With new photo sharing and messaging apps popping up every day, LinkedIn often gets overlooked by PR pros. Today, Worthington Industries’ Kelly Malone has tips for keeping your profile fresh and relevant (regardless of whether you’re actively job searching):
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Post by: @KelPR
With profile views, endorsements, analytics, job announcements, acquisitions like SlideShare and a new publishing platform, LinkedIn is constantly dripping notifications to keep professionals interested and coming back. Personally, I’m intrigued by who has viewed my profile each week and how those people found me. Yet, some are still skeptical of the value of the professional social network for anything other than job-seeking.
Here are five reasons to keep your LinkedIn profile clever, fresh and relevant.
- It says something about your personal brand. Your profile influences perceptions of you by former, current and future colleagues. You may not be actively searching for a gig, but ensure you’ve left a positive impression on passersby today who may be important tomorrow.
- Avoid 101 conversations with vendors and potential partners. No one enjoys being told what they already know. Allow new business partners to do their homework first so they can skip the elementary intro to SEO (or other well-versed subject) and have meaningful conversations with you in the pitch.
- Earn credibility among cross-functional teams and leaders internally. Have you noticed employees from your company, whom you don’t know, checking out your profile? Your next assignment could involve them. In addition to the good work you do daily, let your online repertoire help land the big projects you desire.
- Dodge cold calls. If you’re specific about your current role, you may elude sales folks wondering if you book corporate travel. No promises here, but it’s worth a shot.
- Attract top talent. As many of us have learned first-hand, co-workers can make or break your experience at an organization. Do yourself and your company a favor by showcasing your excellent skills and accomplishments and writing an enticing (and accurate, of course) job description. You may be one of the reasons the perfect candidate leaps at the opportunity to join your team.
A 2013 study showed 86% of online U.S. adults use search engines to look up other people. LinkedIn profiles typically rank highly in search results, and each day, the social network receives an average of 15 million profile views. Leave your curious new acquaintance, colleague, job candidate, agency partner or neighbor with a positive feeling about who you are, what you’ve accomplished and what you’re interested in doing next. That person may be a great addition to your network.
Kelly Malone is a social strategist and retail products marketing coordinator at Worthington Industries. With 10 years of experience in public relations and social media, Kelly has helped B2C and B2B organizations build passionate groups of advocates online. Connect with her on Twitter @KelPR or LinkedIn.
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Photo credit: Dan Palmero, via Flickr Creative Commons