By Remy Raitt
The team from Ad Talent Recruitment Specialists say any professional entity that wants an online presence should have a LinkedIn profile. “A LinkedIn profile serves as a representation of your CV online. It gives people an understanding of your experience and expertise and enables them to find out professional information about you that could aid them in working with you.”
Speaker and author, James Hurford of the Company Doctor agrees, adding that they’re integral because “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.
Unique offerings
LinkedIn provides what other social networks cannot. “LinkedIn offers people a professional platform and network to share information from a professional perspective,” says the Ad Talent Team. “[I]t offers specific sales lead generation and recruitment tools. It is not only opening up opportunities for you to be recognised and headhunted but also where you connect and engage.”
LinkedIn connects you to people and peers who may not necessarily know you in person. Hurford says it offers trust, credibility and influence. ‘’It’s an easy, credible way to promote yourself, share information and build your network,” he says.
Peter Daisyme in an article for Search Engine Journal says it offers more than self-promotion. “When you connect with other professionals in your field, you’re gaining more knowledge and insight since you’re interacting with colleagues,” he says.
Who’s looking?
LinkedIn informs you when someone has been peeping your profile through a notification email, and the variety of people who may come across you online is astounding. The Ad Talent team says anyone from a company to a talent scout, an industry peer or a recruitment consultant might be checking you out on LinkedIn.
Perfecting your profile
That means you can’t afford to have a poor profile. The Ad Talent team, Hurford and Daisyme all agree a clear, professional photograph is essential. Accurate, up to date information is also important. The Ad Talent team also advise to; have a clear sense of purpose and direction; keep it professional; get personal recommendations; ensure you use correct dates and ensure there are no spelling errors. “Do not miss out any information but try to be concise,” they suggest. “This should serve as a record, not unlike a CV, of experience and information about different roles.”
Hurford says a great profile has impact. He believes a strong headline, an interesting short summary, your full background information, work samples, articles and publications all work together to deliver a professional punch.
Show don’t tell
Hurford uses LinkedIn to publish opinion and thought pieces on his industry. These efforts afford him numerous benefits. He says articles, if done well, “position you as an authority and expert in your field”. “It increases your connections, promotes your brand and helps market your products or services." When it comes to writing articles he suggests sticking to what you know. “Don’t write about things you’ve never had experience with. People will see straight through you and you’ll lose all credibility,” he advises.
Be present and progress
“In the ever-changing marketing climate, LinkedIn can be used as a tool to gather relevant information about the industry and network with people within the same industry which could be beneficial for many things, for example, career progression,” says the Ad Talent team. Therefore your LinkedIn profile should always be up-to-date and reflect your own professional goals.
Regularly interacting on the platform will also ensure opportunities are not missed.
Do you have a LinkedIn account? How has your presence on the platform worked for you?