The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search

by Wayne Breitbarth

This simple, user-friendly guide explains how you can access the full power of LinkedIn—including advice on making lasting business connections, building a unique personal brand, and generating significant business opportunities.

Are you at a social-media disadvantage if you entered the business world before the rise of Facebook? Wayne Breitbarth argues that the opposite is true when it comes to LinkedIn: your experience and connections as a seasoned professional give you a leg up in harnessing the benefits of LinkedIn. You have already done a lot of the networking groundwork, and LinkedIn can extend your reach even further with minimal time each week.

Using actual screenshots of the LinkedIn website, Breitbarth demonstrates how you can take advantage of all the features of this professional networking platform. He shows you how to create a compelling profile, use keywords to improve your ability to find and be found by others, build a solid base of connections, solicit valuable recommendations, and much more. His 6-week, 2-hour-per-week startup plan and weekly maintenance plan will motivate you to make the most of your time on LinkedIn.

Wayne Breitbarth’s pragmatic teaching style and engaging sense of humor are on display throughout The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, and he shares many specific examples, stories, and illustrations that are the direct result of thirty years’ experience in business consulting and business ownership. Whether you are an entry-level professional, a CEO, or anywhere in between, you can benefit from this practical introduction to a powerful networking tool.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Social Media, Technology, Self Help

175 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Wayne Breitbarth is an experienced businessman, speaker, and author who has shared his passion for social media with thousands of business professionals through private business consulting and dynamic presentations to local and national audiences.

He owns M&M Office Interiors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and leverages his entrepreneurial experience to educate businesspeople on how to use LinkedIn to make lasting business connections, build a unique personal brand, and generate significant business opportunities.

Wayne is a CPA, holds an MBA from Marquette University, and is the author of The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search.

Check out more information at: www.powerformula.net.
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Reviews

[Meg Elison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book makes a handful of assumptions about the person who will read it. Raise your hand if you:

1. Don't know how to use the internet.
2. Can't follow the simple and intuitive directions on a very simplified site that desperately tries to make itself easy to use.
3. Do not understand how networking works or why it's important.
4. Are a thousand years old.

This book repeats the most absolutely basic information that LinkedIn provides about itself, and then works to justify it to people who are resistant to using the site for a myriad of reasons. It does so clearly, effectively, and with nearly amusing anecdotal evidence of success.

In 150 pages, I found one useful piece of information.

If you know you have to use LinkedIn but are reluctant to try and also afraid of the mysterious noises your computer makes when it turns on, this is the one for you. If you print out all your emails and refuse to shop online, you may find a book that explains the internet comforting rather than ironic. The author's style is homey and old-fashioned, and if you need someone to hold your hand, this is the hand.

The best thing about this book and the reason I gave it two stars rather than one is that it made me feel better about the job market. If I don't find work when I graduate, apparently there's money to be made in teaching people how to use LinkedIn.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kickstart Your Business, Brand, and Job Search' by Wayne Breitbarth is a short introductory book on how to use th social media site. It's geared to users who are less internet, and social media, savvy. Think of it like a "Dummies Guide" which is by no means meant in a derogatory way.

Starting with logging in, just about all the basic ways to build out your LinkedIn profile are covered. Tips are given on keywords, and how many words can be used. Networking tips and writing and receiving references are talked about along with the importance of seeking out solid people to follow on the site. Searching in LinkedIn is quite powerful and that's covered as well. This also shows you the importance of having a decent profile. There are action plans for building up your page.

Wayne Breitbarth takes a basic approach with the book, and you could certainly find this information out on your own, but this is a gentler approach that takes things systematically. He also does seminars on this which he touts throughout the book (along with his office furniture business). The pandering got a bit old since it's in every example he show. It's not a bad book if you're looking for help on LinkedIn, but there are probably better ones out there.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Augie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently was provided an evaluation copy of The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success by Wayne Breitbarth. I expected to find that the book might be most helpful for those who are not yet fully engaged on LinkedIn, and that is, in fact, the case. That said, the book encouraged me--an experienced social media professional--to consider some LinkedIn features and applications more deeply and make a few tweaks to my own LinkedIn profile. I think most professionals will find something helpful to take away from this book.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is the way it explores who you should or should not connect with on LinkedIn. I do it wrong, according to Breitbarth. My strategy has been to connect with people on LinkedIn who I have met professionally either online or in real life; in this way, LinkedIn acts as my cloud-based address book.

