Many users of the ‘social network for professionals’ only view their LinkedIn profile as a means to land a job – however, these days that’s just the beginning.
In 2021, LinkedIn has over 756 million users worldwide – making it the #1 go-to for B2B professionals to give online networking a red hot crack. The company’s mantra of “people you know, talking about the things you care about” is simple enough in theory, but knowing how to navigate this platform is a whole new ballgame when compared to other social media channels.
However, the platform has long held a misconception that it’s only a suitable forum for jobseekers. In reality, the truth couldn’t be further from that providing you pay your LinkedIn profile the attention that it deserves.
How To Weaponize Your LinkedIn Profile
Like all social media platforms, engaging with the right audiences and ‘getting seen’ is often the hardest part. In order to find professional success through LinkedIn, you’re going to have to embrace using your personal profile as a means to get you there.
Remember, the two primary functions of LinkedIn are to:
- Prioritise relevant content
- Promote engagement
While it sounds relatively straightforward, many users simply don’t bother to post content via their LinkedIn profile – which is baffling if you consider the stats.
LinkedIn’s ‘news feed’ receives around 9 billion impressions every single week. However, out of over 756 million users, only 3 million of those users actively post and share content on a weekly basis. What this means is that the tiny percentage of those who put in the work – just 0.4% of all users – reap all of the rewards that those impressions provide. After all, less competition means more visibility.
Whether you’re a new user or a seasoned professional, regularly posting content to LinkedIn gives you access to a treasure chest of benefits. Even if you’re not looking for a new job, just a handful of those key benefits can include:
Expanding Your Network – Many people tend to forget that LinkedIn is still a form of social media, and in fact was around long before Facebook. As such, it was designed as a means for professionals to network online. Try to think long term – just because you might not want, need or desire anything from someone today, you may find them a useful connection to have in your artillery in the future. Think of networking on LinkedIn like handing out an online business card.
Creating An Audience – If you’re able to post clear, concise, relevant and engaging content, there’s a high chance that it’s going to capture the attention of someone who will find it worth reading. In turn, if you’re able to do that regularly, that someone will turn into a regular reader. Ideally, the number of those ‘someones’ will grow, and in time you will have your very own audience who not only pay attention to what you have to say, but send others your direction too.
Building Brand Authority – Even if you don’t run your own business, your own personal brand is arguably just as important. It’s the unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that you want the world to see. In turn, brand authority is when you or your business are regarded as an expert – or an authority – within your sector or field. Your LinkedIn profile is a surefire way to build brand authority, and for viewers to recognise you as a guru in your industry.
Personal LinkedIn profiles allow users to publish content directly on LinkedIn Publisher. Although you can share images, videos and links on a company page, you cannot publish original content on LinkedIn Publisher, impeding your ability to establish your authority on your topic and build trust.
Original content that packs a punch is essential if you want to gain traction, and is a straightforward means to kick multiple professional goals whilst working smarter, and not harder. However, producing quality content takes time, effort, experience and resources – and you’re not alone if you can’t quite commit to that.
The Key To Success On Social Media Is Great Content
The good news is that here at Content Hive, producing world class content is exactly what we do best. We have itemised a list of digital content services, and allocated credits next to each of these.
What this means is that each month, you can use your credits with us to produce digital content such as social media posts, blog articles, videos and even animated Instagram stories. We believe that this model means we can produce high quality content in faster than normal delivery times. It also means that because you have a monthly credit, you are going to want to make sure you use these up – and so do we – meaning that your digital content is always going to be consistent.
If you aren’t quite sure where to start on your digital or social media marketing journey and would like to speak to a professional, why not book a free discovery call with us at Content Hive today to discuss how we can get your brand buzzing online.
