LinkedIn is Undervalued! Start Standing Out Professionally
I am fast approaching 7,000 connections on LinkedIn. Time to party!
Trust me…I am not sharing that to “brag”, as the number itself means absolutely nothing! Why? Last time I checked, I couldn’t buy a protein bar, energy drink, or half-gallon of ice cream with those LinkedIn connections. Don’t worry, I will expand on that comment about vanity metrics later in the article, but what that big round number did was inspire me to create content around this important topic.
If you are reading this, you likely know me from interactions on LinkedIn. In the social media world, LinkedIn is where I spend the most amount of time. This is probably much different than you…
As you can see from the above chart, social media usage is stronger on other platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and even Pinterest.
I get it…those social media platforms are entertaining! Entertainment has value, but it also usually doesn’t get you closer to abundance and prosperity.
For me personally, I use LinkedIn the most because I have crafted a professional-first personal brand that has helped me build my management consulting business. Oddly enough, LinkedIn is also where I get the most entertainment (NERD ALERT!). To me, education and entertainment are the same thing.
I am a huge believer that LinkedIn is undervalued…
Yes, it’s been around since 2002, but its transformed over the last 4–5 years from a place where you only looked for jobs and connected with professionals you already had a prior relationship. Today, professionals connect and interact based on shared professional interests. Professionals now share status updates and articles (plus the organic reach is insanely high).
I can’t say this enough, but your personal brand is paramount in future social credit system…
…and a great place to build your personal brand is on LinkedIn.
Every person in 2019 should be thinking about their personal brand, not just if you are a business owner. I promise you if you harness the power of LinkedIn, it will become a vital part to your success as a professional.
So, how do you get started?
LinkedIn Basics
Mastery in nearly any endeavor is the result of deeply understanding simple ideas. Don’t skip the basics! Your profile should include;
- Professional Photo — everyone has $1,000 cameras in their pocket, ask someone to help and take a professional looking head shot
- Fill Out your Profile (all of it) — it is insane how many profiles I see that are barely filled out. This is your resume in 2019, so make sure its complete and updated on a regular-basis
- Fill Your Profile With SEO Terms — you don’t have to be an SEO expert to understand which words recruiters are searching for when they are looking for professionals in your particular industry. An easy hack is to view a few job postings for 1–2 levels ahead of your current position, you will likely see common buzzwords. Remember, 90% of recruiters used LinkedIn to search for individuals to fill open positions, so you want to be found in those searches.
- Use the Headline Correctly — adjust it to explain who/what you do, this is like the Twitter character restricted elevator pitch
Advanced LinkedIn Usage
After you have knocked out the profile basics, it’s time to start separating yourself from the pack. To carve out a unique and valuable personal brand on LinkedIn, use the following tactics;
- Write Original Articles— only 1 million users have published an article on LinkedIn (the platform has over 500 million). A bonus with original articles on LinkedIn is that the readers are made up of 45% decision makers
- Posts — if you aren’t “much of a writer”, then start small with relevant and thought provoking posts or shared articles. The commentary on another’s post, crafted in your voice and with an authentic opinion do amazing on LinkedIn
- Engage — if you are stuck on creating original articles, videos, or posts, then engage with other professionals on their posts to make a name for yourself. If you are creating original content, make sure you are building a community by engaging with your connections.
- Connections — the average person on LinkedIn has less than 800. As stated in the beginning of the article, Linkedin has changed lately, so don’t be shy with adding relevant connections that you believe would be mutually beneficial. Just don’t spam them…please DON’T SPAM THEM! Focus on adding value to your connections through articles and posts first before you try and message them with an “ask”
When you are adding connections (or accepting them), make sure they are relevant to keep your organic reach high. The 7000 connections that I currently have (in July 2019) is less than many people on LinkedIn, but I consistently get high engagement and reach that has gotten to even the most powerful professionals in the business world. Just remember to be patient and think long-term in your personal brand because your reputation is your currency!
