6 Ways to Establish Yourself As an Expert Using LinkedIn
And stand out in an oversaturated digital world.
Photo: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
Strong personal branding, when done right, is an act of service. It’s greater than your ego and bigger than your fears. It’s about your audience, your customers, and your network. Trust me when I say: they are waiting for you to show up.
But how do you find your community in such an oversaturated digital world?
You go to LinkedIn.
Yep, you heard that right. And here’s why.
LinkedIn has 675M users, but only 3M—a tiny drop in the bucket—are using it to its full capacity. LinkedIn is this wide-open white space ready for the taking, a place to build authority and thought leadership, and most importantly, a place to show up authentically in the context of your career. Despite the great opportunity LinkedIn provides, less than 0.5% of users are maximizing its potential.
Linkedin is today what Instagram was in 2012—our most underrated platform. In the last few years, the LinkedIn algorithm has generated a 50% increase in viral activity year over year.
LinkedIn is the only platform where career and authenticity merge. If you’re ready to up your thought leadership game, here’s how you can master LinkedIn for your own personal brand.
Optimize your profile.
Looking at other people’s profiles is the #1 activity on LinkedIn. That means optimizing your profile is critical. Update your cover photo, headshot, headline, summary, exemplary media, and work experience to reflect a full, 360-degree story. Think of Linkedin as a search engine and your profile as your own personal website. This is your ultimate business card.
Be human.
The olden days of LinkedIn are long gone. This is no longer simply a place for job search. This is a place to connect. Sure, show your expertise, career history, and your resume, but also show who you are. If you’re building a brand of your own, yes, people care about what you do, but they will do business with you based on who you are and how you show up. You need to be extremely intentional about your humanity and your professional expertise. And if you're able to blend both, you will cut through the noise.
Be true.
Being real, approachable, and relatable isn’t always likable. In fact, if you’re disrupting any industry, you’ll come across some haters. The aim isn’t to be likable; the aim is to be true to yourself, and THAT will gain you the right clients, business, network, etc.
Publish quality over quantity.
Every platform serves a purpose, and LinkedIn has established itself as the leader in top-quality long-form content. Publishing natively to the platform has proven to be a successful marketing strategy and an effective way to position yourself as a thought leader. If you’re worried about sounding self-promotional, focus on telling real stories and sharing in a way that can be of service to others. You're trying to create value versus adding to the noise.
I’ll say it a million times—no one cares about what you do, people want to feel something. They want inspiration, education, and entertainment. They want to feel uplifted, less alone, and more empowered! Know your audience, but also know this: if you’re willing to open up and be human and real, that's where the good stuff lies.
Own your niche.
One of the biggest complaints I hear is that LinkedIn is only for the corporate world and that it’s not for creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, or disruptors—that it’s not for you—but that’s wildly untrue. People of all industries, not just corporate, play here. LinkedIn is not industry exclusive; in fact, its algorithm favors “small” creators. It’s a place to showcase your niche and own it.
Be consistent.
Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. LinkedIn is by definition a social networking app. You have to be willing to join the party, not just when you need a break, but consistently to connect, learn, and support your community.
The making of a truly powerful personal brand sits at the intersection of your humanity and your expertise. And there is no better social media platform to bring it all together than LinkedIn.
“Think of Linkedin as a search engine and your profile as your own personal website. This is your ultimate business card.”
—Jessica Zweig, CEO of SimplyBe. Agency
About the Author: Jessica Zweig is the CEO of SimplyBe. Agency, a premier personal branding firm based in Chicago and serving clients across the globe. Named a “Personal Branding Expert” by Forbes, a “Top Digital Marketer to Watch” by INC, and honored with the Gold and Silver Stevie® Award for “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2018 and 2019, Jessica facilitates sold-out workshops and speaks on the power of personal branding to corporations including Google, Salesforce, Virgin, Nike, Motorola, Red Bull, and Bank of America. She also hosts the top-ranked marketing podcast The SimplyBe Podcast. Jessica’s debut book, “Be: A No Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Net Worth by Simply Being Yourself,” launched in February 2021 with Sounds True, an imprint of Macmillan.
This story was originally published on July 7, 2020, and has since been updated.
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4 LinkedIn Dos & Don'ts to Boost Your Profile and Grab Every Recruiters’ Attention
Make the most of the social media platform.
