In addition to being the most powerful networking tool on the web, there are many ways to use LinkedIn to drive traffic to your website, blog or HubPages.

Before you can use LinkedIn it to drive traffic, you must set up a high quality, detailed personal or business profile. Then, continue to build a network of connections. If you are new to LinkedIn, please refer to these articles for help: Linked In "New User Guide", the LinkedIn "Guide To Profile Building" and "The Power of LinkedIn - Part 1" from fellow blogger Elaine Roegge.

• The larger your network of connections, the more success you will have driving traffic to your content.
• LinkedIn is a business networking site, so it is best used to drive
  traffic to business oriented content.

Once you have your high quality profile compled and connection building in progress, here are 5 ways to leverage LinkedIn to drive traffic to your online content.

Include up to three links to your website, blog and online articles within your profile in the “Websites section”. This way anyone viewing your profile will get immediate access to your content. For example:

• My Company: www.mycompany.com
• My Blog: www.myblog.com
• My Articles: www.hubpages.com
  

There is a section on your profile called a Status Message labeled with “What are you working on”. This allows you to post a brief text comment which can be updated at any time. (This is similar to status message options on Twitter and FaceBook.)

When you post a new comment, your connections are notified online and via email (depends on their preferences) of an update to your profile. Also, any visitor who stops to view your profile will see it. For example your status might read “Susan Smith added new blog post on Lead Gen For Dummies. Read it at www.susansblog.com”.

If you change your status too often, it might annoy your connections. I recommend 2-3 changes max per week.

Blog Link automatically pulls in and displays the latest blogs and Twitter updates from you and from others in your network and posts them on your profile.

Blog Link is powered by TypePad technology and supports all blogging platforms including Wordpress, Blogger, Vox and many more.

Per the official Help section, “LinkedIn Groups is your destination to find and join communities of professionals based on common interest, experience, affiliation, and goals.” For example, if you are a sales professional and you like to blog and write articles about sales topics there are hundreds of group options. You can also start your own groups.

Note: Since you are trying to drive traffic, you want to participate in groups with the most members. Many have thousands and thousands of members.

In most cases you have to apply and get approved to join a group. Once you are a group member, you can participate in conversations and post news. When you participate in conversations you can include links relevant to the conversation. Even better is the News section which is like a mini version of Digg or StumbleUpon. You can enter a recommended hyperlink and add your own description.

When you participate in groups relevance and adding value are key. If you post random information and are just trying to advertise your stuff, you will likely be removed from a group.

If your website, blog or online articles focus on business, answering Linked In questions can drive some traffic. Go to the “Answers” section and search for open questions that apply to your topics.

When you post your answer, include a description and link to your content in both the “website” section and the text section.

If you found this article helpful, also check out “The Top Ten Tips For Getting the Most From LinkedIn” from fellow Hubber David Nour which focuses on how to use the site for promoting you, your business and your brand.

And, check out the LinkedIn blog...