Erin Tracy's Social Media and Content Strategist e-Portfolio

At first glance, LinkedIn may seem like it’s the slower, less powerful platform compared to other social media channels (like Facebook and Twitter). The truth is, it’s a different animal…and that animal is a beast. It is “now valued at $18 billion, up from $4 billion when it went public.” It’s extremely power and useful among professionals in the business world. LinkedIn has “three primary revenue streams – ads, its talent-solutions, business and premium consumer subscriptions.” Whether your goal is recruiting, networking, or searching for employment, LinkedIn is the place to go. If you’re a recruiter, you’re in luck because “LinkedIn specializes in connecting companies with people who may not be looking for a job.”

Below, I have highlighted the most important things to consider when using LinkedIn as a company, working professional, and job seeker.

Company

• You MUST have a company page if you want to to be able to not only market yourself but to also allow your employees and followers to market on your behalf. Without a company page, your employees will list your company name without having the ability to link it back to you.

• Take advantage of the tools available through LinkedIn that allow you to customize your page with banner ads and create “variations of the products and services page” so different content can be displayed to various audiences.

• If you are having trouble getting people to visit “your company page or website, try LinkedIn Advertising for targeted audiences.”

Working Professional

• If using LinkedIn for networking, one of the most important things to consider is having a professional picture. There’s sure to be more than one John Smith floating around on LinkedIn and if you’ve met someone at a networking event, it would be a lot easier for them to pick the right John Smith in a search if they have a face to go with a name.

• You have the ability to “make yourself anonymous when scoping out competition.” Use it!

• If anything changes in your job description or duties, be sure it reflects on your LinkedIn profile.

• When and if the day comes that you want to explore other options for employment, be sure to “tailor your settings” so your currently employer doesn’t catch wind if your activity on LinkedIn ramps up.

Job Seeker

• The most important thing you need to do is to make sure your profile is locked and loaded! You need a photo, headline, summary, list all of your education, work experience (even if you’ve changed fields), associations, volunteer work, links to any blogs, etc.

• Triple check your spelling and grammar. You want to look professional and there is no better place to make a good first impression.

• “89% of recruiters check candidate social media profiles“. Scrub all of your personal social media accounts for anything you wouldn’t want a potential recruiter to find. Get rid of any revealing spring break photos, make sure your language isn’t inappropriate, and so forth. You really need to consider your social media well in advance before looking for a job. Pretend the world can see anything you do online.

• Be a hunter/gatherer: Get out there on LinkedIn and look for “companies you hope to work with“. Find groups that you can join and start participating. Gather as many endorsements as you can. If you’re having a tough time getting endorsed for your skills, take a look at your connections and see if you can endorse others.

Helpful Links

LinkedIn Company Pages

LinkedIn Resume Builder

The Stealth Job Search: How to Job Hunt Privately on LinkedIn

Passive Talent: Not as Passive as You Think

Questions to consider:

1. In competitive industries, do you think individuals would consider buying LinkedIn advertising to stand out to companies or recruiters? Would this be a benefit or a waste of money?

2. What changes do you plan to make now to boost your LinkedIn presence?