LinkedIn used to be an app many loved to hate, but it has now become that important course in school you have to take if you want a kind of result. The app has gotten such a rebrand from companies, industry experts and professionals that you may need to up your LinkedIn game if you want to position yourself a certain way, get certain kinds of opportunities/job offers and get dibs on specific job openings. Even more, many companies are easier to apply to via LinkedIn when the app technology pairs your skills with the available vacancies and what not.
So, yeah, it is a lot of work compared to Instagram but LinkedIn is important and the sooner you began building your page, the better for you and your dreams of being “Excited to share… Excited to announce…” Lol. So here are a few tips on how to enjoy using LinkedIn more naturally so you can actually progress professionally and career wise.
- ANNOUNCE! I know everyone on LinkedIn starts their post on LinkedIn with “I am excited to announce…” Lol. It is LinkedIn speak and to be fair, it is also attention grabbing. So you may not be able to do without it, but even when you use it, please actually announce something worthwhile. Also remember to write in the first person because this helps make your post sound more personal and less like a corporate announcement.
- TRY to sound as natural as can be. Much as LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, you don’t have to be overly formal in your posts. Write in a conversational tone, as if you were speaking to someone in front of you – without the awkwardness, if you’re a shy person.
- ADD a personal touch. If you’re sharing an announcement or update about your company or personal brand, try to include a personal anecdote or story that relates to the topic. It could be a funny one or one without the happiest of endings, but it could appeal to the readers emotion. It can also make your post feel more authentic and relatable, encouraging anyone reading to share because they resonate with what you shared.
- USE hashtags. Hashtags can help your post reach a wider audience on LinkedIn. Use relevant hashtags to make your post more discoverable, and consider using a mix of popular and niche hashtags to reach both a broad and targeted audience. Something I also do is, I hashtag my name in some posts. That way, people remember my name when they see it at the foot of the post, and clicking on the hashtag will open a list of posts I have shared or featured in but did not get tagged in.
- ENGAGE with others. This is a dicey one because there is a likelihood that you feel lost when you get on LinkedIn. There is also an air of seriousness that sweeps over you if you are new to LinkedIn and don’t have many (real life) friends there. It can in fact scare you away. But, don’t be intimidated and don’t just post and walk away. Find and connect with your real life friends on the platform. Exchange messages, take the time to reply to comments and engage with others on LinkedIn.
This can help build relationships and make your presence on the platform more authentic.
BONUS TIP: Be consistent. Just like you are consistently posting on Instagram, Twitter or WhatsApp stories, go the extra mile and post often on LinkedIn. Where possible, copy and paste that Instagram post and share on LinkedIn as well. Take away the pressure of waiting until you have something to share or announce before returning to the platform. It is really the law of invaluable growth by John Maxwell; “in order to make significant change, consistency has to be one of the main ingredients. Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.”
Now let me take my own advice.