Morgan Gress
Category: Strategy
08.09.2012
Last week Linkedin announced that it has reached 175 million users. It also reported good stock earnings and has rolled out various new features since the beginning of 2012. However, even with all the changes, Linkedin rarely makes major headlines like other social media platforms and is definitely not as glamorous as its peers. Instead, the site seems to prefer being the sleeping giant of the social world.
But this does not mean the Linkedin should be forgotten or overlooked; it is still one of the largest platforms around. As such, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at a few features people frequently forget about and some best practices to incorporate into your Linkedin strategy, whether it’s for your company or your personal profile. Outlined below are five quick tips to put you on track to becoming a Linkedin super user.
JOIN GROUPS
Take the time to join relevant groups like industries, alumni associations, and area professionals, as they tend to generate more leads for business and job opportunities.
CUSTOMIZE URLs
Customize your profile URL to include your full name if possible. This is simple, but too many users overlook this basic step. This will enhance your search results and make it simpler to share with others.
POST PROFESSIONAL UPDATES
Post platform appropriate content. This means professional articles and industry related news on Linkedin, unlike Facebook and Twitter, which have a less specific focus. Remember visitors go on Linkedin for professional reasons, so help them find relevant information.
INTEGRATE APPLICATIONS
Integrate applications that show off your writing, portfolio, and work already hosted on other platforms. For example, if you have a WordPress blog, use the WordPress application to showcase current posts right on your profile.
ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Always ask for recommendations when appropriate, but personalize the ask. Don’t just send the generic Linkedin recommendation request. For companies, and personal Linkedin profiles recommendations provide a way to stand apart from the rest.
As always, it’s important to complete your profile and keep it updated regularly, but use the ideas above to take your profile one step further.
