5 essentials tips to use LinkedIn

Do you know on average users spend only 17 minutes on LinkedIn per month? It means you only get a few seconds to market yourself and attract them towards your profile. Linkedin is one of the most useful and popular platforms amongst professionals. Although it is an easy process to create an account on LinkedIn but still there are few essentials to follow which can prove to help boost your LinkedIn profile.

1. Complete your LinkedIn profile.
Linkedin is one of the most competitive marketplaces where you are marketing yourself as a brand. Just like any other brand, you need to create awareness about your existence on the platform. Linkedin has specific algorithms that only detect the profiles that are completed so if you want potential employers to notice you on the platform, you should complete your profile.

2. Market yourself like a brand.
I may be using the word ‘’brand” repeatedly but in a business world, everything is a calculated decision. Why should some company or an individual hire you if they do not see you contributing positively towards their goal of profit maximization? Therefore, it is essential for you to market yourself as a brand and asset by including a summary on your profile stating your competitive advantages. You can add your working experience, skills, and area of expertise on your profile. One important advice that I would like to give here to the employees is that thing from an employer’s frame of mind while reviewing your profile such as ask yourself if you were an employer then why would you hire this person? Similarly, as an employer, think from the perspective of the employee that why should they be interested to join your firm and not competitors? To differentiate yourself from the competitors, you should list your competitive advantage over them.

3. Build contacts
Networking helps you a lot to build new contacts and connections. You can either join groups or connect with other users on LinkedIn. It will help you to generate traffic on your profile which may result in connecting you with potential employers or employees. However, do not publicize yourself in the groups as it is against the policies of LinkedIn but you can connect with other professionals through the groups to build contacts or to get industry insights.

4. Ask your connections for recommendations and endorsements.
The people you connect with on LinkedIn can write recommendations for you such as testifying on your skills. This will give a boost to your profile as they will be emphasizing your skills and abilities. Therefore, ask your colleagues to recommend and endorse you to market yourself effectively in front of employers.

5. Stay professional
Professional etiquettes are very essential to maintain a successful profile over LinkedIn. It is advisable to avoid posting any irrelevant material on your LinkedIn profile which may not benefit you in displaying your professional abilities. Creating and maintaining a professional image should be encouraged and be an utmost priority.

These essential tips can help you to build your career through LinkedIn. Although LinkedIn can get very competitive but we should stay honest and avoid overselling ourselves. Remember the important tip, we should sell ourselves as a brand and one of the qualities of a brand is its authenticity.