LinkedIn For Beginners

Welcome back to where we fill you in on the latest topics at The Attention Seeker (ATTN).

This newsletter is coming from Ashley Short, the ATTN Internal Brand Exec.

This week, we are discussing LinkedIn for beginners!

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Why Is LinkedIn So?Valuable

Imagine you have been invited to an event,

An event that you know thousands,

No,

Millions of people are attending.

You can meet anyone you want to.

You just have to get up the courage to actually to speak to them.

Now imagine that concept but online.

That is what LinkedIn is.

A platform that empowers and encourages professional connections.

A place where

Everyone is encouraged to share their career growth.

We all cheer when you get promoted

Or a new job.

Where people can get involved in your progression and journey.

You can connect with like-minded business people and it is perfectly ok to reach out to them.

Better yet, it's global!

So reach out to the people you aspire to be and book an e-coffee! Who knows what will come of it!

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Stanley Henry started The Attention Seeker from LinkedIn.

The Attention Seeker is now a thriving business with over 20 staff members and 5 interns.

It only makes sense we hear from Stanley himself on how to make LinkedIn work for you!

I ask Stanley

• What made you get into LinkedIn in the first place? Compared to any other social media platform out there, why did you start on LinkedIn?

Stanley: I wouldn't have had the confidence to start a business unless I already knew how to use LinkedIn before quitting my cushy hotel GM job. I had met a guy in Melbourne who taught me how to use the platform to attract corporate clients in hotels and it worked so well that I could see how I could use it to start my own business. I then started hearing lots of entrepreneurs and social media experts like Gary Vee talk about how good it was which validated my thinking.

• What are the main takeaways that you think someone needs to know about LinkedIn from your perspective when they are first getting on the platform?

Stanley: Personal Brands work better than company brands on LinkedIn. Comments and engagement are the easiest and most effective ways to participate on the platform. Prioritise sharing content about you and your team over and above sharing content about products and/or services. Be consistent - Do some form of activity everyday.

• How do you start networking on LinkedIn when you have no connections?

Stanley: Connect with people. You will know a bunch of people, so connect with all of them. Find people who make great content that you like using the search function or ask your audience who to follow. Then send a connection request. Then search for target audience and start connecting with them if appropriate. Post more content so people start seeing you more often.

• In your perspective, is regular posting necessary for successful networking on LinkedIn? If so why?

Stanley: Yes, for everything in life action leads to momentum and you need momentum to achieve any sort of goals with LinkedIn. Consistent posting means you start to build a brand in the marketplace and people get to know you. Because most people aren't on the platform everyday you need to show up whenever they do turn up and the best way to do that is to post more.

• For the public wondering, how do you turn post viewers into in-person meetings?

Stanley: By posting more. You don't post to get leads or you'll never get a lead. You post to tell a story or give value. Nothing more, nothing less. If you do that right you will get people reaching out to you.? There are ways to generate leads but it is unsustainable. Instead, focus on posting more content and commenting more on other people's posts.

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Misconceptions of LinkedIn

One misconception about LinkedIn is that you should only share work-related aspects of your life journey.

That you should keep it strictly to career growth - no other life updates or this would be inappropriate. Right?

Wrong,

From working at The Attention Seeker, I have learnt that is not the case at all.

In fact, it is encouraged that you share a wide variety of your life with LinkedIn so people get a well-rounded view of you and your multi-faceted identity.

When you share a variety of aspects of your life with people that's when they can relate to you and find common ground.

When people find common ground with you and get to see regular glimpses into your life, that's when they start to trust you.

Then, when people need your specific service, they will be more likely to come to you over competitors as they already feel like they know you. Not just the sales version of you that is trying to promote a product or service.

For example, Stanley's most-liked post is about him proposing to Claire!

Before working at The Attention Seeker, I would never have had the courage to post personal details of my life on a professional site like LinkedIn.

However, after sitting down with Stanley for many training sessions, I now have the confidence to share my personal achievements on LinkedIn and be proud of them.

The Attention Seeker's support and Stanley's training have gotten me to a point where I, too, understand the value in being your true self on LinkedIn.

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Should businesses post regularly on LinkedIn?? Or just people?

People need to see your business has an online presence. This will show the efforts your business makes to its own online creditability and sense of constancy.

Here at The Attention Seeker, I put out a company post every single day. Sometimes even more.

Posting regularly shows that you want to share the business journey with the public.

It's also a great place to show your business's services, knowledge, employees, and culture!

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Still Not Sure What To Post About On?LinkedIn?

Don't worry, I am going to give you tips!

• Always post from anything in your life that you have already healed from. Never post from something that still causes you pain. Otherwise, you will struggle when people comment on things that may not sit well with you.
• Start with surface-level topics you are happy to discuss to ease your way into the posting space. There is no rush to talk about any specific points.
• Be confident! Don't undersell yourself in your posts. This is your voice's channel and outlet. No one else's. If you are afraid someone will shut your opinion down point of view or sh*t on your experience in the comments of your posts - then you don't need that negative person in your life anyway - you don't need to post to please others. Be authentic. Be you. This will only help you improve and refine the community you want around you.

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In-House Podcast - Stansplaining

We hear the story of Jazz Thornton first-hand, a world-famous New Zealander who openly advocates and speaks of mental health battles. She is an inspiration. One you don't want to miss!

Catch you next week!

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