LinkedIn best practices?
November 19, 2019 6:15 AM Subscribe
I’m gainfully employed, not looking for a new situation, and not looking to be a thought leader, etc. I have the obligatory 500+ connections. I’m in a senior role at my organization. How should I be using LinkedIn?
Basically, I just add contacts as I meet them, and periodically “like” my contacts’ work anniversaries and new roles, and share friends’ job postings. I don’t generally comment.
I’m not accepting connection requests from randos who don’t include a message, nor do I generally accept from personal business partners (real estate agent who sold me my house; mortgage lender).
I haven’t been giving or soliciting endorsements. I’m not generally active on social media and I don’t post a lot (I’ve been here 15 years and it’s never even occurred to me to post on the Blue).
I’m obviously not going to be a power user on LinkedIn. But I’m willing to change some practices to get more out of the site (we're trying to hire someone now, and more visibility could be helpful in that regard. NOTE: I’m not looking for tips on using LinkedIn to do hiring; but it could be a benefit of using the site more).
Should I forgo likes and write more comments? Write endorsements? Share my employer’s posts?
I’d like to put in a calibrated amount of effort to get reasonable returns (stay current on industry developments, some visibility for my growing department, networking for future hires, etc.).
Basically, I just add contacts as I meet them, and periodically “like” my contacts’ work anniversaries and new roles, and share friends’ job postings. I don’t generally comment.
I’m not accepting connection requests from randos who don’t include a message, nor do I generally accept from personal business partners (real estate agent who sold me my house; mortgage lender).
I haven’t been giving or soliciting endorsements. I’m not generally active on social media and I don’t post a lot (I’ve been here 15 years and it’s never even occurred to me to post on the Blue).
I’m obviously not going to be a power user on LinkedIn. But I’m willing to change some practices to get more out of the site (we're trying to hire someone now, and more visibility could be helpful in that regard. NOTE: I’m not looking for tips on using LinkedIn to do hiring; but it could be a benefit of using the site more).
Should I forgo likes and write more comments? Write endorsements? Share my employer’s posts?
I’d like to put in a calibrated amount of effort to get reasonable returns (stay current on industry developments, some visibility for my growing department, networking for future hires, etc.).
Response by poster: Good point, Candleman—I should have noted I’m in the legal/finance industry, where we’re not as hip to the Twitter and blogs. LinkedIn is definitely where my chickens are at.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:58 AM on November 19, 2019
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:58 AM on November 19, 2019
On refresh, was about to make a comment re:wannabes.. and agree that 'hard core IT' likely is more Medium and code share, etc. Though wannabe is a bit harsh. ;)
I do a lot via LinkedIn on standards and data (finance industry). Usually try to publish via some other venue/new org, then reshare via LinkedIn (and Twitter). But LinkedIn is a first stop for many people to do some initial research on you, or your company.
Comments only matter if they're relevant or additive. So many people respond with "Way to go!" and whatever else.. which is basically the same as if you just 'liked' the post.
Now, with that in mind, if you have a certain position, perspective, or otherwise you'd like to get out, and be branded around (company-wise or individual), commenting and resharing with comments is a way to do that and get some associative branding.
I don't accept random requests to link in with me, although if someone does so with a fairly clear message on why they are inviting me, I usually do accept.
As with anything, your social media presence is a mirror reflection of who you want the world to expect and see. It is either curated and purposeful, random and facebook-like, or just empty and void. In curated and purposeful, you would have to avoid overpromotion that would result in the 'wannabe' or roll-your-eyes responses.
A slow uptick, as opposed to suddenly being prolific would be good, if you're not normally active.
But you need to figure out your goal first; positive promotion of your company only? Ensuring your profile is well rounded and attractive (because even if you are gainfully employed, things happen)? Likely a little of both?
I do post my own articles on LinkedIn, especially when there is a time-relevant issue that trying to go some other outlet would be out of date. But I'm not a big video-blogger or anything like that (though I have shared video interviews I have done via the interviewing media's posts elsewhere).
Also agree that the endorsements are silly, though the written recommendations I do pay attention to.
posted by rich at 8:15 AM on November 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I do a lot via LinkedIn on standards and data (finance industry). Usually try to publish via some other venue/new org, then reshare via LinkedIn (and Twitter). But LinkedIn is a first stop for many people to do some initial research on you, or your company.
Comments only matter if they're relevant or additive. So many people respond with "Way to go!" and whatever else.. which is basically the same as if you just 'liked' the post.
Now, with that in mind, if you have a certain position, perspective, or otherwise you'd like to get out, and be branded around (company-wise or individual), commenting and resharing with comments is a way to do that and get some associative branding.
