Are you committing fatal errors with LinkedIn?
LinkedIn has the least amount of interaction compared to Twitter or Facebook, but there are multiple ways of making it more interactive than it initially appears.
Fatal Error #1: Don’t fill out your profile
LinkedIn’s profile has integrated parts that work together. You need to complete all of them and write it professionally to make it work for you. Think of the summary section as your sales flier. Without completing the summary, you (the Product) are not stating your value. The summary needs to promote the value you bring to an organization. The Specialties area is meant to be a keyword section much like you incorporate in your resume. What message are you wanting to share in this section? Job listings. Don’t just post the place and your title. What value did you bring to each position? Don’t know, can’t think? Ask someone who knows you well and whose opinion you value. Give tidbits of your value on the LinkedIn Profile. Your profile is not static and you can get back in there and edit whenever you want.
Fatal Error #2: Don’t invite anyone
Though I talk about this frequently, I see many people who don’t realize that you do have to invite people to increase the benefits from LinkedIn. People who open a profile and sit there without connecting have lost a viable resource. Start by connecting with people you know who are using LinkedIn. LinkedIn gives suggestions from similarity in the fields you fill out.
Fatal Error #3: Use the standard invitation
The “I’d like you to join my professional network on LinkedIn” sounds great the first time you get the invite but after getting it from everyone inviting you, it gets stale quickly. Make each invite personal. Erase those words or add on to them. LinkedIn just put limits on invitations and the character count is very short. Using creative strategies and personalization though you can still make the invitation inviting. I try to think a connection or memory that the person I am inviting brings to me.
Example: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. Hi Anne, it was nice getting to know you a little yesterday through our Dental Hygiene exchange. We’ve both been part of PARW for a long time but I haven’t added you to my network.”
Fatal Error #4 – Don’t use the answers feature
I’m guilty of not using the answers feature or the discussion feature of groups too. But every time I use them, my connections grow because the person who asked the question often choses to connect with me.
Example: “Adding LinkedIn profile link to the Resume – What’s your opinion
Your public answer:
“This has been a debate among professional resume writers and the entire career community. The consensus seems to be that content of the LI link should be the determining factor. If you are using LI properly, getting stellar recommendations, providing well-supported answers to questions, and your profile is flushed out and supports your resume with additional (not cut and paste) information, then yes. If you have a weak profile, no recommendations, and don’t use the tool well, leave it off. The primary question needs to be: “Will putting my LI profile link on my resume sell me and my assets to the employer or will it be a detriment?” If yes, put it on!”
We can talk more about Fatal Errors another day but hopefully these have given you some food for thought. Contribute your own suggestions or questions. I love comments!
Will have to re-read this one. Again!
Everyone should. Misusing LI and all social media is very common. We all do it and miss opportunities to connect, converse, network, and benefit.