A quote that I like to use about different social media types goes like this; Twitter is
like a bar sit down and talk to everyone, Facebook is like your living room
more intimate but still very social, and LinkedIn is like your Chamber of
Commerce where everyone is shaking hands and doing business. LinkedIn is one of
the most valuable tools in social media today. It is an online representation
of you as a professional. While Facebook and Twitter may garner more attention,
it is LinkedIn that is built to last. Can you say the same about your profile?
Here at AIMS, we want to help you project your services to the right audience.
Follow our tips for making LinkedIn work for you.
LinkedIn: Tips for expanding your network
Focus In
Know what you are trying to accomplish with your LinkedIn
profile. Are you seeking to grow your professional network? Looking to explore
possible career opportunities? Or maybe you’re looking to join groups and
interact with other likeminded professionals. Whatever the reason, for one or
all, concentrate your efforts to see an increase in successful returns.
Clean Up Your Profile
Your profile is the first impression other LinkedIn users
will have of you. Your background and experience information should exude confidence.
It should be brief, engaging and accurate. The best profiles will make others
want to interact with you; they will view it as an opportunity. Typos and
grammatical errors however, are the number one turn off to potential
connections. Do yourself a favor and periodically give your profile a once over
to see what information needs to be edited or updated.
Join Groups That Matter to You
Groups are a great way to keep in touch with peers, learn
about an area of interest or to keep up on the happenings of a specific
industry. What they should not be however is a promotional tool. Not only is
offensive to the group, but likely a waste of time. Pick groups that mean
something to you and interact with them appropriately.
Network
Having 500+ connections does not make you a networker; face
to face communication does. That doesn’t mean LinkedIn can’t serve to enhance
those experiences. Check in to see just how many meaningful interactions you
have initiated with your connections. Each week, you should identify several
connections and send them a brief, personal message asking to connect by phone.
Look for ways to help them as they move forward on their journey. You get what
you put in.
Personalize Your Invitation to Connect
When requesting a connection, LinkedIn’s auto-phrase may be
useful to a busy professional such as you, but it also shows a disregard for
meaningful interaction. Research the individual you would like to connect with
and give them a brief overview of why your connection is worth the time.
Be A Giver
No, that doesn’t mean spam each of your groups or feeds with
information that may not be relevant to the topic at hand. Instead, try to
choose articles and information that are of real interest to your followers.
Give only materials of value to your online community.
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