Does this season of change find you looking for a new job?
Even if you’re not, is your LinkedIn profile helping or hurting your professional reputation?
If you’re like many people, you’ve posted the minimum necessary information on LinkedIn and stopped looking at it, especially if you’re not actively looking for a job. Or you may glance at your news feed a few times a week to keep in touch with colleagues, but you don’t see the point in doing much more.
Here are a few of the reasons to be more active on LinkedIn:
1) To find and pursue new career opportunities – the traditional purpose. Not only does LinkedIn have great tools for job hunting, you can also find and pursue new client opportunities. I once landed a six-figure contract because a second-degree contact saw a post of mine and called me in a moment of need.
2) To build your personal brand and your company’s. When someone is curious about you, chances are they will look at your LinkedIn profile. If they find a weak, un-impressive profile, it’s a missed opportunity! Think of it as your free personal PR and marketing platform!
3) To boost your ranking on search engines. Because LinkedIn is used by millions of people worldwide on a daily basis, Google boosts LinkedIn activity in search results.
4) It’s more convenient and useful than a rolodex. How much do you use that pile of business cards on your desk that you’ve collected over the years? I make a point of connecting with people on LinkedIn as soon as I meet them. That makes it’s more convenient to keep in touch and more likely you’ll “see” each other more frequently – and in a professional context. It’s a very convenient platform for targeted personal PR.
5) To keep track of industry news, including broad trends and specific updates from colleagues, clients and even competitors.
6) To network. Especially if you're an introvert and hate networking events, you can still build meaningful relationships with your connections online.
Want to learn more? Just reach out via the Contact tab above. My team and I offer a two-hour, custom-tailored training session covering tips to improve your profile, ways to expand your network, and best practices for engaging with others on LinkedIn.
One organization that arranged this training for its employees experienced a 1,500% increase in LinkedIn page views and a 1,000% increase in LinkedIn click-throughs to their website in just three months.
Get started today!