Haven't logged into LinkedIn lately? 5 reasons you really should be using it

How much do you know about LinkedIn? Sure, you probably understand it’s a social network for professionals, but it’s so much more.

Unlike most social networks that are used to share the latest vacation pictures, LinkedIn was designed for more important reasons. It can help you make connections, share work experience and find or post jobs.

Your LinkedIn profile can be set up to look like a resume, complete with accomplishments and referrals from colleagues. If you’ve never experienced the power of LinkedIn, we can help. Here are five smart ways to use LinkedIn to network, poach employees, boast and more.

Visit LinkedIn.com/Kim and post a job for free.

1. Sales prospecting

If you’re wondering what sales prospecting is, it’s exactly what it sounds like — sorting through tons of companies and individuals to find prospects who will most likely turn into paying customers.

This can take a lot of time and effort and relies on knowing where to look. In the past, sales prospecting mainly consisted of cold calling and following up with every potential lead.

Now that we live in a digital world, those days are gone. Most buyers make decisions online. That’s where LinkedIn comes into play.

With about 1 billion members, LinkedIn is a leader in connecting buyers and sellers. One of the most important sales techniques is understanding how buyers behave, making prospecting easier with greater success.

An IDC social buying study revealed:

  • 75% of B2B buyers use social media to make buying decisions.
  • 50% of B2B buyers use LinkedIn to make purchasing decisions.
  • 76% of B2B buyers prefer to work with recommendations from their professional network.

Those numbers prove how important LinkedIn is when it comes to sales prospecting. Information is power and LinkedIn is packed with information buyers are looking for.

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Smart ways to make more money and find new customers

Small business owners must build trust, set trends and share their customers’ values. Connecting with customers is one of the most important ways to make money.

Success starts close to home. Before connecting with customers, you must build strong bonds with your teammates. Tap or click here for five leadership secrets every small business owner should know.

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Deals on deals on deals

🦸 Finding good sales is my superpower.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🏪 Groceries are so expensive: Flipp compares prices so you don’t have to. Type in what you’re looking for and your address, city or ZIP code to find sales near you. At least eggs aren’t $8 a dozen anymore.

🤑 The tax man cometh … later: The $600 reporting rule for apps like PayPal and Venmo is delayed yet again. This rule says apps owe you a tax form for annual incomes over $600. For another year, personal payments and small sales won’t result in a new tax form. Don’t smile yet; anything over $5,000 (like a car you sell online or your side hustle income), and you’ll receive a Form 1099-K.

$1,100 dog stroller

For sale in South Korea, where the human birth rate is 0.72. That’s the lowest in the world (paywall link) and one-third of what’s needed to maintain their population. Dog stroller sales just outpaced sales of baby strollers for the first time in the country, and the Airbuggy is a hot commodity. The government there is stork-raving mad.

Fake Prime Day sites, emails and calls spreading

Amazon’s fall Prime Big Deal Days sale is next week on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Yes, I’ll be sharing all the best deals. But the most important thing I want you to know is that scammers are hard at work creating lookalike sites and emails to trick you while you’ve got your credit card out.

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Need some extra cash? 15 jobs you can do from home

Working remotely isn’t suitable for everybody. But in the wake of the pandemic, it has seen a considerable boon globally. Tap or click here for legit ways to find work-from-home jobs.

If you’re interested in earning a living from home, there is no better time to get involved with the right opportunity.

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It’s a deal today

Yep, I’m still scouring the early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales. Hit this link if you want to see ‘em all.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🤑 Swimming in bitcoin? Cryptocurrency values are off the charts right now. The IRS also noticed and is ready to tax all your sweet gains. There are new rules (paywall link) coming next year. Brokers will have to report all crypto sales, and you can now donate up to $18,000 to charity each year tax-free. I’m sure some will try to use the word “charity” very loosely.

💸 Thinking about opening an e-commerce store? Be careful who you trust. One guy lost $56,000 after paying Ascend CapVentures Inc. to open and manage an Amazon storefront on his behalf. They dangled six-figure sales projections but didn’t deliver. Even worse, they stocked his store with counterfeit products that got him banned.

💯 OK, that’s a bargain

The early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales continue! To score these deals, you’ll need a Prime membership. Use this link for a 30-day free trial.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Selling your wares on Amazon? Amazon’s new Amelia AI assistant helps third-party sellers with advice, queries and account issues. It can also assist you with prepping for the holidays or getting a quick overview of your sales and inventory reports. Find Amelia in Seller Central. It’s in beta and available to select users for now.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🤺 Who are their competitors? You’re researching a new service for your business and don’t know who to compare it to. Or maybe you’re looking for new sales prospects. Ask ChatGPT or your favorite AI bot! It’ll spit out a list. Take it with a grain of salt; some results could be outdated.

🌭 Skip the line: Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” tech is hitting more NFL stadiums and college campuses this fall. Just tap or insert a credit card when you enter a retailer, grab what you want, and you’re automatically charged when you leave. At Lumen Field in Seattle, where the program rolled out in 2022, vendors reported 85% more transactions per game in 2023 and a total sales increase of 112%. I’d say it’s working!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Crime gets clicks: A beauty store in Concord, California, came up with a clever way to stop shoplifting: Posting videos of thieves on TikTok. They have a sign warning would-be bandits, and it’s working. Since they started posting, thefts are down, sales are up, and their TikTok account is racking up millions of views.

10M copies

Three-day sales of Black Myth: Wukong, a new action game for PC and PlayStation 5. It’s based on the Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” It’s officially one of the fastest-selling games of all time, and it broke the record for the most-played single-player game on Steam, taking out Cyberpunk 2077.

Forget EVs: Plug-in hybrids are winning popularity contests, with sales in the U.S. almost doubling since 2019. Most folks are hesitant to go all-electric, so the gas engine adds some security. In many cases, they’re cheaper than purely electric or gas models, too (paywall link).

42% drop

In Xbox Series X and S sales since 2023. Sales of Microsoft’s four-year-old console have been on a steady decline since 2022 — a way quicker drop-off than most consoles. For context, the seven-year-old Nintendo Switch still sold 1.96 million consoles in the first quarter this year, double the estimated Xboxes sold.

9 a.m. Monday or Tuesday

For the best Goodwill deals (or whenever your local thrift store opens). People tend to drop off donations over the weekend after cleanouts or garage sales. That means you’ll find a better selection on mornings early in the week. Should I start featuring a thrifting segment? I’d call it secondhand news.