When you share content on LinkedIn you can name-check people to alert them that you think the thing you are sharing will be interesting to them.   Importantly you do not need to be connected with them on LinkedIn to do this.  But of course, it is important to be careful when you do this.

If you or a colleague of yours has written a piece of content that mentions a client or a prospect - or just about anyone you'd like to influence - it can be a very good idea to name-check them when you share that content on LinkedIn.

This is very straightforward.  When you comment Just add @ and then their name.  A drop-down will appear and you simply choose their name.  You can also name check their firm too. For example, below I am name checking my colleague David, law firm Hogan Lovell and Marketing Comms Manager Jennifer Brooks (who is mentioned in David's post).

What is great about this is that those you name check get alerted by LinkedIn that they have been mentioned.  Not just on their desktop by also on their phone if they have the LinkedIn App.  The example below is the alert I received when my colleague Freddy shared one of my posts and mentioning me:

Definitely, give this a go.  It can be a great way to drive a relationship forward.  Be deliberate in your post and then targeted in your sharing.

This bit is Important though:

• The content you share better be interesting, relevant and timely for the person you name-checked.  Otherwise, you just spammed one of your clients/prospects
• Use this approach sparingly.  Otherwise its just spam
• Be sure to be positive about a target or client in your post you are mentioning them in - otherwise its just rude spam!