EN - How to use LinkedIn?
Like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and a dozen others, LinkedIn is a social network, but unlike most of them, this is a professional networking site designed to help people establish business connections, share experiences, resumes, and find work.
It is based on principles such as connecting to friends (or, in the case of LinkedIn, "connections"), publishing updates, sharing, and liking other users' content, and instant messaging.
Here your profile becomes a complete resume of your work experience, achievements, recommendations, and opinions from colleagues.
How to use it at its best? Here is my list of advice:
generally
Start with a professional photo - but not too professional - that represents you, if you're not sure what "appropriately professional" means, take a look at what people in your target company, industry, or business level are using. You don't have to do what they do; you should do what you feel is right.
Fill out every single section of your profile. LinkedIn will actually measure the "completeness" of your profile as you work and offer suggestions on how to make it stronger. Don't forget to add your email address (or blog, Twitter, or anything else you want) in the information section (as well as on your resume).
Identify the words you want people to find in the title, summary, and profile. Using the right keywords will expose you to more potential connections and opportunities when users will do their research on the site.
Your summary should be written as if you were speaking with someone. You have to inject your personality. Let people know your values and passions. In your summary, also talk about what you do outside of work. Make people want to meet you.
On LinkedIn, as on your CV, your most recent work experience should stand out, highlighting your achievements and successes, and any promotions, all other experiences can be a mere brief job description. Don't just say you've achieved your X, Y, and Z goals: provide details. For example, instead of "revenue increase," try writing: "Project X has enabled revenue growth of Y%" or "I've helped more than 40,000 business people, from basic level to CEO, figure out how to effectively use LinkedIn."
Studies, certifications, promo material that you can upload as attachments (photos of events you planned, catering events, renewals, products you've "invented"). An image is really worth more than 1,000 words, especially when it comes to showing your work. Visual content is becoming increasingly important, helping to make your LinkedIn profile surface by adding documents, photos, videos, and presentations. Also, photos of volunteer experiences (not necessarily with barefoot children from some remote village, anything that has helped the community in a voluntary form).
Recommendations and suggestions from colleagues and associates on LinkedIn, it's something I must do myself and it's on my to-do list, and in what you would generally call "feedback" (like when you download an app on your phone and then it asks you to leave a feedback). If someone says or said, "You did a great job," ask them to take a snapshot of that success by writing a recommendation on LinkedIn. Be specific about what you would like to be mentioned. Generic tips like "X was very professional" is not very useful, not even specific, suggest something like "X helped increase your projected savings by 5% compared to our original plan" will really shows your strengths. I may ask you too, dear reader, very soon.
If you are afraid of repetitions, there is always a way not to be repetitive without giving the perception of repetition (LOL). Have you done different tasks within the company but at different stages? Write everything under the same section but highlight when there was a change. Show the evolution. Use synonyms.
When you created your LinkedIn profile, it had a bad combination of letters, numbers, and backslashes that had no value for your personal brand. You don't have to leave it as it is. It's time to customize the URL of your public profile. LinkedIn makes it easier to compare with other social profiles. Get a custom URL on Linkedin, on the Edit Profile screen at the bottom of the gray window that shows basic information, you'll see a public profile URL. Click "Edit" next to the URL and specify which one you want your address to be. When you are done, click Set Custom URL.
All users can write and publish their work on the Linkedin platform. Share your perspective on what's happening in your field, think about the recent development in the industry, or show off your writing skills. It's a great way to get noticed. Join groups relevant to your profession or industry, so you'll prove you're engaged in your field. But even more, you will be instantly connected to the relevant people and discussions in your field, a bit like an ongoing online networking event.
You should have more than 50 minimum connections on LinkedIn, otherwise, it's like telling recruiters or potential customers one of these three things: 1) You're a recluse who knows very few people, 2) You're paranoid about connections with others, or 3) Technology and social media scare you.
When someone accepts your connection request, do not start presenting your service or product. This is a relationship killer. Start slowly. Comment, share, or like their posts. LinkedIn even makes it easy to stay in touch, communicating when contacts celebrate work anniversaries, or start new jobs. Again, these are opportunities to like or comment. Build the relationship and trust before you start asking for favors!
Let me know your opinion, drop a comment, or contact me here, or on Twitter, or on Insta, or a simple email, in short, where you prefer, but feel free to share your thoughts or ask some questions!
- ML
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