BY SUSANNA PINKUS
I have never really taken to other social media platforms. I don’t like the brevity of tweets or the very personal sharing which exists on Facebook, and I am still learning to grapple with Instagram.
I am, however, really passionate about LinkedIn although most people I know don’t use it.
As a resource, literally at your fingertips, LinkedIn provides a wealth of opportunities to learn from experts and thought leaders within and beyond your field of expertise. This can enable you to keep up to speed, at ease, with the latest research and trends.
I particularly like the interdisciplinary nature of potential networks, and how this can provide a place for innovation and friendships and collaborations to happen (and I have some new and exciting ones coming in 2023!).
Personally, I learn something new every day from LinkedIn, and because posts are relatively short, I can do this in a time efficient way. I also frequently save posts and links to come back to and often circulate them to friends and colleagues.
Alongside learning from others, it is a excellent place to showcase your own expertise and influence discussions on matters which matter to you.
Tips for getting started:
- It sounds obvious, but do complete your profile, and keep it current. Mine has changed so many times over the years. I quite like the process of doing it too as it gives me a chance to refine and reflect on what I am doing.
- Think about why you want to post before what. This is a very different platform to Facebook and Twitter. If you are not familiar with it, before posting, observe others for a while first.
- But be you. Authenticity is key to engagement.
- Initially, you may just want to comment on other people’s posts rather than writing your own but in time, do consider creating your own content. I like to keep an ongoing list of thoughts and topics so that I have an ongoing source of ideas to dip into.
- You may wish to consider adding light-touch personal references in addition to professional content but be mindful of what you post. If in doubt, seek advice beforehand.
- Do reach out and connect with others. And personalise invites where you can and say why you are keen to connect. The other day, I was asked if it was okay to look at other people’s profiles and would that seem weird. Not at all, is the answer! That is the whole point. Do not be scared to reach out to possible connections.
- Do ask questions, tag people in your network, and initiate discussions. You will likely find this a very positive forum for professional exchanges and sharing ideas. I have had such inspiring conversations, both online and offline, with people I would not otherwise have met.
- Think not only about your words but also the images you use to convey who you are and what you represent. Consider curating your own images if you can. People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel, and visuals are such an important element of this.
- Keep your posts as concise as possible. One or two lines at a time. Long paragraphs don’t work well – especially on phones.
Image Credit: Artwork by Ria Mishaal, using components by herself and fizkes/Shutterstock.com
