How to get the most out of LinkedIn
With 3.2 million UK users and a market value of over $2 billion, LinkedIn is no longer just a fishing pool for recruitment agencies and head-hunters. It is now a viable business networking and resource tools which works most effectively with the more connections you have. So, start connecting and make the most out of all the new functionalities which are available (new apps, group features, plug-ins).
Growing your network
Think about who you may have worked for in the past and who you have everyday contact with. The Outlook toolbar add on is a useful way of inviting email contacts quickly and efficiently without having to login in to LinkedIn. It also offers you a quick profile summary (to see if you have any other connections in common) and a dashboard, allowing you to stay up to date with your network. Optimizing your URL also allows you to be more visible to others as profiles tend to rank highly in Google. This is done by editing the URL LinkedIn has given you by default and replacing it with your name. [Edit Profile > Public Profile Edit > Your Public Profile URL Edit]. Do remember however, contacts are clearly visible to others and some companies do have social media policies which include conditions around accepting particular invites (typically recruiters – no surprise there). Also, it is bad practice to invite people you have not met in person. By doing this repeatedly (more than three times), you run the risk of your profile being shut down.
LinkedIn Groups
The new look Group pages have made the channel a useful resource in souring expert advice, sense checking ideas and finding relevant industry news/updates. The visibility of new posts and ease of ‘liking’ a comment or leaving your own response means that joining in the conversation is as simple as it can be, leading to more people getting involved in group discussions and passing on their expertise.
My advice would be start joining as many relevant groups as possible and join the conversation. This means demonstrating your own expertise by answering questions and passing on insights. Adding this value to a group not only means you look smarter – LinkedIn will now highlight top contributors in their ‘Top Influencers This Week’ widget - but introduces you to like-minded people (that may be out of your network) who could return the favour in future.
In summary some top tips...
Must Do’s
- Populate your profile and keep this fresh and up to date
- Maximise you connections
- Optimise your URL
- Download the Outlook toolbar (if using Outlook)
- Join groups and get involved – start discussion topics, answer questions and add value
Good to Do
- Research into the applications available which can be added to your profile as there may be plug-ins which could be of use (eg: the Slideshare or WordPress app)
- If you have a Twitter feed which is business facing, sync with LinkedIn (and/or vice versa) for maximum exposure of your business expertise
To keep up to date with developments on LinkedIn – check out their corporate blog
