In the book I mention LICM (LinkedIn Contacts Management Application) as a tool to complement LinkedIn. This tool was developed at least a years ago by Arnnei Speiser (Auckland, New Zealand), but right around the time I joined the MLPF Yahoo! Group there were a couple of things that happened, and I wasn’t sure if LICM would be supported or updated (which was a problem, considering LinkedIn had made some changes that affected the useability of LICM).

Additionally, LICM is a PC application that you have to download, and there were a number of patches — as an IT manager I loathed PC applications that had continually patches to load. I *think* you have to have Microsoft Access installed (not positive on that one). And finally, I was developing JibberJobber.com and didn’t want to be accused of stealing any ideas or design from Arnnei, so I kind of stayed away from it. But there was enough buzz that I thought it only fair to mention it in the book.

Well, since LinkedIn made their changes, Arnnei has finally had some time to revamp LICM. Just last week he announced that he has updated and upgraded the system, and a number of fans tried it out. While there are a few minor issues being reported, it seems to be functional, and Arnnei is actively working on reported issues (he just posted the first patch yesterday).

I’m not sure when LinkedIn is going to do CRM, I think they are either going to attempt it or partner with Salesforce.com (or hopefully JibberJobber.com!!), but one thing is clear: using LinkedIn for relationship management is like using a butter knife as a screw driver.

As mentioned in the book, alternatives to LICM include Contact Manager and JibberJobber.com.

In Chapter 6 (Searching) I recommend Shally Steckerl’s advanced cheatsheets. He wrote these for recruiters, who really need a small, concise guide to help them navigate various systems (LinkedIn, Google, etc.). These are like those one page cheatsheets that had all the formulas for geometry… remember those?

The are advanced, so if you don’t know how to use a mouse then this will be over your head, but if you are comfortable with a computer and want to know all of the tricks that the professionals (recruiters) need to know, then you need to invest $20 in each of these sheets. Again, I recommend this for you if you are in business development mode, or some other mode where networking and gathering information is a critical part of your business. I bet you’ll make up the entire investment in the first day you use the cheatsheets, because of the amount of time it is going to save you.

Advanced Linkedin Cheatsheet*

Advanced Linkedin Networking*

Advanced Google Cheatsheet*

Advanced Windows Live Cheatsheet*

* each of the links above are affiliate links, which means if you buy from those pages, I’ll get a commission. Alternatively, you can go straight to Shally’s Job Machine page and purchase from there (even buy at a discount if you bundle), and I won’t get a commission. Either way, these are great resources!

Yesterday I got a beautiful e-mail from my publisher:

Your book is now on Amazon.
- http://www.amazon.com/Im-LinkedIn-Now-What/dp/1600050697/

How cool is that? I guess that now, with an Amazon listing, I’m a real author

Also, I went through and picked out all of the links, whether they were inline, in a footnote, or in a quote at the end of the chapter, and put them on this website. In the upper right you’ll see a link called LINKS … from there each link is just one click away!