Photo: Christina Jones Photography
Unlike the rest of your social media accounts, which can be used to share selfies and carefully crafted photos of lattes with intricate designs against chic marble backdrops, LinkedIn might just be the most sacred social network that you have—and you shouldn’t abuse it.
There are many LinkedIn dos and don’ts, and you have to make sure that you’re not crossing the line when you’re networking or leaving out crucial information that can help recruiters find you. If you want to be taken seriously and make sure that your connection requests will be approved, make sure that you’re following some of the dos and don’t below.
DON’T #1
Don’t send LinkedIn requests out of the blue to someone you have never connected with in person or have any mutual connections with. Whoever you are requesting will immediately deny you and move on to the next request, especially if they have no context of who you are, what you do, or when you met. And you can rest assured that they will ignore your request if you don’t personalize it.
DO #1
If you are trying to connect with someone who you haven’t met or are looking to have a meeting with, introduce yourself via a message and let them know why you want to connect. This will give you more chances of the person actually opening your message, add you as a connection, and hopefully lead to a meeting down the road.
DON’T #2
LinkedIn is not the place to post your best selfie. An overhead selfie with your best angle won’t do you any favors on here, so make sure that you’re choosing your profile photo wisely.
DO #2
Get yourself a great photographer and invest in a headshot that will boost your credibility on LinkedIn. If you’re on the job hunt, and a recruiter sees your selfie versus someone who has invested in a good headshot, chances are you might not get that call for an interview.
DON’T #3
Don’t send spammy messages. Yes, those include those out-of-the-blue birthday messages as well. Did you really remember that connection’s birthday, or are you just taking advantage of LinkedIn’s reminder? Be above that.
DO #3
Nurture your relationships. Don’t add people just to add to your connection count. Make sure to follow up with them, congratulate them on their recent achievements and work-related milestones, and offer ideas on how they could improve their business, if approptiate.
Also, it’s always best to show your connections what you can offer them versus asking them what can they offer you first. Connections are solidified that way.
DON’T #4
Avoid self-serving content. This is not Facebook or Twitter, so nobody really cares what you are doing in your daily life, or what you’re eating for lunch. If you find yourself posting that on LinkedIn, you can immediately start seeing your connection count drop drastically.
DO #4
When posting updates on LinkedIn, make sure to share information that’s viable to your connections. Feel free to share content from Forbes, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, and other trustworthy news sources. Also, if you are writing your own content, that’s okay to share as well. (Psst… This is a great way to get more traffic to your site and more eyes on your content.) Pay attention to what your connections are talking about, write your own content on those topics, and set yourself as a trustworthy news source.
What are some of your LinkedIn dos and don’ts? What are your ultimate pet peeves as professionals? Sound off below!
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This story was originally published on June 1, 2016, and has since been updated.
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4 Pro Tips for Navigating the Job Hunt During COVID-19
How to level up during lockdown.
Photo: Vlada Karpovich for Pexels
With one-in-four young adults facing unemployment, there’s no better time to stay focused on your career goals. Though this might not be the easiest time to find a job, it doesn’t mean that opportunities aren’t out there—you just have to know how to find them and how to stand out in a sea of résumés. Here are a couple of ways to stay focused and remain successful in your job search during COVID-19.
Reach Out to Your Network
LinkedIn was made for times like these. Use it to your advantage and start networking! Take the time to reach out to friends past and present to see if they know of any job opportunities that might be of interest to you. Try to keep the conversation light and informative; explain what you’re looking for and how appreciative you are of their time and insights.
Are you a college graduate? Don’t forget to connect with previous professors, old classmates, and alumni who are in your field, they might know of a company or a person who you can connect with. Utilize LinkedIn messaging and InMail to reach out and start a conversation. Twitter is another great place to get ahold of people in a more direct/personal way.
Stay Active
It’s easy to let unemployment bring you down and break your spirit, but don’t forget your passion and future goals. Stay active in your job search and keep a daily schedule in order to stay fervent in your mission. Structure your days and block off time to job hunt. Not only will this keep you highly productive but will keep you from feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Here are a couple of ways to stay active during your job search:
Post a couple of times a week on LinkedIn related to your career path. This could be industry news, or even just motivational/inspirational content for others to see that you are active and using the platform for job purposes.
Build out your profile on other job sites so employers can easily find you.
Send follow-up emails for job applications and interviews and always keep checking your email for any updates.
