If your focus is on creating a personal brand, beginning or continuing a job search, building or starting your business, and/or strengthening your overall online presence, do you have a LinkedIn profile?
If the answer is yes, then ask: Is it representing my “unique talents and message?”
If you answered, “What’s LinkedIn?” when you are ready, click here to learn more.
LinkedIn Tips
1) Fill out your profile completely.
- Photo: Failing to add a photo will significantly reduce the effectiveness of your profile. People like to do business with other people, and a photo will help you connect with others. Choose a professional photo with you smiling.
- Name: Using the edit button, add your email address right behind your last name to make contacting you easier.
- Job title: Make sure your job title includes a keyword or two that make it searchable.
- Industry: Choose your industry wisely. Carefully look at all the options to be sure it’s where you should be. Some options are pretty specific and describe your career much more clearly than others. If you are transitioning to a new career field, you can choose to select that industry, rather than the one you are currently in.
- Job history: Don’t import your resume. Think of your LinkedIn profile as a marketing brochure. It just needs to attract interest and attention. Keep it brief, but include important keywords. Tip: Use bullet points on your job description — they’re easier to read.
2) Use the same avatar (social media identity) and name, branded across the all platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
3) Put a LinkedIn icon on your blog and website (if applicable) and link to this URL.
4) Use the WordPress application to import your blog (if applicable).
5) Use the Twitter application to synch your tweets.
- There are two ways to do this: One is all of your tweets (with the exception of those that start with a @reply) will update your LinkedIn status. The other is to say only “some” tweets synch. To indicate which ones you’d like to synch to your LI status, use the #in at the end of a tweet.
- You could also manage the “selective” status update using example Hootsuite, Socialoomph, Ping.fm, TweetDeck, or similar ones to manage your social media platforms ("5 Superior Social Media Management Tools")
6) To grow connections and build your reputation:
- Get engaged in the groups where your clients and potential clients (hiring managers and companies) participate as well as peer and professional association/ groups to network and keep your finger on the pulse.
- Actively participate in the group’s discussions both asking and answering questions.
- Use the LinkedIn Answers section to be helpful and answer questions.
- You can also post questions here to get discussions going.
7.) Update your status regularly: Check and update your status frequently to keep it up to date.
Congratulations on your foray into professional social media and taking it to the next level.
Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, BS
Director, RDH eVillage
