My Simple Advice About LinkedIn: Use It … the Right Way

5 Things I Tell My Network About LinkedIn…and You Should, Too!

Almost every week, whether I’m on a phone call or attending a business or social lunch, the subject of LinkedIn enters the conversation. Sometimes, my colleagues or associates want to discuss my engagement on the social network, or they want to refer me to something of interest. Most often, though, my LinkedIn discussions are with people who know “just a little about it,” and are unsure of the value LinkedIn could offer them professionally.

Full disclosure: I don’t work for or get any perks from LinkedIn for writing this column, but I’ve given this advice so many times, I figured it was time to finally write it down. So, here’s my take on LinkedIn, and how it can provide you value:

Yes, you need a profile. I’ve spent a lot of time with excellent human resources executives, recruiters and business leaders, and the consensus seems to be that LinkedIn is not simply where they go when looking for talent, screening candidates or sizing up the competition. Instead, it’s usually the place they turn to when they want a quick snapshot of an individual’s background, skills and interests—information that can make their interactions more valuable.

It’s also an under-used tool for connecting. More than once on an airplane or at a networking event, a new associate will close our interaction with something like, “I’d like to talk more and stay in touch … connect with me on LinkedIn!”

It’s not just for job seekers. One of the more cringe-worthy remarks I often hear is that a colleague or acquaintance doesn’t do much with LinkedIn (assuming they have a profile) because they’re “not in the job market.” Talk about a misconception! While many HR pros have told me that LinkedIn has essentially replaced resumes (it’s not that they don’t still want resumes, but they use LinkedIn, too), it has great value as a networking and learning tool. A day rarely passes that I don’t read a column written by or shared by a former colleague or respected professional that makes me a little smarter on a subject and benefits me personally or professionally. 

You get out of LinkedIn what you put into it. Building on the last piece of advice, if you create a profile and almost never spend time on the site, it’s useless. I’m not certain why people take the time to create a profile and then abandon it, but many do. I strongly encourage you to build your network; comment on articles when you think you can add some insights; congratulate colleagues and former colleagues on promotions, job changes and work anniversaries; and share articles you think will help others in your network. I especially encourage people to publish! Almost everyone has experience or expertise that is unique and can and should be shared. By all means … share!

It’s NOT Facebook. If I had one pet peeve about LinkedIn (maybe a column coming on this soon?) it’s that some use it like Facebook. Recently, I was trying to help a friend get more “likes and shares” on his LinkedIn posts, which were just landing flat, and the number of eyeballs and positive feedback (as indicated by likes and shares) was disappointingly low. My guidance was that he was missing the “hook” in his posts; he needed to provide a reason why someone would read them. His response (obviously a bit sarcastic) was something like, “Maybe if I added some cute baby animal videos, that would get me a few thousand likes?” My advice: “Well, that’s more for Facebook. On LinkedIn, unless that applied in some way to your post, you’d get a very negative response.” I also have a strong dislike for politically partisan posts from either side. They usually get ignored entirely or start a chain of horrible rhetoric that serves no one well.

Profile photos matter. We’re not all models (an understatement in my case, for sure!) and we don’t all have the time and money for professionally done headshots. I get it. But, in an era of cell phone cameras that are great, it’s not that tough to get a picture that presents you in a positive and professional manner. Unfortunately, I still see photos of people taken in their car (the seatbelt is a dead giveaway), at holiday parties (watch the champagne glass in your hand), at backyard cookouts (love the Hawaiian shirt but…) and in the wilderness (notice the trees and flannel?). Again, those shots likely are better suited for Facebook. Take the time to get your photo right.

I’m sure you, too, have other tips on using LinkedIn, and I’d love to hear about them, as well as some of your pet peeves. Hopefully, enough will read this column to get the ball rolling … or I may need to post a video featuring a breakdancing cat!

Oh what the heck...it's less than thirty seconds...enjoy!