LinkedIn is like an online resume, but scratch a bit deeper and it’s a platform for demonstrating your expertise and connecting with an online network. It’s nothing short of a source of raw possibilities.
Whether you are a business owner or an employee, LinkedIn needs to be a part of your digital real estate and your online social presence.
What should you have on your profile?
There are numerous opportunities to highlight expertise and focus on interests within LinkedIn. The LinkedIn profile has a standard framework around which information can be added. There is an extensive field for a summary of your career profile, and a more limited field to provide details of your current position, past positions, education, recommendations, connections, and websites.
You’re in full control of what is displayed on the profile.
Improve your SEO with LinkedIn
Spend as much time as you need to developing your LinkedIn profile, and remember that because it’s online, it needs to be SEO-savvy. In fact, you can use LinkedIn to help your search engine optimisation (SEO), since when your name is searched on Google, your LinkedIn profile will appear high in the search results.
You might even want to engage an SEO copywriter and get them to work their magic and create an engaging business profile specifically for LinkedIn that outlines your achievements and successes.
Receive weekly updates on your network
The single business email that I receive and most importantly I take the time to read every week is the LinkedIn Network Updates email. If you’re not receiving this email, you need to change your LinkedIn email settings. (Select Settings / Receiving Messages, and at the Network Updates line, choose Weekly Digest Email).
This email summarises the major activities of your network over the past week: profile updates, new connections, new posts, new LinkedIn groups they’ve joined, new photos, new recommendations, polls, and applications (like Reading List by Amazon and TripIt).
Likewise using the ‘Share an update’ feature enables you to stay in front of your network on a weekly basis.
This is the first in a series of articles on how to use LinkedIn effectively as a business tool. In the next article, I’ll explain how to develop and nurture your LinkedIn network.
Has using LinkedIn shown benefits for your business? Please share your experiences and tips for how to use LinkedIn effectively below.
“ LinkedIn needs to be a part of your digital real estate and your online social presence. ”
Heather Smith is a Chartered Certified Accountant, MYOB, XERO & SAASU Consultant, Author & Speaker. Described as engaging, entertaining, honest, funny and relevant, Heather is available to present on all matters small business at your next conference.
