LinkedIn is a very unique online social networking platform, as it focuses on the business to business environment. While a lot of professional individuals already have active profiles on LinkedIn, they are using these as a more polished and professional version of their Facebook and Instagram profiles, for example.
However, there are details particular to LinkedIn’s etiquette that not everyone is aware of, and you should know and put to practice, if you want to be on top.
Complete Your Profile
LinkedIn tells you a percentage of profile completion, and once you hit 100%, your profile will be more likely to appear at the top of the search results page whenever someone looks for you or skills and experience you have. Another factor that heavily influences where you appear on the search results page is the number of connections you have. The rule of thumb is to aim for at least 500 connections.
Make Quality Connections
We know it’s important to have a high number of connections, but for your career or business, it is better to have fewer connections that actually interact and engage with you and your activities, than having a huge audience that doesn’t care about your business.
Be Interesting
If you are trying to be engaging with the content you create and/or share, remember that even though LinkedIn is a B2B platform, businesses are run by people, and people are drawn to visuals and content that resonates with them. Make sure your articles are interesting, light and informative, and that you use visuals effectively. Posts featuring pictures, videos and infographics have 14 times more views on LinkedIn than plain text posts.
Personalise Your Introductions
When making new connections, remember to personalise. This is extra important if you are trying to connect with someone you have never met in person before. Send them a short message, be thoughtful and kind, and do not spam. Be aware that people network in different ways, so they might not respond to your request or message, and that is okay.