LinkedIn is a genuinely great tool. It is so intertwined in our lives nowadays that it is easy to forget when we lived without it. It happens with many great inventions. Or even with our mind, once expanded, it is impossible to get it to its original size.
And because of its importance, it is also paramount to protect it. We know, we are biased in this one because LinkedIn is one of our main work tools. We pretty much use it 24/7.
Slowly but surely, we have realized that LinkedIn has become less of a professional tool and more a generalist one. People now post about their holidays or the passing of a beloved one, or their hobbies…you get the point!
But there are many “social media” already for that!
Do not get us wrong. We are not in any moral superiority and in the end, as natural language, things naturally evolve, and they become what people want them to become. But we are not sure to what extent people realize that once destroyed, there is no turning back.
We are somehow still traumatized by Tumblr, which was an incredible site and very revolutionary at the time. We still don’t get how it became such a s**thole so fast. We certainly don’t want the same thing happening to LinkedIn. And do you remember when Facebook was actually a good platform for being connected with your friends?
In various degrees, LinkedIn is very useful to everybody. You don’t need to make a “professional” tool to get the advantages of it. Please let us share some advice here on how to get the most of it:
- First things first, let’s talk about your LinkedIn profile. Your profile is like a digital version of your resume, but it doesn’t have to be as boring as a history textbook. Spice it up with a clear and concise summary, relevant skills, and a professional headshot that doesn’t make you look like a deer caught in headlights. Let’s leave the awkward school photo vibes in the past, okay?
- Now, let’s talk about connecting with others. Don’t just send out generic connection requests like you’re trying to make friends on Facebook. Be strategic and personalize your requests. Explain why you want to connect with them and what you can bring to the table. And please, don’t connect with someone just because you want to sell them something. That’s like going on a first date and trying to sell the person a time-share. Not cool.
- Engage with your network regularly, but don’t be a spammy McSpamface. Share valuable content, like and comment on other people’s posts, and contribute to group discussions. Just don’t go overboard with the emojis and gifs like you’re trying to win a popularity contest. Keep it professional, people.
- Join relevant groups and participate in discussions, but don’t be a troll. This isn’t Twitter, and we don’t need any keyboard warriors running rampant. Keep your discussions respectful and professional, and don’t be afraid to share your expertise and insights. We’re all here to learn and grow, so let’s make it a positive experience.
- Speaking of expertise and insights, share them with the world! Share articles, blog posts, and other content related to your industry that provides value to your network. And don’t forget to add your own commentary and insights to the content you share. We want to hear your thoughts, not just see you hitting the share button.
- Optimize your profile and posts for search engines, but don’t try to game the system. We’re not trying to be the top search result for “how to make millions in one day.” Use relevant keywords in your profile and posts, and make sure your content is informative and well-written. And if you are not a wordsmith, don’t worry. Just don’t use “u” instead of “you” or any other texting lingo. We are not trying to decipher hieroglyphics.
- Last but not least, let your personality shine through! Inject some humor and personality into your posts to make them more engaging and memorable. Share anecdotes, use metaphors, and show us your quirkier side. We want to connect with real people, not just a bland corporate robot.
Finally, we have some room for a special category here. Please, do not hit on people on LinkedIn. We know that flirting in the workspace is as common as breathing but it is important to avoid making other people uncomfortable. There is a space for everything, and a professional network is just not the right place for certain behaviors.
As with any tool, LinkedIn does not have an intrinsic value, what matters in what we do with it. And we believe that following these pieces of advice will make the usage of the platform a much better, enriching experience.
In the end, keeping it spam free makes it easier to find what is relevant for you, being that a job offers or a .NET Core discussion group.
Have a nice ride and #beprofessional!
