The 3 "R's" to Great Results on LinkedIn

Firstly…Happy New Year!  I just love new beginnings and the excitement of new possibilities that comes with a clean slate.  That said, new beginnings also guarantee change, and one of those changes is the new design and configuration of LinkedIn, with more changes to come during the 1st quarter of 2017.  So, if you have not already done so, please request a data backup of your profile from LinkedIn so that in the event of a major shift, your information does not go AWOL.  You can get the instructions for this here:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/protect-yourself-now-because-linkedin-making-big-wayne-breitbarth

Aside from these changes, LinkedIn is growing both as a social networking site, (currently it is the largest), and a job search tool.  With over 400 million users, it is also a vast talent pool for recruiters and HR people seeking out specific talent.  Therefore, it is worth considering this platform as an essential career management tool, ensuring that you are not only on LinkedIn, but that you also optimize it. 

The best way to do this is to follow the three “R’s” – Relationships | Research | Reciprocity

Research:  LinkedIn can be used for researching jobs, companies, industries and individuals.  It is a great tool for connecting with recruiters, talent acquisition people and HR folks from different companies that you are interested in or have applied to.  Use the advanced search option to narrow down results and strategically find people that can add value to your network, job search and long-term career.  You can also use LinkedIn to create a target list of companies to proactively reach out to, in addition to finding groups to join that can expand your network, add professional value and strengthen your visibility.    

Relationships:  Connecting with people on LinkedIn is great fun but sometimes it can be difficult to connect with 2nd or 3rd degree connections without an introduction, email or Premium subscription.  So, when sending an invite to someone of interest, try to reach them directly by clicking on the “Contact” tab to see if they have listed other contact information such as an email address or Twitter handle.  Consider sending a customized invitation based on what you know about them, (from their profile or Google), and keep your current network engaged by sending them things such as interest pieces, witty cartoons, personalized messages around landing a new role, work anniversaries, etc…

Reciprocity:   LinkedIn is not just about expanding the size your network, but about building the strength of your network; fostering relationships that can be beneficial for long term employability and overall career health.  The best way to build a strong social net is through give and take such as in-mailing your key people periodically and sending them something of professional value, or keeping people who are helping with your job search or making introductions in the loop about your progress.  It also means “paying it forward when others reach out to you for help”.  However, the simplest way of showing reciprocity is by actively using your status bar to share something of professional value, contributing to a discussion in one of your groups, or posting an informative blog on LinkedIn’s Pulse. 

In considering the above points, it is essential that you are visible on LinkedIn and that your brand is clearly understood.  Be sure that your headline, URL and summary are customized and brand you well.  Then by actively applying the 3 “R’s” persistently and consistently, you will generate the 4th “R”, Results.  

Wishing you a blessed new year filled with all good things, and a successful week!

Lysa