getting started on linkedin
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to getting started on LinkedInTRANSCRIPT
Getting Started on LinkedInHow to develop your
professional online presenceSue Beckingham
Sheffield Hallam University
Why would you want to use LinkedIn?
The key professional networking tool
the corporate office
the water cooler
the staff canteen
the bar
LinkedIn is in the Top 20 most visited websites in the world
Nearly 5.7 billion people searches on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Demographics
300 million members worldwide students and recent graduates - fastest
growing demographic 15m+ members in the UK professionals are signing up to LinkedIn at a
rate of approx. 2 new members per second.
Company presence 3m companies have a page
LinkedIn Groups 2.1 million
LinkedIn Demographics
39,000,000 are students and recent graduates
There were 5.7 billion professionally-oriented searches undertaken by LinkedIn members on the platform in 2012 alone
Understanding the value of
Your digital rolodex
Take note…. an unprofessional profile can be more damaging than not having one at all.
http://www.alexa.com/topsites/global!will find
you!
Be mindful of how people search for information
LinkedIn ranks highly!
Who will look at your online profile? What do people want to know about you? Where will they use this information? Why is your profile important? When and how often do you update it? How will you use your profile to your advantage?
Questions to consider
Developing your professional online profile
#1Check the
privacy settings and
optionsWhilst developing your profile you can opt to make it private until you are ready to share it
Think about the keywords you would use in a search and include relevant ones within your profile so that
people searching for your expertise can find you.
Include in your headline, current and past work experiences, summary and specialities
#2Use
keywords
Aim for
NOT this
#3Complete
your profile
People want to connect with you as an individual, so avoid displaying an avatar or worse leaving the default image
#4Include a
photo
Add to your email signature, blog, business cards
#5Customise your public
URL
Consider the keywords users might use to search for expertise
#6Add your
skills
Your skills can
be endorsed
#7Give and ask for
recommendations
Add links to publications#8
Add projects and
publications
Add links to projects#9Add projects
Professional networking on
Your initial steps will include completing the sections on your profile and making connections, however will need to be revisited
from time to time
is an iterative process
#10Be a
Gardener
A minimalistic approach to your profile might be fine for
Mark Zuckerberg but potential employers want to know
about you!
Better to take a leaf out of Reid Hoffman’s book
Exploring LinkedIn beyond your profile page
Developing new contacts
People search
A good way to find the head of any company
People search
Search for Companies
http://www.linkedin.com/directory/groups/
Follow Companies
Groups search
The LinkedIn Apply Button
https://developer.linkedin.com/apply
Companies can add this to their job page on the company website
Applicants are asked to submit a link to their LinkedIn profile
http://go.shu.ac.uk/socialmedia
Creating guidance for students
Getting Started with Twitter
Sue Beckingham | @suebecksSheffield Hallam University