I don't accept random requests to link in with me, although if someone does so with a fairly clear message on why they are inviting me, I usually do accept.
As with anything, your social media presence is a mirror reflection of who you want the world to expect and see. It is either curated and purposeful, random and facebook-like, or just empty and void. In curated and purposeful, you would have to avoid overpromotion that would result in the 'wannabe' or roll-your-eyes responses.
A slow uptick, as opposed to suddenly being prolific would be good, if you're not normally active.
But you need to figure out your goal first; positive promotion of your company only? Ensuring your profile is well rounded and attractive (because even if you are gainfully employed, things happen)? Likely a little of both?
I do post my own articles on LinkedIn, especially when there is a time-relevant issue that trying to go some other outlet would be out of date. But I'm not a big video-blogger or anything like that (though I have shared video interviews I have done via the interviewing media's posts elsewhere).
Also agree that the endorsements are silly, though the written recommendations I do pay attention to.
posted by rich at 8:15 AM on November 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have a relative who is a master at this. She posts major positive company news, and a lot about corporate giving/volunteering, highlighting employees who have made a difference in the community.
She rarely posts industry news or opinion and doesn't use LinkedIn to keep up on that - she focuses on it as the connection between people. She's in HR.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:30 AM on November 19, 2019
She rarely posts industry news or opinion and doesn't use LinkedIn to keep up on that - she focuses on it as the connection between people. She's in HR.
posted by warriorqueen at 8:30 AM on November 19, 2019
Use it to introduce marginalized people in your circle to powerful people who might be hiring. In short, support and promote others who could use a boost. Use a double confirm process before introducing.
posted by bilabial at 8:48 AM on November 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by bilabial at 8:48 AM on November 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
And if there are few or no marginalized folks among your 500? Use it to fix that and start taking those marginalize people out for coffee and listening to what would make their careers better.
posted by bilabial at 8:49 AM on November 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by bilabial at 8:49 AM on November 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
If you would like a step by step guide to LinkedIn optimization, and a profile review, I'd be more than happy to do this for a fellow me-fi (do this all day at ah agency). In the meantime I suggest lots of liking and sharing with commentary/added value, joining relevant industry groups etc. It's great to spend time endorsing others - they can choose whether to accept it on their profile or not but I've found it's a great gift to more junior members of staff.
posted by teststrip at 12:13 PM on November 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by teststrip at 12:13 PM on November 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
A couple of other points:
1. You may not be actively looking for work now - but this could change in the future. If that happens you may wish to start refining your profile, looking at options and so on But you may not wish your colleagues to be aware of this. People who have never had a LinkedIn profile - or who have one that has not been updated for years - often worry at this stage - because your colleagues will often find and read your profile and they could be alerted to the fact that you are looking elsewhere. By putting in a little effort every now and then, you avoid this problem if it comes to the time for you to start looking.
2. As you mention, the site can be a valuable tool for you if you are looking to hire. Having your own profile be in a state where it looks as if you give it an occasional check, helps with this. Prospective employees may be put off contacting you if you have a profile that appears not to have been touched for years.
posted by rongorongo at 1:58 AM on November 20, 2019
1. You may not be actively looking for work now - but this could change in the future. If that happens you may wish to start refining your profile, looking at options and so on But you may not wish your colleagues to be aware of this. People who have never had a LinkedIn profile - or who have one that has not been updated for years - often worry at this stage - because your colleagues will often find and read your profile and they could be alerted to the fact that you are looking elsewhere. By putting in a little effort every now and then, you avoid this problem if it comes to the time for you to start looking.
2. As you mention, the site can be a valuable tool for you if you are looking to hire. Having your own profile be in a state where it looks as if you give it an occasional check, helps with this. Prospective employees may be put off contacting you if you have a profile that appears not to have been touched for years.
posted by rongorongo at 1:58 AM on November 20, 2019
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Personal opinion based on working in tech, YMMV - there isn't much for most people to get out of the site other than looking for a job and keeping vague track of people that you know in the industry. The only stuff I see people posting is pretty vapid and general stuff - the real meat of IT at an individual level is posted to blogs (including sites like Medium) and generally disseminated via Twitter. The people I see posting to LinkedIn often are the ones I'd classify as wannabes. I don't know anyone that places any value in endorsements.
As far as it helping recruit people, I don't think it would do anything for that. People you'll be interviewing will use it to find out more about you so they can know what to talk about in interviews, but that's about it. People generally find a job posting they're interested in and find out more about people associated with it than vice versa.
posted by Candleman at 7:33 AM on November 19, 2019