Building Your Brand on LinkedIn
Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare all powerhouse social media sites you should
consider using in order to leverage your online visibility in the digital world; however, one
of your biggest social media allies is LinkedIn – whether you’re shopping around for a
new job, looking to make some connections, or just interested in discussing topics related
to your industry LinkedIn is the place to do it. Before you sign up, consider using a few of
these tips on how to effectively promote yourself and build your brand and increase your
credibility on LinkedIn.
On LinkedIn, it is important not to completely regurgitate your entire resume – get a little
creative with your job descriptions and details. Just be sure not to “embellish” or
exaggerate your accomplishments; be truthful and promote the positive traits you bring to
the table. In the summary section on LinkedIn try listing some of your personal and
professional goals (i.e. learning new information, making connections or following
industry trends) on your page and the value you intend to bring (i.e. results-driven
business analyst with extensive executive experience seeking to link up with fellow peers
and exchange resources).
Participate in LinkedIn Groups. This is the best way to showcase your knowledge, and
continue to learn about what ideas, suggestions, concerns and emerging developments
are taking place in your field by fellow executives, students, and thought leaders. By
remaining active in the forums, other members will get a change to interact with you, link
up, and invite you into their circle of connections. You don’t have to respond to every
single discussion in the group, but be sure to check in regularly so you remain visible.
Volunteer for opportunities – or create your own. Be on the lookout for chances to
volunteer on LinkedIn – whether they are advertised via connection or in a LinkedIn
Group. By accepting the offer, you strengthen your own brand by highlighting your talents
and putting them into practice. An example of some volunteer opportunities are devising
industry-related content, overseeing a project, or facilitating a webcast. Aside from the
getting that great feeling of helping the LinkedIn community, you get to show what a
powerhouse you are!
Link Your Personal Blog – Invite your Connections to participate.
Create a specialized LinkedIn Group. Don’t see a group dedicated to your field of
interest? Create one, moderate it, and invite other interested individuals. By taking the
initiative to start a group, promote it and keep the flow of discussion going, signals to
individuals that you care
Scan the Events section. The events section is an awesome way to see what industry-
related activities are held in your area or even online (i.e. webinar, podcast, etc). If you’re
bold enough, you can even check in with a fellow connection to see if he or she will be
attending and maybe schedule an in-person meet-up. If you are a consultant or small
business, consider creating an event to inform or educate your target market about why
they need to know about you – and why they need you now.
Answer Questions & Polls. You earn coveted brownie points (i.e. best chosen response)
and a good amount of recognition by answering members’ most pressing questions –
everything from using LinkedIn to finding out the best industry periodicals.
Utilize all the profile features – especially, the public profile feature. People forget to
explore all of the options on the web site, including the ability to display your entire profile
to web surfers, companies, and potential clients. Although every user may not feel
comfortable showing their profile in its entirety to non-connections, you can opt to show
only the information you see fit.