LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing professional social media networks, and a great way for Shop Consultants to grow their own social networks and meet prospects. In fact, some business analysts are forecasting big things for LinkedIn in 2013, and if you aren’t already using this as part of your regular social media arsenal, you definitely need to be!
Among the upgrades for LinkedIn is a totally new look, including redesigned next generation profile! The new design makes it easier for users to tell their professional story, engage with their network, and discover new business opportunities. Not sure where to start? We’ve got 5 tips to help you can make the most of LinkedIn’s newest features which are sure to help grow your business and expand your network.
1. Larger photo and more prominent headline
One of the biggest changes you will notice about the new LinkedIn profile is that your photo is larger and the headline is much more prominent. This section is prime real estate on your profile, so make sure it’s as clear and keyword-rich as possible! Choose a high-quality photo that represents how you want to be perceived to other professionals and edit your headline with information that best represents you and your business.
2. Use The Activity feed
An Activity section now resides below your photo header. This section displays all of your recent updates, like new people you have added to your network, links you have shared, and posts you have commented on. Since this section is now front and center, make sure that you stay active and share content on a consistent basis. The more you interact with others and post information, the more interesting and approachable you will appear to people who view your profile.
3. Make the Most of Endorsements
Below the Activity section you will find the Background portion of your profile, which includes several features from the old profile and one new feature called Endorsements. This feature allows you list your important skills and receive endorsements for them from your connections. You will also be able to endorse other’s skills, but make sure that you only endorse those who you have worked with or know for a fact that they possess a certain skill. While it may seem tempting to rack up endorsements by endorsing others who you barely know and asking for one in return, it will not benefit you in the long run. It’s important to make sure that the endorsements you receive come from credible people you know and vice versa. Even if this means you only have a few endorsements, quality trumps quantity and you will come across as more genuine than those who abuse the tool.
4. Commonalities With Others Are Now Highlighted
Ever wanted to know what Skills, Groups, Companies, or Locations you might have in common with another user? Simply click on their profile and scroll down to the “In Common With” section on the right. Understanding how you are connected to someone else, even distantly, can help you get the conversation going when you approach someone new.
5. Your Connections’ Networks Are Searchable
The new LinkedIn profile now allows you to search the networks of your connections. For example, if you were using the old profile and wanted to search for people who work in sales and are connected to your friend John Smith, you would have to search your entire network and manually look for individuals connected to John. Now, all you have to do is scroll to the bottom of John’s profile and search his connections for people in sales. Whether you’re using this tool to find people you know or introduce yourself to someone new, being able to refer to a connection that you both have in common will help you get your foot in the door and start the conversation.
If you haven’t joined LinkedIn, it’s easy to do, just request an invitation to the network by clicking here.
These are just a few of the many changes that LinkedIn has made in the past few months.What changes have you noticed and how have they affected your user experience? Tell us in the comments below!