Integrate LinkedIn with Your Business Phone System

LinkedIn for Business Series, Part 3.

We hope you’ve learned a few actionable tips so far in our LinkedIn for Business Series. In case you missed them, these two posts offer some fresh ideas to bring to your team: Work Smarter with LinkedIn: Redefining the Concept of Connections and 5 Tips from the Experts to Bolster Your Company’s LinkedIn Presence.

In this third installment, we invite you to leverage LinkedIn in a different way – using the free LinkedIn Plugin on your Vonage business phone system. We think you’ll really like it, and if you’ve never used one of our desktop plugins, this is a good one to try. Besides, it’s free.

So What’s the LinkedIn Plugin and What Does it Do?

The LinkedIn Plugin works in conjunction with the Vonage Business Desktop and displays the caller’s LinkedIn profile on your computer screen the moment you make or receive a call. If you’re connected with the caller on LinkedIn, his or her profile will launch immediately. If you’re not connected, you can search for the caller’s LinkedIn profile right on the Desktop while you’re on the call. It’s a quick and efficient way to have the caller’s profile on your screen while you’ve got them on the line.

What an advantage it is to immediately know the professional details of the person you’re speaking with: company and title, connections you have in common, job history, education, achievements, professional portfolios, social media involvement – anything you can glean to keep the conversation rich and to further the relationship. If you’re not currently connected, send the caller a LinkedIn invitation while you’re on the phone.

Installing the Free LinkedIn Plugin

It’s pretty easy. The LinkedIn Plugin launches from the Vonage Business Desktop, the free application that extends the power and control of your phone system to your computer’s desktop. So step 1 is downloading the Desktop – which is a very good idea anyway. The Desktop gives you easy access to great phone features you may not be using yet, and it gives you better visibility and intelligence with every incoming and outgoing call. Download the Desktop with a single click.

Next step: Go to “Plugins” on the Desktop, locate the LinkedIn Plugin and click “Install.” Then you’ve got it – the plugin is now installed on the Desktop. Many users set the LinkedIn Plugin as their default plugin, so LinkedIn profiles “pop” onto their computer screen with every call. Once you start using the plugin, you’ll become more fluent with it and find ways to use it to your advantage. And if you like it, consider downloading more free plugins or accessing one of our low-cost premium plugins such as the Salesforce.com or QuickBooks plugins.

Now You’re On Your Way (And Now You’ve Got the Desktop!)

In the process of downloading and trying the LinkedIn Plugin, you may be discovering the Vonage Business Desktop for the first time. And once you do, it truly expands the possibilities and capabilities offered by the Vonage business phone system.  It ties your business VoIP phone system directly to your computer desktop – which was never possible with legacy copper-wire business phone systems.

The Vonage Business Desktop is not only where plugins are configured; it’s also where you can manage all the tools within your extension – profile settings, voicemail settings, call screening settings and much more. The directory of all company extensions is also available on the Desktop, where real-time activity of all extensions is viewable. Once customers discover the Desktop, they often login at the beginning of each workday – allowing them to better view details associated with each call. Many users also choose to make all their calls from the Desktop.

Closing Thoughts on LinkedIn

We applaud you for increasing your knowledge of LinkedIn and for putting it to work for both your company and your personal brand. The tool is constantly being improved, and there is always something new to learn.  It’s become a preferred best-practice business tool for more and more companies, just as our LinkedIn Plugin is helping businesses connect more efficiently – in real time – with every phone call.  Here’s to building better relationships with LinkedIn and supporting your brand!

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