On LinkedIn: important organization or campaign information can be viewed; professional content and updates from colleagues or business friends can be shared; or employers and other business professional can search for you and your personal brand/background, as well. This is why taking complete control of your LinkedIn by understanding and utilizing all of its components can lead to online and social success. To help you on this venture, I have researched and used my own experience to create a list of the top 8 things I think you can do to harness the full power of your personal LinkedIn account.
1. Fill out your LinkedIn account completely.
- This includes updating a photo, adding projects, old jobs, blog pages, links to Twitter or professional profile or portfolio pages, blogs, even courses you took in college. Updating this information allows people to get a better feel for who you are, what you can accomplish, what is important to you, and how you influence the people around you. LinkedIn is a place to share and generate ideas about business and the world, and you only get out what you put in.
2. Do not be afraid to humanize your brand.
- Do not only push out professional content. Update a profile picture, have a headline that attracts attention, blog about things that you're passionate about, prove that you are a leader in the business world and that you are a thought provoker. Show you care.
3. Engage with other professionals, especially people in your field.
- LinkedIn, like Facebook and other types of microblogging sites, give the opportunity for millions of social connections to take place. Use to your advantage the fact that you have hundreds of other like-minded professionals in your field available to you at the touch of a button. Engage with other professionals in your field, join webinars, chats and other conversations. Engagements help get your name out and your thoughts heard.
4. Post updates regularly.
- Keeping yourself relevant on LinkedIn is important. Like other social media networks, LinkedIn is fast paced and constantly updating. Be a part of this. Post content at least once a day, whether it a blog, work updates, a photo, a funny meme relevant to your business, anything.
5. Keep your network growing, and maintain relationships.
- When you meet a new professional, add them on your LinkedIn network. Join groups. Follow organizations or pages you are passionate about. Keep up relationships by congratulating people on new jobs or awesome projects. Engage with old colleagues and teammates. You never know what opportunities will arise, or who you might need to contact in the future.
6. Receive and give recommendations and endorsements.
- One way to show your personal work ethic and standing in the business world is to give and receive recommendations and endorsements to people that you have worked with. The more you give, the more you get. This adds a sense of personality and humanization to your personal brand. More times than not, what people say and think about you means more to employers than your credentials on paper.
7. Blog on your LinkedIn account.
- Employers are always looking for professionals who not only do good work in the workplace, but also are influencers outside of the workplace. Even if you work in public relations, and your passion is cooking or gardening, or whatever it may be, blog about it! Show people that you are passionate about something, and that you have something to say and interesting thoughts to contribute. This also humanizes your LinkedIn account.
8. Update your page with new information.
- Finally, continuously update your LinkedIn account with new jobs, opportunities, projects, and information. If you take a new headshot, get a new position or write a new post, share it with the professionals you are connected with. This will also open new doors for you, and help keep your page updated and relevant.
Here are a few of the links for LinkedIn optimization that I liked and that helped me create my personal brand. Good luck on your journey and I hope this helps!
No comments:
Post a Comment