By now, you’re probably one of the 300 million people around the world with a LinkedIn profile. But having a LinkedIn profile and never posting a status update is like writing a great bio and putting it in a filing cabinet. Chances are good that no one will ever see it. And that really kind of defeats the purpose of being on a social network, don’t you think?
Sharing status updates keeps your profile fresh and shows your network that you’re active and engaged. And it’s one sure-fire way to ensure that you don’t remain invisible to your network. The more you interact, the more your connections will see your name and the more likely they are to reach out to you.
This all sounds great right? But you might be wondering what you should share — and what your network is most interested in. The beauty of LinkedIn is that there is not one right way to share content — but there is a wrong way. You can avoid annoying your network by keeping these tips in mind when sharing content on LinkedIn.
Don’t Make It All About You
If you reached a significant career milestone or just completed a rock-star project ahead of schedule and under budget, by all means, share that news with your network. But if you want to be seen as a valuable resource on LinkedIn (and who wouldn’t?), be sure that your status updates aren’t all about you. That’s one of the quickest ways you can turn your network off, and you can almost guarantee that when you do have something important to share, they won’t pay attention.
Keep Your Audience in Mind
I read an article that said “Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother, clients or employees to read and associate with you.” That piece of advice really resonated with me as a recruiter. Don’t complain or badmouth anyone — your employer, your competitors, anyone. Whatever you post online, remember that anyone can see it — even after it’s been deleted — so keep it professional and clean.
Be Consistent
This doesn’t mean you should share at the same time every single day, but you should make it a habit to share regular updates. An easy way to post regular status updates is to subscribe to your company’s blog or to an industry newsletter. When it’s delivered to your inbox, let that serve as your reminder to share it with your LinkedIn network.
Be Strategic
Put some thought into your status updates. Vary the content, message and focus of the posts to keep your network engaged. Remember that it’s a professional network, so your network is more likely to care about what’s going in your field of work or timely industry news, and less about what you ate for lunch. If you’re headed to a conference or industry event, share a status update mentioning where you’ll be. Pose questions or ask advice from your network. Share thought-provoking or interesting articles that will spark discussions. And remember that people are visual by nature, so posts with photos garner more engagement than posts without. By sharing relevant, well-thought content like this, you establish credibility and will come to be known as a thought leader in no time.
Be Active in Groups
LinkedIn Groups are an incredible resource. You can pretty much find a group for every interest, industry, job and school on LinkedIn. Look for groups that align with your work and alumni network and join them to share information and participate in discussions. Joining relevant groups and participating in active discussions is a great way to boost your LinkedIn presence, and a great way to expand your network.
Remember, your LinkedIn profile is a multifaceted tool designed to build your professional brand, highlight company and personal accomplishments, and serve as an avenue to interact with a large network of like-minded professionals. With a few simple steps, the platform can provide meaningful and long-term results. What other tips do you have for sharing on LinkedIn?
Mike Myers is a recruiter on Burns & McDonnell’s HR team. He actively uses social media to find new talent for the firm. If you’re interested in learning more about Mike or about opportunities available at Burns & McDonnell, connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter (@MSMrecruiter).
Other posts you might like:
The Daily Muse: 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn Groups
Burns & McDonnell Careers Blog: Tips for Using Social Media to Get a Job
photo credit: Coletivo Mambembe via photopin cc
The post Get the Most Out of Sharing on LinkedIn with These Tips appeared first on The Burns & McDonnell Careers Blog.