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Suburban chambers to learn more about social networking

J.D. Gershbein of Vernon Hills is a self-proclaimed expert on LinkedIn.

He'll tell you how to be use the social media site for business networking. He'll guide you on the best way to write and present your biography, and research other people. He'll also answer any question you have on how to capitalize on it.

And for more than a year, he's even been holding town hall meetings to talk to groups about it.

"It has a lot of momentum now as a business platform," said Gershbein, who also runs Owlish Communications. He said he's not paid by LinkedIn but only specializes in LinkedIn as a consultant to businesses and provides services on writing profiles and other content.

Gershbein, who has his own site on LinkedIn with more than 500 connections and 152 recommendations, will hold a LinkedIn Town Hall on Thursday, July 15, at 8 a.m. at the Medinah Shiners Center, 550 Shriners Drive, Addison. It will be hosted by 13 suburban chambers of commerce: Addison, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Greater O'Hare Association, Lisle, Lombard, Roselle, West Chicago and Woodridge.

The business executives aim to learn more about social networking and how to use it to help boost their bottom line or improve their image, Gershbein sees these town halls as a chance to educate leaders on social media and how it plays into their business.

"LinkedIn virtually specializes and is devoted to the pursuit of commerce. You won't find any fluff on LinkedIn, like you would find elsewhere," he said.

He'll focus on research on LinkedIn, how to find clients and how to do business. But the town hall style will open up the forum to just about anything else, he said.

"Everyone is switched on and curious on how it will work for them" he said.

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