How do I use Linked in to get customers?

even better create your own group and be authority in that group.

Linkedin is a social networking site mainly for business owners and senior management positions so just spamming them doesn't work.
What does work is to build your profile to 90% + and then build your network. Do not keyword stuff as linkedin are getting hot on this and are penalizing people doing this. You can't message masses of people on linkedin that you don't know. You can email a handful of people by upgrading to the top account.
Linkedin groups work well but again do not go spamming a group. You'll get into trouble doing this and the results won't be great. My suggestion is to offer a group something of value that is related to them. I've added as many as 350 people to my sales funnel in a month doing this.

Hi tcanavino

If you think of Linkedin as a place to get people onto your email list by giving them something free that's of value to them, rather than somewhere to sell (that goes for all social media sites really). Think about the following:

1) Complete your profile fully. Concentrate on a really enticing headline that helps you get found in a search - make it stand out. When someone does find you and looks at your profile, your summary should make them want to connect - let them know what you do, who you do it for and how you help. Remember to use keywords for seo.

2) Build a network of people who can help you - current customers, suppliers, referral partners, jv partners etc.

3) Build relationships with that network - message them via Linkedin with useful info (not sales messages) - offer them a free ebook or report.

4) Join relevant groups - not just groups around your own industry but groups where your customers might hang out. Take a look at your first connections and see what groups they have joined. Get involved in the discussions but again don't post sales links - they mostly get ignored. Once you get an idea of what the group is like start posting your own discussions around your niche - build relationships and connect with more people this way.

5) Set up a company page - you can add up to 25 different products & services with detailed descriptions and videos. You can then ask your LI connections who have used your product/service to give a recommendation on your company page for it. You can also put a clickable banner on your company page that takes people to a landing page with an optin form.

6) Check the 'who's viewed your profile' section regularly - if you see someone who looks interesting but they haven't connected with you send them a message saying thanks for looking can you help in any way.

7) Update your status on your profile daily letting people know what you are up to, links to blog posts and occasionally add a promotional message.

Once people know who you are they're more likely to take notice of any promotional messages you put out. I sent a link to a free ebook to my linkedin network and got 71 opt-ins in one day.

Linkedin is a fantastic platform for serious networkers - it just takes a little time to build.