While most millennials are familiar with social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, most are not quite as comfortable on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing social media companies and is expected to keep growing. If you are not on LinkedIn yet or are just starting out, there are a few things to keep in mind as a LinkedIn beginner.
Filling out your LinkedIn profile completely is absolutely necessary.
Having a profile that is 100% complete significantly increases your prominence in search results. LinkedIn uses an algorithm to rank profiles in their search results, and a complete profile is a key consideration in the ranking system.
The Advanced Search feature in LinkedIn can help you find the best connections.
Connecting to random people online is not the purpose of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional networking site designed to help make purposeful, professional connections. To maximize your levels of connection, use the Advanced Search feature that allows you to refine your search in order to find ideal connections. You can use keywords that focus your search on specific companies, titles, schools, locations, and more.
A good profile picture can set you apart from other candidates.
The social media platform with which people are most familiar is Facebook. On Facebook, having a fun, relaxed profile picture is common and completely acceptable. On LinkedIn, however, it is important to keep in mind that your profile picture accurately reflects who you are in a business setting. So, while your Facebook friends may love your profile picture of you climbing Mt. Everest or surfing in the Keys, a potential employer or client is more interested in your ability to conduct business. So, save the awesome travel and family photos for Facebook, Instagram, or Flickr. If you don’t have a professional, quality headshot, investing in one for LinkedIn is a great idea.
Written recommendations carry much more weight than skill endorsements do.
LinkedIn has made endorsing connections simple and efficient; because of that, racking up endorsements is a breeze. In fact, sometimes, people will endorse others for skills they didn’t even know they had. Because skill endorsements are so easy to come by, they do not carry nearly as much weight as a written recommendation. Doing so makes you 3 times more likely to be viewed on the platform. Don’t have any written recommendations? Request them from people you know and trust, and then return the favor.
LinkedIn is a social media platform worth investing time in, and just like any other thing, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. So, keep these four tips in mind as you create and refresh your LinkedIn profile to ensure you’re making the most out of yours.
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