LinkedIn is leading the pack when it comes to professional networking, with 433 million users and the likes of Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Arianna Huffington all contributing to the site. Rather than just making contacts and sharing CVs, the site has evolved as a place where entrepreneurs can offer and receive advice, seek inspiration and discuss the issues of the day.
As an entrepreneur, it’s important to keep your own page optimised to raise your own business’s profile. Here’s how to make the best use of LinkedIn and other professional networks.
Keep them updated
The golden rule when it comes to networking – both personally and professionally – is to keep the content fresh. If you have a LinkedIn account, make sure it is updated with your company’s latest developments, new hires and big business wins. There’s nothing worse than heading to a page of a company you’re interested in and seeing that it hasn’t been updated since February of last year.
To make sure that the posts are fairly regularly updated, assign the role to someone in the business with the capacity to devote time to it every week. LinkedIn recommend that you post at least 20 times a month and aim to publish at 7-8am and 5-6pm, avoiding Mondays and Fridays.
It’s personal
Nothing beats a personal, word-of-mouth recommendation. You can use LinkedIn to ask people that you’ve done business with to endorse you for your skills. It’s possible to identify key skills in your profile to coordinate those recommendations and prevent your profile from becoming diluted. For example, if you run a design company, multiple endorsements about your proficiency with spreadsheets isn’t that helpful.
When it comes to your photo, make sure that it showcases you in a professional light. That means no photos on a night out, on holiday, or with friends. Opt instead for a work-appropriate outfit and plain background.
There may well be a number of relevant groups to join too, that show what your interests are and increase your network’s reach. These can be related to your business, connect to your university school or college, be for social causes you care about, and passions that you have in your spare time. Make time to comment on posts within these networks to raise your profile.
Consider other options
In terms of professional networking, LinkedIn is the most well-known platform, but there are competitors gaining ground, such as Facebook at Work, and publishing app Snapchat.
Snapchat is particularly popular with the startup generation, who are making connections in a more experimental way. It’s an interesting tool for social media campaigns too – the videos are quicker and easier to produce, and you can easily target your chosen audience.
Use it to get more business
LinkedIn can also help you to get more business for your own company, simply by raising its profile in the right way. Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to achieving just that.
Content on this page is paid for and provided by Kia Fleet sponsor of the Guardian Small Business Network Accessing Expertise hub.
