Seven Tricks to Enhance Your LinkedIn Experience

LinkedIn can help you expand your professional network.

LinkedIn provides business professionals a way to interact and connect in order to expand their networking circles. Professionals use the site to seek jobs or to keep in touch with the companies and people they do business with. A user's profile provides areas for job title, experience and past work history, as well as a way to post status updates and recommendations for other professionals, which are similar to testimonials.

Use Creative Headlines

LinkedIn is a business networking site, but that doesn't mean you should conform to stuffy, over-formal business language. "Sales Associate" may be your title, but it doesn't tell people anything about your actual job. Try adding some personality and creativity by making your headline "John Smith -- Customer Service Expert, Personal Account Specialist."

Use LinkedIn Events

Through LinkedIn's Events application, you can improve networking by finding or creating events in line with your interests. Besides sharing news of such events with your known contacts and connections, you can also advertise them throughout the site, targeting a specific audience, such as by location or job title.

Expand Your Network

The purpose of LinkedIn is to network, and you can't do that if your contact list only contains three co-workers, a neighbor and the second cousin you hardly ever see. Expand your network by sending connection requests to people whom you find interesting, or those who may be able to offer good advice or information. Send connection invites to your boss, the sales rep you chatted with last week, and the regular bank teller you see every month. The farther you cast your net, the greater the number of people who will see your updates.

Join or Create a Group

Groups allow people to connect via shared interests, many of which may or may not have anything to do with your professional life. Through these groups, you may find a new friend and connection in a fellow photography buff or Star Trek fan. If you don't see any groups that specifically fit your interests, try starting your own group.

Update Frequently

Having a LinkedIn account doesn't really accomplish anything if you don't use it regularly. Post updates frequently to remind your contacts you still exist. Share interesting links, your latest blog post or exciting news of that new promotion. Refrain from posting uninteresting updates such as "Going to the park" or something similarly mundane. Use the update tool for interesting, engaging and informative posts to keep your readers' attention.

Encourage Communication

LinkedIn provides users the opportunity to communicate not only within groups but also through private messages. This tool allows for a more personalized connection than a group setting does, and can allow a freer dialogue. Ask questions of your peers and answer their queries to offer your expertise and experience.

Stay Connected

LinkedIn allows you to access your account through apps on mobile devices and to connect your Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile. This helps you to stay informed on new updates and connection requests and allows you to update your profile status while on the go. Keep in mind that sometimes the ease and restrictive character limit of Twitter may make for some less-than-professional-looking updates. Don't use Twitter frivolously; keep updates interesting and appropriate.

References

• Social Media Examiner; 26 Tips to Enhance Your Experience on LinkedIn; Debbie Hemley; January 2011
• Brand Yourself; How to Use Social Media -- 7 Tricks to Enhance Your LinkedIn Experience; Ryan Rancatore
• Impact Branding & Design LLC; 5 Techniques to Improve Your LinkedIn Experience; Andy Scherer; September 2010