5 tips to be a LinkedIn power user

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Nobody can deny the importance of LinkedIn anymore. With more than 175 million members in 200 countries and territories, the social network is the top site for business professionals.

I have received several emails from readers of the blog asking if I could share some tips to help them leverage LinkedIn. You will find five in this article.

Tip #1: LinkedIn is not Facebook

“I don’t need LinkedIn. None of my friends are there.”

LinkedIn serves a very different purpose from Facebook:

• LinkedIn is a business-oriented platform.
• Facebook is all about connecting with friends and family.

In social media, there is no room for cookie-cutter strategies.

Tip #2: Fill in your profile

Your LinkedIn profile is much more than an online résumé. So make sure that you do the following:

• Upload a nice profile picture of you
• Write a relevant bio
• Fill in the Experience area with relevant information
• Add skills to receive endorsements
• Show off your SlideShare presentations and blog posts
• Highlight your publications / achievements / awards
• Add links to your website and blog

Tip #3: Connect with professionals in your niche

Do not just add people with interesting profiles. Focus on relevancy.

When you invite someone be part of your network, do not just send them the generic default message (“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn”). Instead, take the time to write a short introductory paragraph that explains why you think you should be connected.

Tip #4: Share interesting content 

LinkedIn is not just for growing your network. You should also use the social media site to engage and share interesting content with your connections.

Professionals who share articles or content with their LinkedIn network at least once a week are nearly ten times more likely to be contacted by a recruiter for new opportunities than people who don’t share with their network. So ask your network a question via your status update like “I’ve got a new business pitch with Nike tomorrow. Does anyone have any contacts over at Nike?”. Or make a general comment like “I’m heading to the airport for a client meeting in Denver.” Remember it’s about quality over quantity because every status update you share is a reflection of who you are as a professional.

(Source: LinkedIn Blog)

Tip #5: Behave like a professional

Think twice before venting about the unfairness of life on LinkedIn. People are not interested in your negative ramblings. Instead, save them for Facebook — or even better, your friends.

When you send group messages, uncheck the “Allow recipients to see each other’s names and email addresses” box.

Do not get into violent arguments in LinkedIn Groups. Instead, try to resolve matters peacefully and through private messages.

Make sure you know your connections enough before asking them to recommend you.

In a nutshell, keep it positive, professional and relevant.

Update:

After reading this article, Liz Wilson suggested two fantastic tips on Google+. I am sharing them with you here:

“I would add to check in to read your messages and notifications regularly - if someone has sent you a message, or you’ve received an endorsement or notification, you want to react swiftly. Another thing I would recommend is to keep an eye on who endorses you and be sure to say thank you.”

Now, it is your turn to speak. What are your tips to use LinkedIn like a pro?