"LinkedIn Success" posits that connecting with people you know weakly has a cost, diminishing the value of the network; instead, it recommends you connect only with the people you trust and would recommend. In this way, you can have confidence in your ability make trusted recommendations and introductions between any of your connections, and (of course) you hope the same is true for all of your connections' connections.

Breitbarth does allow for other use cases, such as recruiters who can benefit from amassing tens of thousands of professional connections. After reading "LinkedIn Success," my impression of my own connecting strategy did not change that much, because I believe different strategies can work for different people. Even though I am not altering my approach to LinkedIn, I appreciate that "LinkedIn Success" encouraged me to consider my goals and strategies, and I think others may get value from the book's thoughtful approach to this topic.

The book primarily focuses on the value of building out your professional profile as completely as possible. It contains many good ideas, such as taking the time to review the profiles of your competitors for good (and bad) ideas. "LinkedIn Success" also advises you to take full advantage of every available character in the summary section and offers guidance on the appropriate tone and format.

Breitbarth also encourages people to do something that many find difficult--ask for recommendations. He says, "If you are hesitant to go about getting recommendations, let me ask you this question: Aren't you any good?" If you are--and trust me, you are--then your LinkedIn profile should convey this through the testimonials of others.

After reading "LinkedIn Success," I was encouraged to make a few tweaks to my own profile. For example, I had neglected to add the "Events" application to my profile, which is a silly oversight that decreases opportunities to meet others at upcoming events and demonstrate my professional activities at past events. I also added the Box application to my LinkedIn profile as a way of conveying some interesting white papers and documents that I find worthwhile. In short, even though I was pretty darn sure I knew my way around LinkedIn, the book sparked some awareness and action on my part, which I guess says more about the book than any opinion I may convey.

"The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success" has one major shortfall: Despite the fact it is subtitled, "Kick-start Your Business, Brand and Job Search," it gives virtually no advice to brands on how to succeed on LinkedIn. Page after page is dedicated to the personal profile, the search functions, how to participate in groups and individual preference settings, but very little conveyed in "The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success" will help brands understand how to create value on the platform. This is a book that may help you polish your social resume, find a job or gain reputation, but it will do little to help your company navigate its way through LinkedIn.

If you are just getting started or have always suspected you are not getting what you should from your personal efforts on LinkedIn, I recommend Breitbarth's book. Heck, even if you feel you are a power user, you may find that "LinkedIn Success" provides you a few more tips to build out your LinkedIn presence.

[Aloe Belascuain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to apply each those tips. Thank you for the detailed and motivating work, Wayne!

[Leanne Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who's been playing around with LinkedIn for about 12 months, I knew a lot of the basic information - but there were some very useful tips!

Highly recommended for beginners to the platform. Just be mindful that you read the latest version of the book as the content can quickly become outdated.

[Farrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for people with no previous LinkedIn experience; I work in tech so most of this was moot. Great tips on beefing up your profile.

[Diana Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 and a half stars. Well written and has some good ideas. But I’m not the target audience for this book. I still got some ideas and learned a few new things. Worth a quick read

[Daniel Mok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book on using LinkedIn to establish a larger people network.

[Elizabeth Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every week I read a tremendous volume of material about social media tools, primarily the current Big Three: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Much of it is helpful, interesting, and informative, but this book is all of that and so much more. In my opinion, the author has succeeded in making the book both user-friendly and quite advanced. That, in itself, is a commendable feat. It's truly a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to leverage their presence and profile on LinkedIn. This second edition is entirely revised with new content and includes all the recent LinkedIn changes.

