| LinkedIn and the Manufactured Housing Industry: True Confessions! |
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by L. A. "Tony" Kovach, MHM
I didn't get it. I didn't see 'what the point is,' or 'what is in it for me…' That was then, this is NOW. I'm a Johnny come lately to online social networking. Two friends and colleagues of mine encouraged me to get involved with LinkedIn about 90 days ago. Because I respect them, even though I was already 'very busy,' I did it. Wow, where they ever RIGHT. If you wonder why this free online tool can be of professional benefit to you, let me share the following facts. Let's start with an overview. As of the time of this writing, there are some 55 million on Linkedin.com, not as big as Facebook, but still HUGE and LinkedIn is arguably more professionally oriented. While some firms use Facebook to see if they DON'T want someone – catching job applicants doing things on their Facebook page that reveals questionable judgment - LinkedIn is being used by professionals to screen or find individuals or firms that can fill some need or interest. More than a 'resume on line,' LinkedIn is a tool that can positively 'connect' or bring people together in moments that may not have met any other way. Let's put those LinkedIn numbers in context. The Manufactured Housing Industry has approximately: 50,000 'parks and land-lease communities,' 3,600 retailers, some 80 manufacturers, then numerous suppliers, vendors, lenders, insurance, consulting, real estate brokerage and related businesses. Direct employment by manufactured housing focused firms is roughly 500,000 presently or recently. Having said that, with some 55 million on LinkedIn.com and growing daily, how many Manufactured Housing Pros appear on Linkedin? To answer that question, let's look under various searches on LinkedIn as of 2.6.2010: LinkedIn.com key word search of 'People':
Companies:
Now let's realize that many of the above searches are 'overlapping.' If you do one search, and follow it with another search using slightly different key words, you could have the same person or firm as a result for those similar searches. Being generous, even if every people searches was a unique result (and they aren't), there are currently 8,475 members of our Industry on LinkedIn. Given that 500,000 individuals employed by the MH Industry now or recently, that means that less than 1.7% of our industry is currently represented on LinkedIn. Yet, if someone was LOOKING for some Manufactured Housing Professional like YOU, they are MORE likely to actually look for and find you on LinkedIn than on Facebook! Do people really do a search such as looking for some MH Industry professional? Can people look for you or someone like you – for free! – on Linkedin? Yes, let me prove it to you… From my own LinkedIn.com profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach let's take a look at the last 7 days, quoting: Your profile has been viewed by 9 people in the last 7 days, including:
If you've been in this industry for very long, you may know dozens – perhaps hundreds! – of people. As we've seen above, not all of them will be on LinkedIn, not by a long shot. Since I like to practice what I preach, I've invited many and many have come onto LinkedIn to 'connect' with me from my invitation. Dozens of those who 'connected' with me on LinkedIn ('connect' is their service's term, see Bob Stovall's fine article on this topic for more) that were not previous with them have since gone on to connect with others. Then, groups and connections can lead you to still more people, thus growing your network of professional connections! I've had a number of inquiries recently about my team's marketing services, directly as a result of LinkedIn and from those who have connected with me on LinkedIn. This is a powerful professional tool. It works. So what do you want to promote? Let me share another example. Many of our writers at www.MHMSM.com come to us as a result of a LinkedIn connection. Others may send us referrals to this trade journal, for marketing or services of various types that we perform. While most of our trade journal's web traffic is 'direct' from our emailing, the #1 source after Google and personal referrals is LinkedIn! The cost? Their basic service is free and only costs you Time. The return? If you do this properly, priceless! I've purposely stayed with the basic service to see how robust it can be, in time, I may upgrade for their other benefits. But I can tell you that even their basic service is terrific, the results are worth the time invested. Some quick points about: "LinkedIn, Modular Homes, Manufactured Housing and You:" If you are already on LinkedIn or want to start today because of this article, you can rapidly grow your network and 'stand out' better as a result. Some tips:
You bet! Stay tuned to this trade journal for your exclusive read on that super-star of LinkedIn's secrets. Personally, I'm happy with my 350 connections (quite large at present for our industry!), but I do think about spending some more time to grow my network of connections to perhaps 500 or so in the coming months. By the way, I'm hereby inviting YOU to get LinkedIn with me, and here is how:
Finally, think of the www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com trade journal as a sort of Super LinkedIn for Industry Pros! It is quicker and easier to sign up here than on LinkedIn, and the numbers of people you can connect with here are already far larger than LinkedIn. Industry News, views, networking and professional opportunities galore find pros like you here and via our free emailing. Just as you'd invite people to connect on LinkedIn, invite them to connect on this www.MHMSM.com site too, Do bothL LinkedIN and our free Trade Journal sign up, the rewards are many! Check out Bob Stovall's Blog for more on that topic! The only reasons to be on LinkedIn or www.MHMSM.com as a registered, commenting, writing, posting and learning pro are because you want to grow your business and professional connections, prestige, knowledge or clout. Improve your business and the Industry too. Join both LinkedIn and www.MHMSM.com, and think of both as your professional informational and social networking sites for MH Industry Pros! Enough said! ##
Tony Kovach invites new industry connections on LinkedIn, see his profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach and send him an invitation to connect at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it PS: Footnote 1. I'm thankful for the many who have connected with me on LinkedIn and to those who introduced me to and coached me on this marvelous tool. In short order, my LinkedIn 'connections' have become something like the start of an MH Industry Who's Who: you'll see the following:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach see for yourself, and then please send me YOUR invite to Connect at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it its my pleasure to Connect with you on LinkedIN and for us to team up for a brighter future. |
Let me confess.
L. A. "Tony" Kovach, MHM, began in the manufactured housing industry in 1981. Kovach and his team have been involved in a number of successful start-ups, expansions and location turn-arounds at retail centers and community based sales operations. Tony operated his own retail center in Oklahoma, growing in 3 years to the top 1% of retail sales in the U.S….not during the oil boom, but during the oil bust in the late 1980s! Kovach sold his retail center to write and to offer outsourced marketing, sales and management services. Kovach currently does record setting marketing for Chicago based MHC operator Capital First Realty; Kovach and his team can do great ROI marketing for your firm too. Tony's specialty is creating location specific turn-around and successful marketing and sales systems that work even in 'down market' cycles. Kovach penned the November 2007 Merchandiser article, 
