Smart Archives

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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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.

Kasa smart light switches for less than $13, dang.
Gift yourself a snazzy, new iPad for under $200.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is only $60!
Ring video doorbells have HD video and are easy to install. Plus, right now, they’re as cheap as they get, at $60.
Electric lighters are the best. Only $7? Heck, yeah! I’m never going back to one that takes lighter fluid.
Pillow slippers are so comfy around the house and 43% off now.
A stone bath mat absorbs water without getting slippery. Uh, 90% off? Now’s the time.

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

So smart: Instead of just one smart plug, upgrade to a smart power strip. This one is 40% off and has six outlets you can control individually. Looks like a home office home run to me.

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

Google Search is dying

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Younger people are turning to AI chatbots, TikTok and Reddit for answers instead. Gen-Z is also sticking with older cars to avoid new tech and high costs. Plus, Chipotle is using robots for avocado prep, and we’ll show you how to turn your smart TV into a photo frame.

Apple’s home robots may be coming soon: Rumor has it two smart display devices will run a new operating system called homeOS. The high-end model is tricked out with a robotic arm, a large iPad-like display and a price starting at $1,000. The cheaper model, which is made for controlling home appliances, is expected to debut next year. Yep, AI’s included.

💤 I wasn’t getting great sleep

… until it dawned on me: I needed to up my game.

This white noise machine uses an interior fan to create a soothing whoosh with no looping.
A padded sleep mask doesn’t put pressure on your eyes and doesn’t let in a single ray of light.
These smart stickers dim the glow from the LED lights on your bedroom tech. Goodbye, red light on the TV. (Only $5!)
My friend who wears foam earplugs every night says she’s tried them all and these are the best — plus, they’re made in the USA.
Hot sleeper? Try a cooling silk pillowcase. It’s supposedly good for hair and skin, too.

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

GPS dog collars are smart: Use Battery Optimization mode so you don’t have to charge the collar so frequently. As long as your furbaby stays in a safe zone, it’ll check less often, saving your battery. If they leave the safe zone, real-time tracking will kick in. My golden retriever, Abby, wears a Fi collar, and this is her favorite ball (10% off today!).

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

📺 A TV is a watching machine: LG smart TVs now show ads before the screensaver kicks in. No word yet if it’s limited to specific models, but they’re live on the new flagship G4 T showing LG products and third-party promos. Fortunately, you can turn it off. If you have an LG, go to TV Settings > Additional Settings and disable Screen Saver Promotion.

🕶️ Can’t wait for a new wave of glass-holes: Mark Zuckerberg thinks Meta’s Orion smart glasses will replace smartphones for messaging, video chatting and browsing social media. Zuck and his team have been working on the (really) thick black glasses for 10 years. They include a holographic display only the wearer can see. No price or timeline yet.

🧼 Your photos are a mess: Find what you want with AI-powered albums. On a Mac, open Apple Photos and choose File > New Smart Album. Pick what you want (like photos of the beach) and it’ll pull in pics that match. In Google Photos for the web, go to Albums > Create Album. Here, you can choose the people and/or pets you want to include.

Alexa, enough already: Set up commands that do more on your Amazon Echo. In the Alexa app, tap More (bottom right corner) > Routines. Tap the + (plus sign), then choose your trigger (time of day or command) and what happens. For “go to bed,” you could include shutting off the lights, starting your white noise and locking your smart doorknob. Sweet!

Personalize your biz emails: Instead of sending a one-size-fits-all marketing blast to your customers, try segmenting your audience to send the right message to the right person. Most email service providers let you set up multiple lists. MailChimp, Constant Contact and all the other big ones do. Smart!

🍿 Grab the popcorn: If you watch YouTube on your smart TV, you’ll soon see ads when you pause a video. The video shrinks to the left and a sponsored ad column takes over the right side. To remove the ad, either resume playback or hit the “Dismiss” button. YouTube is also testing longer, unskippable ads. You can escape them with YouTube Premium, but that’ll cost you $13.99 a month.

🛑 Stop, thief! If someone gets your iPhone, they can disable Find My in the Control Center. Be smart and make it so they can’t. Go to Settings > ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode if you’re using an older model with a home button). Enter your passcode, scroll to Allow Access When Locked, and toggle off the Control Center option.

Sweet finds to make life easier

Get rid of bad breath at the source with a tongue scraper (7% off). Sounds crazy, but it really works.
Keep your cups from dripping everywhere with these coasters (14% off) that look like LPs. The rubber bottoms help you avoid spills, too.
A magnetic bag for your water bottle — strap your keys, wallet and phone to any bottle, and keep the whole thing off the floor by sticking it to metal. Smart.
These ingenious pens (15% off) let you keep a bit of paint on hand for touch-ups. Need this!
Clever self-watering planters have an aerated bottom to ward off root rot and store water to keep your plants happy. Love the color.

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

Stop your TV from selling your data

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Remember when a 4K TV cost over ten grand? Now, they’re packed with smart features at a fraction of that price. But there’s a catch.

📲 Umm … who are you? I hate when I’ve forgotten someone’s name. That’s why I wanted to pass along what a Harvard-trained etiquette expert told CNBC you should do instead: Ask for their contact info. Hand over your phone, and they’ll pop in their name. Bingo, crisis averted. So smart.

Keep your Android automatically unlocked: Go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock. You can set it to stay unlocked when it’s on you, near a trusted device (like your laptop) or in a trusted place (like your house).

A no-brainer if you have a dog: Fido Alert is like an Amber Alert for pets. Register your furry friend and you’ll get a free ID tag that includes a QR code. If your pet goes missing, alert the Fido network. Then, if someone scans the QR code, they’ll get your contact info and you’ll get a notification. I keep an AirTag on my golden, Abby, and she wears a smart collar.

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

Small space, big dreams

These sneaky organizers help you get more room out of your, uh, room.

Clean up that pile of shoes on the floor. This hanging shoe organizer is 32% off with a coupon. So smart.
If your linen closet looks like a war zone, allow me to introduce you to vacuum storage bags. They’re 21% off right now, and they can shrink your bulky bedding by up to 80%.
Your bathroom might be tiny, but I know you have room for this shelf (31% off). It’s small storage for TP, candles and cleaners.
This wall-mounted broom and tool organizer keeps your mudroom and garage in check (25% off with a coupon).
Save pantry space and stick this clever coffee pod drawer right under your Keurig or Nespresso (38% off). Boom, clean kitchen counters.

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