For Moms that are currently working or thinking about working again someday.....

I recently attended my monthly National Association of Women Business Owners meeting, and had a mentor class with Cara Good, CEO of Wundermarx PR. She spoke about how all of us can utilize social networking to identify opportunities for ourselves and our businesses, and also how we can communicate our expertise through the use of Linkedin. If you would have asked me a few years ago what Linkedin was, I wouldn't have had a clue. Technology and the use of it to connect with people has changed so much in the past few years. I'm determined to learn more about all of this stuff since it seems that is the direction where everything is going in business today!

BEGIN BY BUILDING YOUR ON-LINE BUSINESS NETWORKS THOUGH LINKEDIN

The most important thing for moms is to maintain their personal and business networks and to keep them current. It's the #1 thing on my advice list for moms that are thinking of consulting, returning to work in a flexible way, or for anyone that thinks they will work in the future. So how does Linkedin help with maintaining your personal and business networks.....

What is Linked-in and why should I join it?
"LinkedIn is an online network of more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.

When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals.

Through your network you can:
- Find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended
- Be found for business opportunities
- Search for great jobs
- Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals
- Post and distribute job listings
- Find high-quality passive candidates
- Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know"

If you aren't already using Linkedin, I invite you create a profile today (Don't put off what you can do today until tomorrow...something I'm trying to do more of). You'll be taking a step towards connecting with people you used to work with or people you may work with in the future. Click here to join: http://www.linkedin.com

CONNECT TO OTHERS WITH COMMON PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS AND BACKGROUNDS

Once you've done that, I would like to introduce you to two groups currently on linkedin focused on bringing together moms:
1) Part-time Professionals Working Mother Network - I started to this to bring together moms seeking alternative work schedules
2) The Integrated Mother Network-This was a referral from another mom colleague of mine. She also has a great website!

Click here to join these groups....
http://www.linkedin.com/home?myGroups=

You should also consider joining a group in your professional area of expertise (law, accounting, finance, etc...), or your college alumni group.


SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE
There is an answers section where linkin members can post questions. If you have expertise in a certain area such as law, finance, marketing, pr, etc... share it!


KEEP YOUR PROFILE CURRENT
Your profile isn't static even if you are not currently working....Make sure to visit it a few times a week and invite new people to connect with you, join a new group, reach out to someone you've met, or post an expert answer in the answers section.

Linkedin is one of the many professional on-line networking groups. There is Facebook, Plaxo, and the list goes on!

Have fun and good luck!


Kathi Tabrizi
Mom and Entrepreneur
Work and Life Contributor
www.part-timeprofessionals.com