How LinkedIn Has Made Me Thousands of Dollars

LinkedIn is the best social media tool that no one knows how to use. 

Sure Instagram is fun and Facebook groups can be collaborative, but LinkedIn is the home for both entrepreneurs and 9-to-5 professionals alike looking to connect and network and grow in their careers. It is the BEST place to make authentic connections that can add massive value to your life...more value than that sweater you just bought from that fashion blogger on Instagram can.

Ahem, ahem! 

If you don’t know how to use LinkedIn properly, you could be missing out on thousands and thousands of dollars and opportunities. For me, this platform has helped my business explode, my 9-to-5 career grow at a rapid pace, and positioned me as a thought leader in my space. So much so, that I actually get to work with LinkedIn Corporate and their LinkedIn Learning platform on a regular basis.

Here are some other ways LinkedIn can be used to make you thousands of dollars in your career:

NETWORKING TO THE JOB

Most people think of LinkedIn as purely a job board site. This rationale is not incorrect, it’s just incomplete. LinkedIn is much better used as a networking platform. It should be your #1 go-to place to connect with people in your industry, at your alma mater, and within your current organization. LinkedIn is one huge SEO site where it makes it really easy to search for like-minded professionals. If you aren’t reaching out to folks on LinkedIn, you are potentially missing out on tons of job opportunities. Too many people rely on the passive job board, but the reality is LinkedIn can help you knock through the door.

For me personally, I never got a job from applying online. Instead, networking has landed me interviews at TOP firms and companies in NYC – in industries where I knew no one… all because of LinkedIn. 

Action step:

Find your dream company to work for on LinkedIn. Head to their company page and search within their employee base to find someone who may be a potential hiring manager. Connect with them and shoot them a message, sharing the top 3 ways you believe you could bring value to their team. End with a call to action like “Would you be open to hopping on the phone for 15 minutes next week where I can share a bit more on how I can bring value to your team’s goals?”

CREATING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

No site lets you build your thought leadership platform better than LinkedIn! If you’re in a 9-to-5 job, this is still 100% relevant to you. In fact, I actually think it’s more imperative for your long-term career success than an entrepreneur. Why? The candidate marketplace is TOUGH. Competition is TOUGH. Thousands of people are applying for the same position with the same stodgy resume template (blah! If you want an upgrade, head to our shop and snag yourself a better resume template.) 

You have got to differentiate yourself. One way to do that is to build out your profile and then start producing content. If you need help with step one, building out your profile, we have a course launching that will give you a step-by-step framework to get your profile done by lunch! Check it out here.

By building your personal brand, you could land speaking gigs, get the attention of a dream employer, or become sought after for promotions, raises, and increased responsibility.

Action step: 

Get out your journal and ask yourself: “What do I want to be known for?" “Whose career do I admire? What is their personal brand?” “If I could use 5 words to describe me in my career, what would they be?” and “Why do I work?” By walking through these questions you’ll start laying the foundation for your personal brand.

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