So you have a profile and your company is setup on LinkedIn and you’ve joined some groups. You have even tried Steve’s approach to 15 minutes of LinkedIn a day to get yourself more engaged with the program. Now what? Here’s a quick list of dos and don’ts to optimize your LinkedIn experience.
Do: Participate In Groups
Being signed up for groups, but then never reading the threads or participating in the discussions is almost as bad as abandoning a profile.
Do: Find Former Co-Workers
It’s fun to catch up with old co-workers; they know what kind of work you can do and can help you find or get that next position.
Do: Write Recommendations
This is so simple; think of the 2-3 people at a former position who really helped you , it could be a boss, peer or subordinate. Or it could be a vendor, partner, classmate, professor, family member or more. They all deserve recommendations and will hopefully return one in kind. Keep the recommendation to one or two paragraphs. Personalize the recommendation; if you haven’t worked with the person recently, it is ok to say no when you are asked to write a recommendation, too.
And follow a grandma rule, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.
Do: Keep in Contact with Your Connections
Even a simple, “Hey we haven’t talked in a while, let’s meet up for coffee/lunch” is a great way to keep the connections relevant.
Do: Connect Your Twitter and Other Social Media Programs to LinkedIn
From Hootsuite to Apps to Steve’s new fave: Buffer. Try and get your social networks to hold hands, it makes less work for you in the long run.
Do: Personalize Your Link
Make your profile memorable by changing the random characters personalized to be your name. If you have a common name: Bill Smith; then try and personalize the link to your name and a year you will easily remember.
Do: Personalize Your Requests
Every connection request should be personalized. The generic “I want to add you to my professional network” means you haven’t taken the time to say why you want to connect. People change jobs and meet new connections all of the time, you may need to re-establish where you worked to jog a memory. Even if it is a simple, ”I know we haven’t spoken in a while, but I want to make sure we continue to keep our professional connection.” That request stands out and makes the connectee want to accept a request.
Don’t: Shamelessly Self-Promote
Remember being social isn’t all about you, it is about reciprocity. Helping others is the key to doing well within the social tools.
Don’t: Be a Know-it-All
Asking a question and for help can be a great way to connect with people you already know. It also helps expose you to new groups of people who do what you do or are at a different point in their career path.
Don’t: Just Talk, Listen
This is really the most important part of any social tool. It takes a while to learn the nuances of each social tool, so really jump into the social media pool by setting up your profile and taking some time to listen. You will learn so much, so quickly.
Have you have an unusual experience with LinkedIn and Has It Given You New Business or a New Job? Please tell us below. Keep these tips handy and soon you’ll be like Michelle and make your LinkedIn experience a go-to social tool.
Don’t shamelessly self promote. Fewer wiser words have been spoken. So true, I see this all the time on Twitter and LinkedIn.
It’s hard for some people to remember that LI and Twitter are not your personal megaphone for broadcasting your business successes. Thanks for the comment, please feel free to share this post with others–I sent it to my niece and nephew who are recent college grads.