{"id":472,"date":"2021-02-16T11:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T11:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lix-it.com\/blog\/?p=472"},"modified":"2021-11-25T11:13:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-25T11:13:15","slug":"how-to-use-linkedin-the-complete-walkthrough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lix-it.com\/blog\/how-to-use-linkedin-the-complete-walkthrough\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use LinkedIn: The Complete Walkthrough"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 24<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Welcome to How to use LinkedIn \u2013 a complete walkthrough to help you master the professional social platform. This guide is split into four sections, one for each of the four pillars of LinkedIn mastery: profile building, networking & connections, content and company pages. Each section is accompanied by a video. Feel free to skip to the section you need help with most or read (and watch!) all the way through for the complete guide on how to use LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Profile Building<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Networking & Connections<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Company Pages<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Profile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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A strong profile is the very foundation of LinkedIn. Whether you’re using LinkedIn to look for a job, for networking or seeking potential clients you need to make sure that your profile is polished. A polished profile requires a quality avatar image, use of cover image space, tailored headlines, powerful descriptions and a focus on keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In order to walk you through each section of the profile, we’re going to use my personal LinkedIn as an example (you can also watch this section\u2019s *video* and follow along there).<\/p>\n\n\n

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When you sign into LinkedIn, you’re going to see something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

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This is the LinkedIn feed. It’s where you see your connections (and sometimes the connections of your connections!) and their content: the information that they’ve posted, articles, video etc. This is where your content is going to show up when you post it. If you’re already au fait with LinkedIn, then you’ll know all about this. If you\u2019re new to LinkedIn, take some time to get familiar to this view. The feed setup is very similar to other web-based social platforms such as Facebook, so it shouldn\u2019t take too long to get used to.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Let\u2019s jump right into my profile, which looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

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I’m going to take you each of the individual sections and explain how and why I’ve structured mine in the way that I have.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Profile Image<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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First and foremost, make sure that your photograph is professional. Not professional in the sense that a pro photographer took the snap (although that would be nice) but professional in the sense that you are projecting an image of yourself in a professional setting. No photos of you drinking, or smoking, or on the beach, or a party… This may seem obvious, but I see profile images like this fairly regularly and it is not a good look. You might think it makes you look cool and \u2018out there\u2019, but this is a professional networking platform, not a frat party.<\/p>\n\n\n

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My tip for presenting yourself professionally is to wear the clothes that you would normally wear to a networking event within your industry. If you’re in an industry that would wear black tie, or at least a tie and jacket, to a networking event then make sure you’re wearing something like that in your avatar. Remember, that’s what we’re using LinkedIn for. We are here to network in one way or another: finding a job, growing your network, looking for clients etc.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The avatar I use is a little more casual, because I work in startups and tech. I can have an open shirt with t shirt underneath, and that’s absolutely fine. Make a judgement call here. If you\u2019re in doubt, opt for the smarter choice.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cover Image<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The cover image is something that a lot of people neglect, which is a real waste of valuable digital real estate! It doesn’t have to be an all-singing, all-dancing advertisement I’ve seen some that pack in way too much text) and you don’t need to sell something here, but don’t waste the space.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I’ve used something light-hearted and design focused for my cover image:<\/p>\n\n\n

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While it looks great, I can probably do a little bit better by making use of that space and saying something about the company that I work for, a launch we have coming up or perhaps some content we have to give away. If you’re looking for a job, you could always include something about your skills or your search here. If you feel like you have nothing to say in the cover image, don\u2019t fret, include your company logo or a photo from a business event. Something is always better than nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here are some great examples of LinkedIn covers to give you some inspiration: https:\/\/bit.ly\/LinkedIn-Cover-Examples<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Another important point to consider is the recommended sizes for both the profile and the cover image; pixelated images simply will not do.<\/p>\n\n\n