You'll find value in The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search if:
* You're not sure if you need a LinkedIn profile or don't know where to start.
* You have an existing profile but want an excellent primer/checklist to make sure you've set up your profile for maximum impact.
* You're an experienced LinkedIn user who wants to peruse the topics and get a few power tips you may have missed. Each chapter has an "Applying the Formula" box which can be scanned for key topics.

The author begins by sharing his own skepticism about social media in general and LinkedIn in particular. He makes an excellent case for LinkedIn being the place where every professional of any age needs to be for visibility, regardless of niche, industry or profession. If you don't already have a LinkedIn profile, you'll soon be chomping at the bit to set one up.

The book's greatest value for me came in the step-by-step guidance through each section of the LinkedIn profile. Breitbarth explained how to make the profile keyword-rich, searchable, and appealing. He gave details about what should be included to improve the odds that you'll be found.

Other highlights:
* Breitbarth talked about how to expand your network and how to ensure that your network is valuable and not just a collection of names.

* He explained how to leverage and cultivate relationships such as those with college classmates, former co-workers, and folks who share interest groups. I came away with a much better appreciation for how to use the LinkedIn search function.

* He gave advice on how to use LinkedIn settings for maximum utility without compromising privacy and security.

* If you're a job seeker, there is a whole chapter dedicated to how LinkedIn can help.

* I especially loved Chapter 19 called "Ready...Set...Go! A Six-Week, Two-Hour-per-Week Road Map to Results." No more excuses that you don't know what to do. It's all here, in black and white! This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

In short, if you follow the training Wayne Breitbarth provides in The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search, you'll know how to:
* Create a profile more likely to be found by someone searching for the kind of work you do.
* Use your LinkedIn network to look for a new job.
* Use your LinkedIn network to find a qualified employee.
* Use your LinkedIn network to find new clients and turn your online resume into an income-generating tool

This book is under 200 pages, so it won't take you long to read. It belongs on a business person's bookshelf.

[Lennette Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success is a great book, especially for those of us who could not figure out how a social media device could be used for business networking and job searching. This book came at a great time for me. I had just attended a webinar and one of the presenters, a head hunter, said to use LinkedIn “to land the job of your dreams.” Of course, I couldn’t see how that would help. Like many, I had created a profile on LinkedIn but never got much further than my name and basic information because I could not really see how this site would benefit me.

Then, I read The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success and now I understand what a great tool LinkedIn can be. This book advises you on how to create a great profile, what to include, and how to set up a network based on the author’s own experience. The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success will come in very handy for those people who are looking to change jobs or those in the business world looking to network with others.

I will definitely be using the instruction obtained from this book to boost my LinkedIn profile and I would definitely encourage anyone who has even remotely heard of LinkedIn to read this book and determine for themselves if LinkedIn would be beneficial to them.

This book is written as a manual. It is broken down into reasonable chapters and the author clearly explains each step of the process. He is also very good about including parts of LinkedIn that could be part of your profile based on when you joined. I thought that this book, even though it was written as a how-to book, was very easy to read.

Again, I found The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success to be a very useful book and would encourage others to take a look at it.

One word of caution, however: At the webinar referenced above, the presenter clearly stated that potential employers don’t want to read about volunteer hours or hobbies nor do they want to see every job you have ever hand. She stated it was best to only focus on the field you are in and leave off the jobs in other fields you may have had. The author’s advice differs from this. Therefore, I will be speaking more to staffing personnel in my field to determine for myself which is the best option for me.

[Stephanie Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

LinkedIn has been called “The world’s largest online business networking site.”

If you are a job seeker, or looking to promote your company, this book is for you.

Whether you have never used LinkedIn before, or have already created your profile, you need to use this important reference guide. Written in an easy to follow, almost step-by-step format, Wayne takes you from the very beginning of creating your profile, on up to what to do once you have it created. If you have never used LinkedIn before, Wayne makes it easy to create a profile, but you still need to do the work behind it. If you already are on LinkedIn, you’ll want to make sure you use all that is available to you, and make sure to use those all important keywords. Wayne won’t write your profile for you, you do need to do the work, but he will help you using his own profile as an example.

