Add connections to your network

If you spend a minute or more each workday clicking the "Connect" button on the "People You May Know" list that LinkedIn posts in your feed, you'll expand your network, and you'll be known as a network expander. will, which is equally important.

Remember: Everyone you talk to about business or meet during a business day is a potential LinkedIn connection.

Build your lead list

Spend five minutes a day checking your contacts' connections to see who you don't know personally but would like to meet. Note down who you want to introduce. Start with the "recommendations" first, as those are likely the strongest connections of the LinkedIn user you're looking at.

Ask for recommendations outside of your LinkedIn account via email or phone. You will get a quick reply. (And you'll get a chance to quickly reconnect with your connections.)

Follow up with your current customers and prospects

Spend another two minutes each day searching for your current clients and top prospects. Find out if they have a company page. If they do, follow through and monitor.

Join groups

LinkedIn lets you connect with people who are in groups with you. Use this as a targeted way to add value to others, share insights, and build your network with prospects. Invest five minutes in this every day.

Use LinkedIn to celebrate the achievements of others

When you see a news story or post that provides good news about your client or prospect or any key contact, share the news as a status update. Identify a person with an "@" reply. It will ensure that they receive the mentioned notification. Spend a minute a day on this.

Write a recommendation

Securing LinkedIn recommendations is often difficult, if only because it takes time for the author to log in, write, and post.

Instead of waiting for someone to recommend you, take five minutes a day to write and post (reality-based) recommendations for your customers and key contacts. Once your contact approves the text, the recommendation will appear on his/her LinkedIn account.