As the world’s most used networking platform, LinkedIn has the potential to be an incredibly powerful tool. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, increase your marketing reach or simply to find a new job, LinkedIn can be extremely efficient and useful. However, many people don’t know how to use the website to its full potential and end up wasting the huge opportunity it presents. These five tips will help you improve your presence on LinkedIn so that you can utilize it more effectively.
1. Profile
A user profile on LinkedIn is like a more dynamic version of a CV. Strangely, many users of the site fail at the first hurdle by simply neglecting to dutifully fill out their profile page. An incomplete profile will be ranked poorly by the site’s search algorithms, so your details will be viewed less often by other interested parties.
Think of your profile as an extension of your personal brand. Choose a clear, professional picture and supplement it with an appropriate banner image. Summarise your occupational history clearly and succinctly, making the most pertinent information easily readable. If your profile shines, you will find it easier to make connections with relevant individuals and companies.
2. Connect
LinkedIn is a networking platform, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Use the connect feature to link up with anyone in your industry and pay attention to what they share on their respective profiles. By amassing a large number of connections, you gain the potential to interact and collaborate on future projects.
Not everyone will accept unsolicited connection requests, so it’s often beneficial to add a note to the invite briefly explaining who you are and what you do. Most people are happy to make relevant connections and you can soon build a vibrant and engaging network of like-minded professionals.
3. Converse
Don’t rest on your laurels after you’ve officially connected with other professionals. Start a conversation and engage with as many people as possible. You can directly message people, but don’t pressure them into replying or bother them if they ignore you. There are plenty of other opportunities to converse, so don’t worry if one doesn’t work out.
The best conversations start when you have something meaningful and relevant to say. Read the person’s profile and recent posts before messaging them with something they might find genuinely useful or interesting. By initiating conversations, you can start to build relationships that may bear fruit in the near future.
4. Endorse
One of LinkedIn’s stand-out features is the ability to endorse other people’s skills. This means you can vouch for a user when they claim to possess a desirable ability. Peruse the profiles of people you know and endorse any skill that you’re sure they possess. Most users will return the favour and your profile will be much stronger as a result.
In addition to endorsements, you can also leave personalised recommendations for specific users. This is a feature where you essentially write a review of a person you’ve worked with for other users to see. A profile with several personal recommendations will stand out from the crowd and be much more desirable to any interested parties.
5. Share
Like most social media platforms, LinkedIn is a great way to share content. You can either share things created by other people or produce your own. If you’re in a creative industry, this is a viable method of getting your portfolio seen by the right people. If not, it’s still a fantastic way to spark conversation and instigate healthy debate.
One of the biggest benefits of sharing content specifically on LinkedIn is that it will be seen by a very specific set of people. If your network is comprised of individuals and companies from your own industry, you know exactly the market to whom you’re pitching.
LinkedIn is a powerful resource that often goes under-utilised by the very people that stand to benefit the most from its use. In the right hands, a LinkedIn account can be a tool for finding a new job, expanding your professional network or even making content go viral. The professional applications for the site are immense and users around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the massive opportunity that LinkedIn represents.