In addition to tips to check off at the end of each chapter, he also includes links to resources to help you even more. With this being the second edition, he has noted what is no longer available and what has been updated. No matter what your position is, if you are looking to network with others and grow yourself or your business, you’ll want to keep this handy as you use LinkedIn to help you succeed.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with over 200 million members and growing rapidly. It is commonly known as "The Facebook for Businesspeople." LinkedIn helps you promote your products and/or services, to increase revenue, as a small business owner.

This book's purpose is to efficiently use LinkedIn to accomplish all your business goals. Learn why you should make a LinkedIn profile, and what the benefits are to having one. Some would refer to a LinkedIn profile as a "resume on steroids."This book is an aid to creating and maintaing your profile to get all that you can from the service.

This was so educational, as I did not know anything about LinkedIn previous to reading this book. I am excited to check out the website and make my own profile. With this book as my aid, I can't go wrong. It will guide you, as it did me, into the LinkedIn world professionally and efficiently. Overall I give this book a 5/5

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having had a linked account for some time but never really using it and in part as due to the fact I wasn't quite sure how to utilize it.
This book was an excellent resource for making sure you filled out the profile to maximize it to the most.
Putting aside the fact that Breitbarth assume if you are older you have a phobia if the Internet and learning new ideas, or scared to post a picture to the profile, this was a great source of help.
While thorough in aiding one to feel out and use Linkedin, it was a little sparse on the building your business and brand support other than through your contacts, but with standing that I would recommend this to anyone seeking a bettr understanding of the site.

I found it very useful and will be recommending it to my friends as a way to start branding themselves.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked it up on a whim at Barnes & Noble after someone encouraged me to kick up my job search by getting on LinkedIn (thanks, Bro). He explains very clearly and conversationally WHY and how to use LinkedIN, not only for your job-hunt, but to network in general for business. If you're selling insurance, houses or financial services, you should also be all over this great tool. The author is very clear about the best practices and dumb mistakes to avoid. I checked a few more books about LinkedIn from the library, but this was by far the most useful. I've already gotten a job interview by getting in touch with someone I'd lost touch with, who made sure my resume' got into the right hands at her company!

[loafingcactus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The person who doesn't "get" LinkedIn is often the same person who doesn't "get" personal branding and networking in general. And just because a younger person might be native to the social media architecture does not mean AT ALL that they get those second two points... but unfortunately the book only covers the mechanics of how to use LinkedIn.

The book is by a presumably successful salesperson who, I think, doesn't fully understand the value of his knowledge and experience. The book will walk you through LinkedIn more than adequately, but for the person left wondering "but WHY would I do that?" some other books on marketing and sales will be necessary. Or perhaps this author will write one!

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Justification for star rating: I am not the demographic for this book. At all.

This book is for baby boomers and people who are just emerging on the social media scene. I'm sure that this book had good advice, but I don't need to know how to set up a LinkedIn profile--I need to know how to effectively optimize LinkedIn and how to write a killer profile that will net me job prospects. This book told me nothing I didn't already know from messing around on LinkedIn on my own.

Bottom line: read this if you have no idea what LinkedIn is, but avoid if you need something more in-depth.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

LinkedIn is a potentially powerful tool that allows users to build networks for businesses and more.
This particular book provides ways to get started with this network program for those who never had a chance to or too afraid to do so. With the help this book provides, businesses and jobs could grow in ways that you never thought possible.
At the same time, the book provides ideas that would and could be equally helpful to those who have been involved with LinkedIn for a lengthy amount of time.

The book is truly educational, and would provide insight for anyone with half a mind of interest in this field.

Part of Goodreads Giveaway Program

[Sasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more from this LinkedIn introduction. This is geared towards the baby boomers group or maybe someone who doesn't do any social networking. There are some very helpful parts to it though so it wasn't a waste of time. I'm actually glad that I picked this up from the library just to make sure that I'm not missing out on what LinkedIn can offer. If you don't know anything about LinkedIn or has been hesitating on joining (like me) and don't know where to start, this book would be very helpful to you.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content of this book is clearly geared towards an older demographic with little internet experience - which is not me.

