On the morning after Door County’s windstorm, author Wayne Breitbarth was in Sturgeon Bay at Glas to present a dynamite lecture with step-by-step instructions on how to maximize LinkedIn for business… too bad only 4 people were able to get there to benefit!

The "LinkedIn Guru" Wayne Breitbarth

But, I was one of them and I came equipped to deal with the dilemma. With Wayne’s permission, I recorded the entire event on HD video and will share the highlights at our next Social Media Breakfast Door County event on Wednesday, October 19 in Ellison Bay at Brew Coffeehouse. Proprietor, Jennifer Lee is baking a coffee cake, which will be available at 9 am for a 1/2 hour of socializing. The presentation will begin at 9:30 am and will include large-screen projected videos and a discussion of Wayne’s 6 Power Tips for LinkedIn. The presentation was exceptional at Glas, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

A business leader himself, Wayne Breitbarth is an owner of M&M Office Interiors in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to his involvement in the office furniture business, he spent nearly twenty years in the automotive industry. Wayne is also the founder of Urban Promise, a youth mentoring program that brings together business professionals and high school students in Milwaukee Public Schools.

As a LinkedIn expert, he has inspired audiences at many of Milwaukee’s most prominent companies and organizations as well as nationally, at conventions, industry association events and corporate training sessions. Wayne’s diverse business experience, pragmatic teaching style, and infectious sense of humor have earned him the praise of the press, branding him as the “LinkedIn Guru.”

Wayne is continually asked to speak at Executive Agenda (EA), YPO and TEC meetings as well as CEO Roundtables, where his thirty years of experience as a business owner and manager enables him to help his peers understand how social media can benefit their companies.

“LinkedIn does many things really well, but based on my personal experiences, feedback from my audiences and my semiannual LinkedIn user surveys, the three things LinkedIn users find most beneficial are researching, networking and marketing,” says Breitbarth. “The moment we get our profile up, most of us old-school business folk want LinkedIn to produce lots of sales. Well, that’s probably not going to happen. On the other hand, those people who are spending time improving their researching, networking, and marketing techniques are certainly seeing an increase in their sales.”

Wayne has compiled his tactics in a new book, “The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Kick-Start Your Business, Brand, and Job Search” (March 2011, Greenleaf Book Group). His book is a simple, user-friendly guide aimed at the experienced business professional who is either skeptical about LinkedIn or looking for ways to more effectively use this cutting-edge tool.

“Have a well-defined, documented strategy so you can measure your results or forget it. Your time would be better spent enjoying your favorite hobby or leisure activity,” says Breitbarth. “It doesn’t bother me when someone comes to my class and says, ‘Great, I get it now, but I don’t see how it will work for me; so I am going to pass.’ Bravo to that person. At least he is on to the next new idea or thought about how he is going to grow his network and business.”

Check out his book for yourself by downloading a free chapter at: www.powerformula.net.

“The combination of Wayne Breitbarth’s passion for the power of social networking and his real-world business experience, deep knowledge, mastery of LinkedIn and his skill as a trainer make the ‘The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success’ a real standout.” – Frank Martinelli, President of the Center for Public Skills Training.

You can email SMBDC founder, stephen.kastner@smbdc.com or call 920.256.9449 with questions on SMBDC’s monthly meetups taking place at various, random locations all around Door County. More information is available online at SMBDC.com and at www.facebook.com/SMBDC.

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