In recent times, LinkedIn has grown up to become one of the most popularly used platforms to stimulate career growth. Networking on LinkedIn offers a great opportunity to find new jobs, get insightful career advice and gain more knowledge. LinkedIn Networking serves as a strong foundation to build fulfilling professional relationships and connect with people who’d have a positive impact on your career trajectory. However, whether you’re new to LinkedIn or have been on the platform for some time and find it difficult to network with the right people, You’re perhaps doing something wrong!
Read these 5 tips to help ease your anxiety and boost your confidence to start strengthening your LinkedIn network today.
1. Optimize your profile
It goes without saying that you cannot build a strong LinkedIn network without optimizing your LinkedIn profile. A LinkedIn profile is a great way to develop your personal brand and tell people about who you’re and what you do by managing relevant information under different sections. This will further allow like-minded people who stumble upon your profile to send a connection request.
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF LINKEDIN PROFILE:
(A) Introduction section allows you to display your name, profile photo, current position, education, location, industry and contact information.
NOTE: There’s an option to add ‘open to network’ to your profile. This will help stimulate your LinkedIn connections.
(B) Experience category allows you to write about your professional positions and experience including jobs, positions of responsibility, volunteering etc.
(C) Flaunt by mentioning Honors & Awards you’ve received, licenses & certifications you’ve achieved, test scores, any professional or personal projects undertaken, languages that you understand and speak and a relevant list of your skills
2. Connect with your acquaintances
The best way to begin building your LinkedIn network is by connecting with your friends, family and colleagues. They know a good deal about you, your interests and career goals. As a result, they can not only help you by providing support and guidance in your career growth but also by being a great source for introductions, referrals and endorsements. Moreover, connecting with your immediate social circle first allows you to boost your LinkedIn presence by asking them to engage with your content.
3. Send connection requests
The most obvious and direct way to network on LinkedIn is by sending connection requests. Search for people you want to connect with; they may be your favorite thought leaders, clients, recruiters, any one you just met on Instagram and simply go to their profile and click on the ‘connect’ button. Pro-tip: Always send the request with a personalized message. A cordial note of invitation to accept your request and why you want to connect with the person will most likely increase your chances to connect with the desired individual. Not to forget, you can create an amazing impression and also stand out amidst the crowd.
4. ‘People you may know’ section
Once you’re done building a substantial amount of network, you can head over to the ‘people you may know’ section. This section offers you a customized list of profiles: what kind of people you’d like to network with and who fit your ‘like-minded’ category of people you can connect with, in accordance with people you’ve already networked with. This way you can maintain and foster genuine connections with similar groups of people. A free bit of advice: good relationships are built on the foundations of consistent communication. Engage with your connections either by direct messages or sharing posts to stay in touch with them for a long-term.
5. Curate content on LinkedIn
Content creation on LinkedIn is a great way to enhance your online presence and increase your reach. Sharing your story, experience and life lessons will allow you to reveal more facets of who you are as a person and have more people connecting with you. Most importantly, add your personality and authenticity in your content to stand out as original and distinctive. You might be surprised to see how it’ll expand your LinkedIn Network.
To conclude, LinkedIn Networking is a great place to steer your career aspirations in a new direction. Our aforementioned tips will definitely come in handy in building a strong and worthwhile LinkedIn network.
Still unsure about how to connect with potential prospects on LinkedIn and expand your network? Get in touch with our experts at UpfluencingYou who will help nurture your vision by providing appropriate professional guidance in framing the perfect marketing strategy for your business.