LinkedIn has seen a 26% increase in usage and a whopping 15 million increase in members since January. (Social Media Today)
You might be thinking – ‘how am I going to compete with 15 million more people for newsfeed space?,’ or maybe you’re a new member, created a profile but you’re not really sure what to do next?
Either way you will benefit from this webinar.
In this webinar, we talk through the hows, whys and whens associated with LinkedIn.
- How do I make my profile stand out?
- When should I post?
- Should I really share that?
- Do I click yes to that connection request?
- Why should I use hashtags?
- Are there any tools I can use to improve my LinkedIn presence?
How do I make my profile stand out?
We’re not talking about anything crazy here, (unless you’re into wearing big hats and brightly coloured makeup – that might at least help your profile picture stand out). Seriously though, there are a few simple things you can do which will improve your profile appearance.
Firstly, you can follow all the profile basics we discussed in our previous webinar 7 Steps to Becoming a LinkedIn All Star.
Secondly you can check yourself…
All too often LinkedIn members forget the reason they are actually on the platform, and that’s key when it comes to standing out. Have a think about your profile now – is it speaking to your target audience? Is the language you use relevant or the content you share worthwhile to them? If you are not speaking to your targeted persona then what are you doing? If you don’t know who your audience is, then you really need to start there.
TIP 1: Create a persona
Give it a name, and get inside his/her head then read through your profile, it may just surprise you what you tweak and change. A great tool for this is Hootsuites free persona template, you can use the template to really understand your target audience’s challenges, thoughts and goals. FYI, that was your first tool.
DID YOU KNOW?
Listing industry information—such as Internet, Financial Services or Education Management —leads to up to 9x more profile views and can help you get discovered up to 38x more in recruiter searches, according to LinkedIn data. Plus, adding something as simple as your location in your profile can help you get up to 19x more profile views. – LinkedIn Learning 2020
Tip 2: Freshen up
Making simple changes to your profile and keeping it fresh can make a big difference to who sees you. It is not enough to just set it up and post, you need to keep referring back. Maybe you can freshen up your photo, or change your summary to reflect a recent accomplishment. Maybe you can even add a new qualification… Just make sure you are allocating some time to keep it current. Speaking of your summary, FOCUS on this! This really is your chance to make an impression, use it wisely. Tell your story but be you! It’s all about being authentic. Explain why you are different, showcase how you add value, how you contribute and make an impact.
Tip 3: Think impact
It’s easy to get caught up in the perfection of LinkedIn but sometimes people go a little too far and they end up with a CV and lists of jobs. LinkedIn says to focus on the impact you made…
To really make your LinkedIn Profile sing, speak to the impact you’ve had, the change you’ve created, the initiatives you’ve lead, and the results you’ve delivered – LinkedIn Learning 2020
Don’t be afraid to add some rich media such as imagery and/or video to your profile. Make it come alive by showcasing your accomplishments with a little flair.
Think about your reputation. It is just as important, if not more so online than it is offline. That’s why recommendations are so important.
- They add credibility to your profile
- They act as evidence to your aforementioned claims
- They add validity
When should I post?
Since lockdown the best times to share have actually changed, albeit not as drastically as we first thought on some platforms.
In a recent report by Sprout Social they identified the changes. Not surprisingly we have seen an increase in usage, as people were working remotely whilst balancing home life such as childcare.
(https://sproutsocial.com/insights/covid19-social-media-changes/)
In terms of timing, be mindful that your target audience may differ from the general average, for example teachers are very unlikely to be on social media during the day, as they will be in the classroom.
The most important thing to remember when planning your social posts is that
consistency is key. LinkedIn likes to see regularity. The algorithm becomes aware of your usual posting times, and this helps your reach.
The best advice I can give you:
- Set a goal and stick to it (whether that’s posting once, twice or every day of the week)
- Experiment with it – social media is a lot about testing and measuring what works, this isn’t any different when it comes to personal profiles
- Use your analytics – your dashboard is a powerful thing. Look at it. If you have a company page, it’s worthwhile using the analytics on your followers and viewers.
Should I really share that?
If you considered sharing it, then you probably should. It’s as simple as that.
LinkedIn is all about sharing thought provoking content and networking – you are allowed an opinion BUT be mindful that future employers or potential partners could see it.
The key: To actually share content that you are interested in and that people will care about, something that will add VALUE to their daily lives. It’s SOCIAL media, so get your connections communicating.
Consider sharing:
- Industry news, but always explain your reasons for sharing
- Insights you’ve gained from your role – educational type posts
- Any personal or company achievements
- Educational videos, how-tos (if you’re comfortable in front of a camera – record your own)
- LinkedIn Articles – Compose your own monthly if you can
LinkedIn also has a useful tool of its own. If you have a company page you will have access to ‘Content Suggestions’. This area is basically like LinkedIn’s own version of feedly or Reddit. It’s an area where LinkedIn has selected ‘trending’ articles which it believes are relevant to your filtered industry.
Do I click accept to everyone?
The answer is NO.
How do you know who to connect with? You build your personal strategy. Consider whether the requester will add any value to your LinkedIn life or indeed personal life? When connecting with anyone you need to consider:
- Their content will fill your feed
- LinkedIn’s algorithm will think you want more people like this and will show your profile to them
- Will they engage with your content?
Consider these methods…
The ‘do I know you?’ method
PRO: You create a highly targeted group of connections
CON: Quite restrictive and lack of purpose
The ‘status matters’ method
PRO: Maintain a quality network
CON: You could miss some people
The ‘open network’ method
PRO: You’ll get an extensive list
CON: You’ll lose focus and risk negative engagement
The ‘look for value’ method
PRO: You build a quality large network of relevant connections
CON: Miss the newbies, forget to help others
In order to build your network you also need to work on finding the ‘right’ connections yourself.
One way you can do this is by spending some time looking for the ‘right’ people.
Use Google to find businesses you’d like to work with, find their staff page and there’s your starting point. If they don’t have their LinkedIn URLs on the page then just use the search bar.
BUT REMEMBER! Always tailor your connection request.
Why should I use hashtags?
Hashtags allow LinkedIn to “listen” to topics that matter most to their users, and in turn, create a better user experience for members. They are searchable, and act as keywords, just like SEO. You can easily build your brand by creating your own hashtag, and encourage users to follow it. Most importantly they increase your post reach and get your content in front of people who are not connected to you.
Hashtags are crucial if you want your content to be seen by people who aren’t connected to you.
How can you use hashtags effectively?
- Use a plug-in like RiteTag for suggestions, these are based on real-time engagement
- Do your research on trending hashtags in your industry
- Use LinkedIn’s ,Community Hashtag, functionality on your company page
- Follow industry relevant hashtags
- Add your top 3 industry hashtags to your profile summary
Fun fact – The technical term for hashtag is ‘Octothorp’
Are there any tools I can use?
Our last webinar talked about 6 Post Lockdown Marketing Tactics. You can learn more about this here.
If you would like to learn more about how you can get the most out of your LinkedIn profile, get in touch.
