I’m still waiting…

business networks, social networks, LinkedIn, connections

Tags: Networking for Business by Kathie Thomas
No Comments »