LinkedIn has exploded in its potential for business people in various sectors - particularly professional industries.
However, which features have you allowed to bypass your personal and company pages? Let us catch you up on the best of LinkedIn for professional networking...
We know that it's hard to keep track of these continual social media platform updates and developments, however LinkedIn is often seen as the ideal platform for professionals.
For your personal brand:
1. Searchability!
Consider how keywords can impact your searchability, particularly for personal profiles if you want to improve your thought leader status.
Try to ensure your skills and professional qualities are highlighted in summaries, titles and work experience. Focus on your goals and interests sections of your profile with keyword strategies - potential employers, clients and business associates want to know who you are and what you're passionate about.
- TIP: Customise your LinkedIn personal profile to include your name rather than randomly generated letters / numbers, it will increase visibility and search results for your own name - our personal brand.
2. Endorse and recommend - it works both ways!
Naturally, if you endorse somebody then that is benefiting them as you reiterate their strongest professional skills. However, did you realise that recommendations can impact you too? If you review their skills and capabilities they will want to keep that showcased ensuring your visibility to their audience too.
Recommendations are particularly good at showing a profile in a glowing light, so try your best to choose this option of public feedback more - some LinkedIn users dismiss endorsements because of the ease at which they can be done.
3. Show off!
Don't just sit in a cyber world full of other professionals in your field. Regularly update content and your profile summary, plus don't forget to post updates about ongoing projects and tasks that your company is happy to make public.
Add SlideShare posts that you've created which show off your past work, expertise or understanding of your industry and add YouTube videos and links to online portfolios.
4. Build relationships and following
Use the Alumni search and 'who's viewed your profile' tools to connect with like-minded individuals and potential clients or employers. The 'who's viewed your profile' feature allows you to discover new opportunities, with the free LinkedIn subscription offering you the chance to see the last 5 public views of your profile.
For your company brand:
1. Showcase Pages & Analytics
You have specialist skills or departments in your company, use showcase pages (like sub pages that 'showcase' your capabilities) to identify these. You can also use them to target particular buyer personas or to promote services in the hope of increasing sales.
Analytics are perfect for engagement rates of your page, individual posts and reviewing reader demographics and metrics.
2. Join groups
Strengthen your position in the industry or local area and post relevant information or comment insightfully on others' posts. Don't be sales-y or spammy, just focus on being a worthwhile group member.
3. Create posts and share your knowledge
Don't just be seen and not heard! Like the old "Stop, look, listen" traffic campaign - be seen AND heard. Create posts that provide expert opinions and prove your knowledge and capabilities, as well as making it easier for you to create and improve professional relationships, recruitment, content sharing and lead generation.
Thrive says...
LinkedIn has long been a favourite of professionals, but these updates and features that you might have missed before are perfect for updating your strategy or creating one.
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