Set Up Alerts
Job search sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and Indeed allow you to set up job alerts. These can be customized for whatever type of job you’re looking for, including distance, industry, type of company, salary, etc. You can also choose whether you want the alerts to arrive in your inbox weekly or daily. These reminders can be a quick way for you to stay on top of job openings and make it easier than ever to apply and get on with the rest of your day.
Update Your Résumé
There’s nothing more important than an updated résumé, cover letter, and portfolio. Your résumé should reflect your career, for example, if you’re a graphic designer, show off some of your skills with a colorful and stylish résumé. Make sure your job descriptions are detailed and concise for the average employer to read through and understand.
While applying for jobs, don’t forget to tailor your cover letter to the position you’re applying for, and be sure to include keywords that will grab the employer’s attention and prove you have all of the right experience.
Depending on your career and job history, a portfolio is another great asset to carry with you to job interviews. For writers and people in the creative field, it’s an easy way to show off your skills and clips in a more formal way than just an attached PDF.
Create the future you deserve by building your new job-hunt routine and staying on top of your goals and skills. Use these tips to your advantage and land that dream job!
About the Author: Abbey currently works at a full-service ad agency as a digital marketing coordinator. She also owns a music blog (blondieandthebeat.com) where she writes about music and artists she loves. Throughout her time as a writer and media maven, she’s remained passionate in her love of sharing stories, curating content, and inspiring women. You can usually find her cuddled up on the couch binging “Sex and the City” (for the 20th time) or caught up in a good book.
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5 LinkedIn Hacks To Land You A Job Interview
You have your resume up to par, but how are you maximizing your LinkedIn for your job hunt?
Original image by @lisadengler
LinkedIn. A bit of a beast but also the best way forward when you're on the job hunt. Here are some hacks most of the other candidates aren't using.
1. USE THE "SEE WHO'S VIEWED YOUR PROFILE" TOOL TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
We know. It's embarrassing. But you can use that creepy tracking system to get your name on your interviewer or future manager’s radar. When you apply for a job, search for your possible interviewer, future boss, or recruiter's LinkedIn profile. (Make sure your profile viewing settings are set to your name and headline before you do this, otherwise it won’t work.) When your name pops up on their “See Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section and then again in the resume pile, you increase the chance that they'll take a second look because they’ve seen your name before. During my job search, I looked up the recruiter, the HR manager, and my potential superiors. Two of them returned the profile view and a week later I got an email for an interview!
"When you apply for a job, search for your possible interviewer, future boss, or recruiter's LinkedIn profile."
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2. ACTUALLY UPDATE AND POST TO YOUR PROFILE
It’s great and all when that potential interviewer checks out your profile, but if you haven’t updated your experience or changed your profile photo to something more professional, it's not going to matter. Though this isn’t a totally “unknown hack,” it’s definitely something applicants frequently miss on their to-do list. Before applying, update your experience, but leave out any unnecessary jobs—your high school babysitting gig probably isn’t as relevant as some of your more recent experience. {click to tweet} When I started my job search, I had narrowed down what I wanted to do so I removed some of my irrelevant experience—like my bartending and student desk jobs—since they didn’t apply to the jobs I was after.
"Before applying, update your experience on LinkedIn, but leave out any unnecessary jobs."
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3. REWRITE YOUR HEADLINE
“Student at the University of Something” definitely isn’t as appealing as “Digital Communication and Millennial Marketing Specialist.” Make yourself sound intriguing, hireable, and knowledgeable. From my experience, standing out as a student or recent grad can either help or hurt you, so if you leave that out of your initial impression via your headline, you have a better chance of showing off your skills and experience without being prejudged based on your graduation date. (Side note: don’t ever lie about your graduation date.) I chose Media Communication Professional since it rounded up my experience in communication and digital media while also proving that I knew what I was doing without overstating my experience.
4. JOIN GROUPS AND CONNECT WITH RECRUITERS
The best way to connect with other industry professionals and recruiters is to join relevant groups—and actually participate in them. There are hundreds of groups for every industry and even general groups designed for meeting recruiters (see: The Recruiter.com Network). I’ve joined countless groups related to my industry, my interests, and even alumni groups from companies and schools I’ve been involved with not only for networking, but also for research and educational purposes. A lot of people post relevant industry content (of their own and shared) that helps me continue my education and networking post-job search. Go a step further by being one of the people posting content. Position yourself as an industry professional right away and watch those future recruiters come crawling. {click to tweet}
"Position yourself as an industry professional right away and watch those future recruiters come crawling."
