LinkedIn™ is the world's largest professional networking platform. It's also one of the most influential social media networks, with 756 million members. That's a lot of potential contacts!
Members use the site to keep in touch with business associates, clients, and co-workers. But it can do so much more – boost your profile, build awareness of your brand, and help you to recruit the right people, for example.
In this article, we look at nine ways to use your LinkedIn account for personal, professional, and organizational success.
Your profile can be a powerful part of your personal brand. All registered LinkedIn users will be able to view it.
Here are the essential things to remember while creating an account in LinkedIn
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Add a good-quality photo of yourself, preferably one taken by a professional photographer. Look smart, smile, and don't have any distractions in the shot.
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Make your profile sparkle by adding a background image (sometimes called a "banner" or "cover" image) that reflects your personality and your profession.
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Mention your industry and location in your headline. You have up to 120 characters for this.
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Include a concise summary of who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer. You have 2,000 characters to play with, but you don't have to use them all. You can also link to, or upload, six examples of your work to make your profile sparkle.
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Add your current position and describe what it involves. Be specific. Don't say, for example, that you're a "great communicator" – even if you are one! Instead, give details of your communication skills, and examples of how you've used them. Again, you have 2,000 characters.
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Add your previous work history, education details, and at least four skills or areas of expertise.
