Linkedin - The real you versus the "business" you.
Linkedin can be a daunting place for new users. For those that have come here having used other social networking sites, much of the functionality can seem very familiar but then there's the etiquette about what you should post, who you should connect with, what the hell you should actually use this thing for. Couple that with the "business" aspect of it and it can all seem very serious and, in many ways off putting for newbies.
Personally I always struggled with the balance of using it to promote myself in a serious "grown up" business capacity versus my usual social media persona which I feel is more "me" - jokey, carefree, somewhat childish at times. Perhaps I was concerned that people wouldn't take me seriously if they saw the "real" me and that in turn meant I really struggled to find relevant and useful things to write and post on Linkedin, constantly second guessing whether I'd be criticised for what I'd written or whether it would undermine my credibility as a businessman.
But - and I appreciate that many won't agree with me - I now feel I've found that balance. Yes I'll still post the occasional crappy joke, yes I'll put up pictures of me stood by some recycling bins at the back of a clients office but, at the end of the day, that's me. If it puts some people off doing business with me then we probably weren't the right fit for each other anyway. But, for the rest of you, you can see that behind the serious faced profile picture there's a real person who cares about his business, cares about his customers and just wants to make some kind of positive difference to the world.
So, be yourself, don't let the perceived criticism (or real criticism) of others stop you from posting what you think. Yes Linkedin is here for Business but businesses are nothing without the people behind them
Dan Smith
0330 20 50 500
Freelance VA, PM, Extra pair of hands!
7 年Really good read Dan! I struggle to write anything serious or it either turns into nothing other than my opinions on everything or I somehow turn any piece of writing on its head to relate it to some kind of motorsport. Its a gift I tell you, unfortunately it never came with a receipt!
That Grimsby florist off LinkedIn ; I design and create beautiful gift bouquets for the people you want to make smile. ??
7 年Damn that's good. Sharing. X
Removing the pain of IT integration for Secondary Sector companies | Utilities | Manufacturing | Construction | Industrial SMEs
7 年For me, seeing the person(s) behind any SME is as expected as full corporate branding/marketing is when dealing with a large/'blue chip' company. When you're that close to the coalface, I think you should be visible and you should definitely portray your true self as the truth will out pretty quickly after any business interactions begin. So if you're quirky, blunt and to-the-point or whatever, just be your authentic self....."everyone else is taken", as the quote says. The 'Beer Test' is a great qualifier, in my opinion; could you have one with said person and enjoy that time? If I can't 'work' with someone when there's nothing to lose, why would consider it when there is?