Using LinkedIn for business

Well, despite its name many seldom feel linked in when they use LinkedIn. In fact, we would not be surprised if the majority of LinkedIn’s use was occupation stalking either by your acquaintances or people who are looking for your work. Which actually, oddly enough, translates into an effective use for LinkedIn. Because, if used correctly and effectively it can be one of the most useful social media tools professionals can use.

There are many features that adequately contribute to LinkedIn’s usefulness in this situation. Connections are, unsurprisingly, people you’ve connected with. Whether they’re friends or people you’ve worked with or for, they become part of your LinkedIn ‘inner circle’. As you search new people on LinkedIn you can see degrees of separation, and if users are separated by less than three degrees from your current connections, then you can see their profile in full detail.

Basically, LinkedIn allows users to develop a professional profile online, like a more effective and integrated resumé. This can be useful in numerous ways and for numerous parties. For instance, individuals can endorse and be endorsed by their connections in certain subject fields or abilities. Endorsements range from Microsoft Office to Public Relations. Ultimately, this allows users to give people people they’ve worked with endorsement for fields or specialisations they have experience in. This allows possible employers to see not only what prospective employees are endorsed for, but also who has endorsed them, which also carries a lot of weight. As well as this, LinkedIn additionally puts emphasis on how many times an individual has been endorsed for a certain skill or expertise, which also contributes greatly to how they are viewed by possible employers. LinkedIn allows users to add current and previous positions, education and general work experience, as well as interests and other personal details.

Ultimately, LinkedIn is the future of professional profiles online. But the main tips for using LinkedIn effective for business is to interact with users. Endorse people and they will endorse you. As well as this, people pay attention to who endorses the profiles they examine, including the degrees of separation between you and others. Additionally, you are representing your employer on LinkedIn, so you could draw attention to your employer as representative of your expertise, drawing in work.

However, the tip that we can’t emphasise enough is using LinkedIn. If 99% of LinkedIn users half heartedly used the platform because some people somewhere used it then it’s not going to all of a sudden become an effective tool for you and your business to utilise. You need to connect and make LinkedIn your business control centre. Connect with people, endorse them, hire them.