SMART WAYS TO GET NOTICED ON LINKEDIN: GET A LINKEDIN MAKEOVER

“And to connect with me, find me on LinkedIn” is a phrase unfailingly used at the end of conferences, meetings, and every other sphere of professional work life.

LinkedIn can augment your life in unimaginable ways that extend far beyond finding people – it tells the world who you are, what your purpose is, enables others to affirm your capabilities, and boosts your learning.

As a versatile, multi-use social media platform, LinkedIn differs from other sites with its focus on showcasing and magnifying your professional persona – something Facebook and Instagram are not hard-wired to accent.

Professionalism is about the qualities and behaviours you exhibit, the manner in which you conduct yourself during your business affairs and what kind of lasting impression you leave on everyone you meet.

You and I can harness the true power of LinkedIn in our everyday life by presenting ourselves aptly using simple principles.

The dos and don’ts as a LinkedIn user

Yes, it sure is difficult to open up and show the world the real you.

But when you have the courage to show your true self, others will appreciate getting to know the real you, and maybe even feel inspired to feel more comfortable to be themselves

1. Be prudent and professional

On LinkedIn, they expect you to be strictly professional. That doesn’t entail being pretentious, arrogant, or showing off your weird streak for the most part. When conversing with fellow users, especially those pertaining to your work interests, be polite, straightforward, follow codes of decency and good morals. Don’t get me wrong – be yourself, creative and funny all you want but in a way that it does not create conflict or harm the professional nature of the site.

ProTIP:?When in doubt, follow the three Rs: Relevance, Respect, Righteousness.

2. Interact with care

“Dude”, “fam” and “bro” may be common terms of affection you use every day to greet peers on Instagram. But on LinkedIn, take note.

On LinkedIn, sending a follow request with a personalised message (a very good idea!), or chatting with another professional – perhaps a recruiter, avoid such language. Ideally, address the person by their name or a term of respect and wait until you establish a long sustainable rapport before you become too friendly.

3. Just be yourself and build trust.

This is the most important of all and also what the online world lacks the most.

Research shows that we have a slightly different persona offline and online. But expressing your true self on LinkedIn or anywhere else online is critical. If you are a leader, it is your responsibility to show others that it is okay to be vulnerable and honest. This is crucial if you want to build trust.

The truth can set you free – but it can also get you that job you have always wanted because the recruiter is interested in your profile, interests, and accomplishments – based on which you could be seen as a perfect fit for the company. Express yourself, your esoteric interests, interesting quirks, and professional passions to find like-minded individuals on this massive networking site.

Be yourself – it’s a win-win.

Take it to the next level: Offline interaction

LinkedIn is a great platform to encounter new, exciting people and start exciting conversations, but the real test is converting a simple chance interaction into a new shared project, a joint venture, recruitment or even simply a beautiful friendship.

How can you do this? Meeting in person. After a couple of messages, a few comments and replies, sharing links and asking questions now and then and when you are both comfortable interacting with each other, take the step to arrange for an in-person meeting. Identify potential and realistic connections and target them specifically for these coffee meetups. For instance, before you reach out to the CEO of Google, maybe start with potential connections who are more likely to engage with you.

Truths about building professional relations on LinkedIn

Whether you are on LinkedIn to network for job opportunities or client prospects, it’s true that LinkedIn can enhance your efforts. But it is important to acknowledge a few things about the site before you go neck-deep in your strategy.

LinkedIn for many professional networkers has replaced traditional forms of meeting and socialising. But that’s just what you do know. Here’s what you don’t:

– Not everyone wants to network:?To stay in the good graces of your new and old connections, try not to be too forthcoming about your personal interest in building professional connections. Some people might not want the same thing as you or hold their privacy in high regard.

– People will probably judge you based on your profile:?Your profile is the first thing your new connection or recruiter will look at. If you have not met in person before, you know how important first impressions are. Build an amazing profile that inspires readers to know more about you.

– A personal touch can change things for the better: Just like in real life, people on LinkedIn crave personal acknowledgement. Get into their good graces by starting each connection with a message about why it is important to you, wish them for any achievements, and stay away from anything that will make you seem more distant and unapproachable.

– Make the most of groups: Groups that already exist have more power as they usually gather all like-minded folks in one space. Take this shortcut and join these to meet people in a different and unfamiliar setting. Start discussions, respond to comments, and share updates in the niche.

Use this amazing tool in the right way to reach out to more people, build a large network of people who could help you out any day and offer everything possible from your end to make it a mutually beneficial relationship. You’ll be surprised at what you get for being yourself, genuine, and caring.

About Adam

His third book Influencer is available now.

Adam Houlahan is an International Keynote Speaker specialising in LinkedIn strategies, and CEO of the highly successful boutique agency, Prominence Global.

He lives in Australia’s iconic tourist destination the Gold Coast Queensland and is considered to be one of Australia’s leading experts in harnessing the power of LinkedIn for business.

He is the author of three Amazon best-selling books Social Media Secret Sauce, The LinkedIn Playbook, Influencer and co-authored a fourth international best-seller Better Business, Better Life, Better World.

He believes real and meaningful change comes through the world’s entrepreneurs. His purpose is to provide their businesses with powerful tools to grow and accelerate their global footprint. And that together we can make an important impact!