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You can find a full guide to the sizes on Canva: https:\/\/www.canva.com\/sizes\/linkedin\/<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Canva is also a great tool for creating graphics easily. Follow the link, pick a size and start creating. clean and keep it looking good.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Summary & About<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The summary section sits just below your images and includes your current job title, highest level of education, company and number of connections. This information is automatically populated from the details you enter in the relevant sections of your profile.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here is my \u2018About\u2019 section:<\/p>\n\n\n

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You may have noticed a recurring theme with my about section and cover image \u2013 I\u2019ve opted for style over substance! I\u2019ve kept it lighthearted, but you can of course be much more serious than I have.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I’ve chosen three very simple, but I think fairly useful, points:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Firstly, an achievement: \u2018Top 100 Growth Hackers\u2019. I was voted as such in a study by Goodman Lantern. That’s an achievement, it sets me apart from my peers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Secondly, expertise: \u2018Automation expert\u2019. Tthat’s a little bit more about me as a marketer, my skillset and background.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Lastly, on-brand humour: \u2018Fantastic hair\u2019. It\u2019s funny and lighthearted, very on-brand for me, and I do have fantastic hair.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I have seen plenty of variations for the About section, from one-liners to rambling essays. Personally, I would shy away from writing too much here. A big block of text is going to put off any potential readers. Let your profile cover the details of your work history!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Featured<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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This is your chance to add media to give a little extra flavor to your profile.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s my Featured section:<\/p>\n\n\n

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I’ve included an article written about me, talking about my skills and some of my achievements. This is really good: it shows that I have press coverage and that people are interested in what I do. If you have anything similar that celebrates your skills and achievement, be sure to include it!<\/p>\n\n\n

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The next along is my Goodman Lantern \u2018Top 100 Growth Hackers\u2019 nomination. The broken image on the link is a great example of why it\u2019s important to regularly check your profile for changes. A broken image doesn’t fit with the rest of my profile, so I need to either replace it with something else or I need to speak to Goodman Lantern and get them to fix their metadata. Either way, I can\u2019t leave a broken link on my profile!<\/p>\n\n\n

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There are other things you can do with this media space, in fact the possibilities are limitless. You can make a video CV where you talk about yourself, you can give a presentation on a project you\u2019ve worked on, or something you\u2019re interested in. This link space is an opportunity really show off who you are and what you’ve achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Activity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The activity section is fairly important, although many people forget that it\u2019s there. Let me explain why it\u2019s worth bearing in mind\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n

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Any engagements you make on the LinkedIn platform will show up here. Articles, shares, comments\u2026 everything! For content shares, that\u2019s no problem \u2013 it\u2019s great to have a second chance for people to find your content on your profile. Comments however can sometimes be an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the last few years, LinkedIn has become slightly more like Facebook in the sense that people will share personal and political things on the platform. That didn’t used to happen so much on LinkedIn, but it happens a lot now. Always remember, before you comment on something potentially controversial, those comments are going to show up on the activity card on your profile. You don’t want to have an argument with someone about their stance on Trump, for example, and then someone potentially offering you a job or a contract comes onto your platform, sees that you are saying things that they would find potentially unsavory and withdraws the offer. Trust me, it happens!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The most important portion of your LinkedIn profile. Here’s where you’re going to add your job titles, descriptions, the time that you worked there and any supporting media.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If you want to be found in the LinkedIn search, keep your job titles keyword friendly. Some people decide to call themselves \u2018lead-gen startup guru ninja\u2019 and while that may feel exciting, people aren’t searching for those terms. If you don\u2019t use keyword-focused titles, you will appear in less searches, have less connections and less opportunities offered to you. If you’re not worried about those things and your primary concern is being cool and wacky, then go for it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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My most recent experience shows that my position is the Marketing Director for Lix and how long I’ve been here. In the description I talk a little bit about what the company does, but I don’t talk much about what I do in the company. That\u2019s a personal choice and you can change that depending on what you’re hoping to get from LinkedIn. I’m not looking to be recruited (I’m in Lix for the long haul!) but if you are looking for a new job, use that experience section to talk about things that you’ve achieved and your responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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You don’t need to write too much: four or five sentences is more than enough. Think about the length of a tweet, rather than an essay. Blocks off text will put people off and they’re just not going to bother reading it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Make sure that you are honest and accurate in these dates. If you’re looking for work, ensure that the dates here match up with the dates on your CV. It’s very important, because if a recruiter checks both and you’re telling fibs, then that’s not going to look good for you overall!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Time to show off those grades and extracurricular activities!<\/p>\n\n\n

