12 Tips and Tricks to Use LinkedIn Like a Pro
Whether you want to grow your personal brand or business, LinkedIn is an ideal platform. LinkedIn is the hottest place for job seekers and professionals looking to build their network. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn isn’t very vocal about the new updates and algorithms. With more than 800 million users, making your profile stand out may be challenging. Here we will share some valuable tips and tricks that will be beneficial for you if you are facing any of these situations:
- Your profile lacks views
- You’re unable to land that job/client
- Recruiters and managers are not approaching you
- Thought leaders from the industry are not accepting your connection request
If you are encountering any of the above-mentioned issues, then you have landed at the right place. We will discuss how you can use LinkedIn like a pro to its full potential and reach your ideal network.
Use LinkedIn Like a Pro
Here are our top twelve tips on improving your LinkedIn strategy and using it like a pro:
1. Your LinkedIn Profile Is Much More Than a Resume
A LinkedIn profile is an effective place to display your resume and skills. There are multiple other sections, including interests and accomplishments, where you can fill in your information. The platform favors the profiles that are complete and have all the sections filled. From education to skills, endorsements, recommendations, and work history ensure everything is filled correctly. Reevaluate your personal and professional projects to complete the activities or accomplishments section. If you feel you do not have any relevant skills, you could also use the following ways to spice up your profile and make it more authentic:
- Take a course that strengthens your skillset
- Work or volunteer with a nonprofit
- Participate in competitions (Even if you lose, you will gain knowledge and could share experiences with your network)
2. Remove All Buzzwords from Your Profile
According to LinkedIn, users with authentic and complete profiles are likely to get 40 times more opportunities. You should be creative and make your profile more engaging. Do not overuse the same words that people have been using in your industry. For instance, you could use seasoned or savvy in place of experience. Here are some of the most overused words on LinkedIn that you should avoid:
- Strategic
- Passionate
- Creative
- Focused
- Enthusiastic
- Expert
- Track record
3. Post Quality and Engaging Content
LinkedIn posts are another effective strategy to up your LinkedIn game. Here are certain things you must keep in mind while creating content on the platform:
- Keep it short and sweet
- Experiment with text-only posts
- Try making a video to grab the attention
- Keep it a mix of images, text-only posts, and videos
- Conduct polls to understand your target audience
4. Do not be a LinkedIn Crawler
If you are somebody who just scrolls the feed, you must stop doing that immediately. Instead, start engaging with a few posts and people every time you use LinkedIn. Engaging with people will help you build rapport and improve your relationship.
5. Get Your Content Ranked
Many users often complain that they post regularly, but it is not helping. You need to understand that you might be making certain mistakes. The LinkedIn algorithm is not easy, but it is not rocket science either. Here are the four primary filters involved in the algorithm:
- Filter 1: Quality (The content should not be spam or copied)
- Filter 2: Engagement (The number of likes, comments, and shares on your post)
- Filter 3: Credibility (How consistently you have been posting and how authentic your profile is)
- Filter 4: Human Editors (Real experts at LinkedIn will evaluate if your post is worth it or not)
6. Always Pick a Theme for Your Posts
Do not make it a mix of different types of content. It will confuse your audience, and you might not reach your ideal audience. Here are some of the themes you can choose:
- Inspirational
- Advice – tips and tricks
- Personal project and details
- Insider knowledge
- Industry news
7. Avoid Midnight Hours
Unlike other social media platforms, professionals use LinkedIn during work and morning hours. Therefore, you should avoid sharing updates during late hours when everybody might be asleep. Try to choose between the 9:00 AM to 05:00 PM slot when most professionals are at work. You can keep the content ready at night and post it in the morning.
8. Add Knowledge
If you find an interesting or informative post, consider adding value to it. You may also thank the person for sharing helpful information. You could also ask follow-up questions or offer constructive feedback. Refrain from making negative comments.
9. Build Your Connections
One of the best ways to grow on LinkedIn is via building connections. If your profile is new, the experts may likely not accept your request. Consider adding a personal message along with the request. Make it centric to the person and write why you want to connect with them. Avoid sending requests to people you don’t know. LinkedIn can also restrict your profile if users mark your request as spam. If you meet somebody in-person, consider adding them within 24-48 hours.
10. Optimize for Your Audience
Think about the demographic you want to target. Optimize your profile and content accordingly. For instance, if you are a freelance video editor, your ideal target audience will be clients in production, advertising, etcetera. Include words, add relevant content related to the industry and get one step closer to your ideal target audience.
11. Check Your Posts Twice
Before posting anything, you should always check for errors, typos, and misspellings. You must also check the source of information and share factual updates only. Double-check and avoid sharing fake news. One mistake could damage your reputation and impact the trust of your audience.
12. Join Group
There are millions of groups on LinkedIn. Consider joining the one that is relevant to your niche or industry. Do not be a passive participant. Instead, start exciting discussions or join an already established conversation. Share your knowledge and ideas with everyone.
Final Thoughts
These are twelve practical tips and tricks that could help you create a killer LinkedIn profile. Make your profile stand out and use LinkedIn like a pro to grow your network
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