That being said, I was looking for basic information on how to more effectively use the LinkedIn account I signed up for years ago and never touched, and this book delivered. I particularly liked the step by step schedule for updating your account at the end of the book, very helpful.

It covers the basics and more, plus it is quick and easy to read. Great overview and information on establishing an account.

[Joey Sudmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good and thorough book. I would imagine it is all you need for any level of LinkedIn user you might be.

Keep that in mind as it intentionally does not alienate novice users. Therefore, most of us would find sections boring or redundant. Of course, that's what speed reading is for.

I found some good insight and while I already had an account I never really used it or understood how powerful LinkedIn can be. So if I have to read 150 pages of redundancy to get to some content that gets my ass moving then it's probably all worth it to me anyway.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm embarrassed to say that I had a Linkedin account for several years that, it turns out, that was completely pathetic. This is a fast read that can boost your professional profile if you even implement a fraction of the tips the author offers. In no time I "fixed" my profile and understood that Linkedin takes a little effort each week, but the pay-off can be huge! Great for professionals, those wanting to improve their personal "brand" or job-seekers.

[Angela Whiting · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book that explains the importance of your profile on LinkedIn and teaches you how to build a powerful profile that will get you found. If you are serious about your career, you need to be doing the things outlined in this book because LinkedIn can help you be seen as an expert in your field. It also had a lot of useful information about LinkedIn tools that I didn’t even know existed and showed great new ways to connect with people you might otherwise never meet.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted very much to know how to properly use this LinkedIn beast, and what to do with all these connection invites and how important recommendations are and if not having a complete profile was detrimental. So I picked up what was apparently the bible on the topic and laid all my questions to rest. The book was concise, informative, educational and excellent. Recommended for anyone who's had the questions above and more.

[Julie Glynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a new-comer to LinkedIn, but wanted to read a book by a LinkedIn expert to be sure I was utilizing it to the fullest. This book assumes its audience is in the 50+ age range and has a fear of social networking channels and technology. Fortunately, it was short and easy to read, and had several recommendations that I was able to immediately apply to my existing account. Overall, it is worthwhile if you can get past the fact that you may not fit the profile of the intended audience.

[Minh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a great read for anyone who does not embrace LinkedIn as am important online tool to do business. It is even helpful to those who experienced the network already since the author showed audience some of the features that are widely ignored on LinkedIn and provided tips to optimize individuals' profiles to get the best results.

The book is about designing a strategy on LinkedIn, consistently sticking to the set strategy and being patient.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit outdated and geared more toward beginners, I was still able to get a little bit out of it. I read Gary Vaynerchuk's Jab, Jab, Right Hook early in the year. He mentioned that he sees a huge potential for LinkedIn in the future. I am beginning to see why. It's a unique social media platform. In a world where your personal brand will become as important as a business brand, everybody will need to be on it. It's becoming my favorite social media platform.

[Jorge Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro sumamente pragmático, no por eso bueno o malo, simplemente es como es, interesante, práctico y útil.
La reflexión profunda no es parte del servicio, pero aporta ideas a manera de un manual con refuerzos.
Buen libro; en la página de internet del autor, vienen actualizaciones, lo cual es un gran plus.
Su debilidad está en la estrategia pero en general supera las expectativas.

[Mark Warren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be a waste of time that really only elaborates on everything the LinkedIn site walks you through anyway when you set up your profile. It does set the author up as a LinkedIn "Consultant," so it does that for him. Don't bother with this one - you can spend the gained time polishing your profile. I really don't like these sort of books.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good as an introduction to Linkedin. Hiwever, this book is showing its age by the fact that some of the features mentioned doesn't exist or have been modified. Unfortunately, it doesn't to quite as much into details on keyword optimization and other new features as I would have liked. In my opinion, just go to his website where you will find much more updates information for free.