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You can also include formal professional qualifications if you have any, in addition to the standard school and university stuff. If you completed an extra course, or you went to a night school, completed a MOOC or anything along those lines, you can include it there. This information will be pulled through to the top of your profile remember \u2013 the summary section shows your most recent role, current role and your highest level of education, so don\u2019t forget to input that info.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Also, if you did anything extra while you were studying – extracurricular activities, societies, events – include it here. For example, I ran an event while I was at my university, founded a sports team and wrote for the student newspaper. Include this extra points, it all adds up.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Skills and Endorsements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Personally, I don’t think LinkedIn skills are particularly important anymore, but it can be quite a nice thing to trade endorsements with people that you’ve worked with or people you know. I don’t think that employers, or people that you network with, look at this often. Don\u2019t get too het up about your skill scores.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Recommendations, however, are important. You can get recommendations from people that you’ve worked with, or worked for, or have worked for you. It’s a really good way of building up a picture of who you are as a person when you are working.<\/p>\n\n\n

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It’s all well and good saying, “hey, I did this job and I was great at it<\/em>“, but if you can get your boss, or a colleague, or someone that worked for you to say, \u201cactually, this person was great and it was a real pleasure to work with them and they’re a nice person, they’re great achieving goals or they’re good at this or that<\/em>\u201d, that is going to stand out and mean a lot more to someone viewing your profile than just you saying it yourself. It’s social proof, it’s like a testimonial or a review on an Amazon product. We all want to see that someone else has enjoyed this product, this product today being me, or you on your profile.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The great thing about recommendations is they’re really easy to get because you can give one and then ask for one in return. You can follow the \u2018ask for recommendation\u2019 button and pick someone on your connections list. Write one for them and then message them to to say, “hey, I’ve written a recommendation for you, please write one for me<\/em>“.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Accomplishments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Accomplishments are just that \u2013 accomplishments! It\u2019s another chance to strut your stuff. Speak more than once language? Include it here. You can also link to media, qualifications and any articles and videos you didn\u2019t include further up the page. This section is much like the extracurricular activities that you would put on your CV.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This is also a chance to show that you\u2019re really engaged with your industry. If you work in a highly competitive field, it can be really good here to show off the things that help you stand out from the crow. If, for example, lots of people are going to apply for the law firm you want to work for and you’ve been writing a blog, or you\u2019ve contributed to a legal magazine \u2013 talk about it!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Similarly to skills, I don’t think people look at interests too much but you can try to ensure that your interests align your personal brand.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Whenever you follow a person, or company, it will be shown here.<\/p>\n\n\n

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URL & Public Profile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Your public profile is what people see when they come across your profile, but they’re not a LinkedIn member \u2013 usually from a Google search or similar. It\u2019s similar to a private profile on Instagram or Facebook. LinkedIn gives you the options to choose what is visible here, so if privacy is a concern for you then be sure to check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n

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You may also edit your personal URL, making it easier to find you and giving you a cleaner link to post when you share your profile. For example, mine is linkedin.com\/in\/alfie-lambert \u2013 if you\u2019ve got a popular name, go and claim your ideal URL before someone else does!<\/p>\n\n\n

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That\u2019s all for the profile. If you\u2019d like to follow along with the video, you can do that here:<\/p>\n\n\n

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