In our final post of our Social Media Series, Profiler PR is bringing to you the ins and outs of LinkedIn. We have been using this unique social platform and educating our clients on how to utilise it most effectively for some time. In the following article, you will learn how it can benefit you and your business. Read on to find out more.
LinkedIn has quickly become one of the most popular online social platforms for professionals. It is a unique blend of professional branding, networking with peers within the industry, and a summary of your credentials, skills and employment history that effectively acts as an online resume. It is the perfect place for businesspeople to enhance their profile, personal brand and expand their network.
LinkedIn is a relatively straightforward platform. However, there are a few key areas we believe professionals should channel their attention to ensure they are getting the most of out the medium.
Connect with Your Competitors
There’s nothing like a little healthy rivalry. But when it comes to LinkedIn, we recommend keeping it tame. Connecting with your rivals is not about showing off or proving why your business is the more superior. Rather, it is to keep up to date with movements and news within the industry - from all facets. A well-connected professional is one who is well-educated about their field of expertise. This includes what their competitors are doing, how they adapt to change and what forward plans are on the horizon. It could be as simple as an internal promotion of a staff member or the appointment of a new board member. Keeping up to date with all parties is important, and LinkedIn is the perfect place to do so.
Update Your Details - Constantly
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon outdated information that is no longer relevant as of five years ago, especially when you are recruiting, looking to appoint a new board member or find out about a company. Making sure your information and details are up to date is vital in the business world. If people cannot contact you or find the correct information about you as an individual or your business, they may sideline you and look elsewhere. Your employment history, skills and even your profile photograph need to be refreshed constantly. If you are using a profile photo from 10 years ago when you had a perm and big, bold glasses, which looks nothing like you now, it could be quite confusing for a contact who only met you yesterday - or someone who is searching for you in a busy cafe for a network meeting. This will also assist with online networking opportunities, allowing others in your field of work to connect with you appropriately and seek you out if they are in need of advice.
Don’t be Afraid to Share
LinkedIn is Facebook for professionals. If you have some exciting news about your work life or business, don’t be afraid to share it with your network. You can upload a status - or ‘update’ - to your newsfeed in the same way you can on Facebook. Your contacts then have the opportunity to react to your news - either by liking the post, commenting or sharing. This will also increase your profile’s exposure as a simple like, comment or share will notify the extended network of the person who interacts with your status. It is also a good platform to position yourself as a credible source of information or expert in your field. You can upload information about a news trend, product or service, political message or social issue. So long as you are not defaming anyone, it can also be used as a great opinion tool. Give it a try.
If you would like further advice or some assistance with your social media, don't hesitate to contact us at hello@profilerpr.com.au