Actual Business Results When Networking Is Done Right on LinkedIn

To be honest, I was not a fan of LinkedIn. I don't need a job. I own several businesses - the foremost of which is my private equity firm that acquires apartment buildings and hotels. I don't hire people using LinkedIn either. So in the past, I viewed LinkedIn as yet another social media site that I have to be on just because others are on it.

But a LinkedIn master connector Yonah Weiss made me realize that LinkedIn can have a HUGE business impact to anyone - whether you're a business owner or an employee. But as always, you need to know how to use it the right way.

Yonah Weiss relaunched his 10 Day Commercial Real Estate Challenge #10DaysCRE. The foundational principle is over the next 10 days, just provide value to your connections and followers on LinkedIn. Don't sell anything. Instead, put out content that people will engage with. Also, you got to engage with content you find helpful or insightful. Don't just "like" their posts but actually comment and even reach out to them.

The specific numerical goal for the challenge is - put out over 10 days highly engaging content such that you will get at least 18 likes and at least 18 comments.

After 10 days, my first 6 posts met the 18/18 goal but I fell short on the last 4 posts. But even then, the 10 Days CRE Challenge has been quite helpful for me. Below are the business results that came out of this so far:

Business Result #1: Increase of Followers (more than 100) - When I started the challenge, I have 1,562 followers. After the 10-day challenge, I have 1,663 - an increase of 101 new followers in just 10 business days.

If I extrapolate this over 260 business days in a year, my follower-base should increase by 2600 per year. I have been on LinkedIn for several years but with less than 2000 followers, it's clear I have not been using and networking on LinkedIn the right way. Thanks to the 10 Day CRE Challenge, now I know how.

Business Result #2: Got 2 Private Investors (more than $500K in Capital) - One of these investors already told me how much money she can invest for apartment deals - a little over $500,000. I am setting up a schedule to talk with the other investor.

The wierd thing is: I never mentioned in any of my posts that I needed private capital. These 2 people saw my posts about apartment investing and they reached out to me.

What I discovered after raising private capital for more than a decade and what I teach others is this: When raising private capital, don't beg for money. Attract it by showing them your experience and knowledge. LinkedIn is a great way to showcase that experience and knowledge.

Business Result #3: Got 2 Potential Buyers - 137 Unit Portfolio - once again, I never once mentioned in any of my posts during the 10 Day Challenge that I have a 137-unit apartment portfolio for sale. One person asked me in a post if I have an apartment building for sale. When I replied "Yes", one more person asked to get the information on it.

Business Result #4: I Even Sold My Book "From Broke to Millions" - I did mention about my book in a couple of my posts but I did not do a "hard sell". But once people see the valuable information I shared about actual apartment deals I did, people are more than willing to pay for my book to get more information on how to invest in apartment buildings.

So there: LinkedIn used the right way can produce "bankable business results". The right way to use it is not to SELL or promote yourself or your products and services. The right way is to provide value through posting good content and content that gets people to engage and also engage with their posts. When you do, they get to know, like and trust you. And we, as human beings would only do business with people we like and trust don't we?

So use LinkedIn. Provide value and engage. Then network. Then you will get results.