Are you taking advantage of everything LinkedIn has to offer? If not, you’re missing out on one of the most valuable career-building tools out there.
There are currently around 133 million users from the US on LinkedIn, and not being one of them means you’re losing a lot of valuable connections.
To help you get the most out of your time on LinkedIn, here are four business networking tips to help you make the most of your profile:
1. Keep your profile updated
The first step to achieving success on LinkedIn is getting your profile noticed. The most important thing is to keep your profile as up to date as possible.
A potential connection or recruiter might not reach out if they see your profile hasn’t been updated in years.
Make sure your headline and recent positions are all up to date, so people can easily get an idea of jobs you might be interested in pursuing.
There are other important elements of your profile like including a recent, professional photo. In fact, profiles with pictures get 21 times more profile views.
2. Make new connections
Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or not, there’s always a way to add new connections to your network.
The “people you may know” section on LinkedIn can help you connect with old colleagues, professors, or fellow students.
It’ll also show you second-degree connections (or connections of your connections) that could be valuable to you.
Reach out to these connections with a well-written message, introducing yourself and why you want to connect. Personalizing your messages will lead to more high-quality connections to advance your career.
3. Participate in LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn groups are a great way to meet members outside of your connections and even learn a new thing or two. Groups exist in a variety of different industries, schools, and other topics.
Join the ones that are most relevant to you, but don’t join too many groups or you won’t get the maximum benefits.
For most, this means about 2-5 groups, depending on how many interests you have.
To get the most of your groups, make sure you stay actively engaged in the topics and add value to the conversation when you can.
Don’t be afraid to comment on others’ posts or even ask a question of your own. You can also share a relevant article, ask a question or share anything else you think your group might find interesting. You can also ask other members for business networking tips to enhance your LinkedIn experience even more.
Just make sure what you’re posting is relevant to the group. No spam allowed!
4. Create relevant and engaging content
To really get attention on LinkedIn, try your hand at writing a post on their publishing platform.
This platform is great because it allows anyone to share their voice, establish credibility, and get published online.
Publishing content on LinkedIn shows your connections that you’re an expert in your field. It also shows hiring managers and recruiters that you’ve gone the extra mile to share your expertise in your industry. This is a double-win.
However, if you’re going to dive into writing, make sure your piece is well-written and researched before you publish.
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What are your business networking tips for LinkedIn? Share them in the comments below.