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5. ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
You can't just sit around waiting for things to come your way. Don’t get me wrong, it can feel awkward to ask someone to post a ton of nice things about you, but it’s going to get that recruiter to call you in for an interview. When they see a variety of fantastic recommendations from your coworkers and superiors, they’re going to know you’re a superstar and offer you an interview asap. To get around that awkwardness, pay attention to the way you word your request and who you ask! Make sure you only ask someone who has actually worked closely with you and can vouch for your skills. I asked my immediate supervisor and simply said that I valued her opinion and that I would be honored to have her recommendation. It’s that simple! Whatever you do, don’t use the default message provided by LinkedIn—it’s impersonal and comes off quite rude! If your recommender is going to take the time to write something for you, you should take the time to ask kindly.
An original version of this article appeared on Career Contessa. Written by Laura Bauman
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Put that resumé to work, work, work, work, work.
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5 Tips on Landing The Job You Want (& Then Keeping It!)
Soniya Monga is busy. After helping launch LinkedIn Canada in 2010, she was named one of Marketing’s 2013 Top 30 Under 30. Now based in New York, she's been with the networking company for five years, successfully growing her own brand within its ranks. She's now working on global agency partnerships and spent time cultivating and growing global experience based out of Hong Kong for LinkedIn North Asia. From Day 1 (which she spent grabbing office supplies) to Day RN, Soniya's professional triumphs are impressive including speaking at the internationally recognized One Young World (Davos for the cool kids). Which is why we wanted to find out from her just how to land that dream job-- because she's got know-how in spades.
Be sure to check-in with Soniya at Create & Cultivate Dallas, where she'll be a mentor and panel moderator.
PICK WHICH GAME YOU'RE PLAYING
A big part of success is picking which game you’re playing. In the tech industry people refer to this as pivoting, but I think it can apply to careers. If your current plan or company isn’t working for you, pivot to a new one where you can win. Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued.
"Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued."
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BE UN-CONFIDENT WHEN TRYING SOMETHING NEW
Let yourself see how things become less scary through experience. When I was working at LinkedIn in Asia, doing business in Korea felt scary and was the definition of being outside of my area of comfort. I didn’t know the language, understand the cultural nuances, or frankly feel qualified to have a seat at the table. But trip after trip, the challenge became subsequently less intimidating. It taught me to always to consider your audience and who you’re talking to, and to respect that audience immensely.
CRAFT A CAREER ACCORDING TO YOUR STRENGTHS
Growing up, I always thought that having a profession was the ultimate pinnacle of success. By calling myself a doctor, lawyer, etc., I was under the assumption that this would be most fulfilling. For some, this is true, and that’s wonderful, but I quickly realized that following passion projects, thinking about ideas and finding a way to package that into a job I love, has been most gratifying.
DON'T BE AN IDEA STEALER OR KNOW-IT-ALL
Instead be a question asker – asking questions is simply the best way to break through, challenge yourself and the environment around you. I think the art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression. Whenever I've asked the most questions being new to a job, team or country, I've found it helpful in breaking barriers and learn 10x faster. Also, know-it-alls aren't fun to be around or work with - give credit wherever you can.
"The art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression."
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WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED
Think about picking a career where growth is dependent on the quality of your decisions – this can ensure you’re positioning yourself to over-index for skill vs. time, and can potentially generate a higher pay off. At my time at LinkedIn specifically, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in multiple “start-up like” environments, which meant doing everything from ordering envelopes to talking to CEOs of global companies in the same day. You may not be an entrepreneur in the traditional sense, but it’s important to act like one.
Whether you want to lead and build a company some day or make high impact in your current job, self-improvement is for everyone. There are clearly more than five things you can and should do to optimize for career success, however, making intentional choices throughout your career will hopefully help you land the job you want...and keep it!
Since 2010, Soniya Monga's career journey with LinkedIn has grown exponentially. The maven built their presence in Canada and took the helm as the company's global agency partnership lead. She was also named Marketing's Top 30 Under 30 when she was regional account director for LinkedIn, North Asia. Hear some of Soniya's best tips for building strategic partnerships and how she's been able to expand the brand internationally at her mentor session at Create & Cultivate Dallas.