LinkedIn Tips to Supercharge Your Professional Growth & Business

Linkedin boasts over 500M users across the globe. The platform’s professional nature makes it an ideal place to connect and begin conversations with individuals or businesses who can take your career to the next level.

Getting the most out of LinkedIn, however, requires consistent effort. Unlike other social platforms where you can coast on posting cat videos, that won’t cut it on LinkedIn. You must cultivate a compelling profile, like this one by Ryan Nivakoff, that conveys professionalism and cuts to the core of what you do, who you do it for and why people should care.

We’ve compiled this list of ideas and strategies to help you get the most out of LinkedIn and boost your professional growth or business.

Craft an Epic Headline and Summary

Your LinkedIn headline is the gateway to the rest of your profile. It should grab attention and entice people to explore further. Use it to highlight your core skills, expertise or achievements. Alternatively, your headline can list your current position and company.

The summary section is where you get to shine and sell yourself to potential prospects. It should expand on the headline and go into depth about any memorable professional or personal achievements. Keep it focused, relevant and easy to read.

Include a Professional Headshot

Your headshot is one of the first things people see on your profile. It conveys your personality and helps prospects gauge you. Keep it professional, with your face forward and remember to smile. Let your brand shine through your photo and signal to potential clients that you mean business.

Remember the “Social” in Social Media

Despite its professional nature, LinkedIn is still a social networking platform. It gives you the opportunity to connect, engage and share with others as you cultivate the connections you need to boost your career.

Be social. Build genuine professional relationships by engaging in conversations, sharing helpful content or ideas and recommending other people’s skills and work. Ask for recommendations too from your connections. Prospects need to know that others applaud and appreciate your work.

Update Your Profile Regularly

When is the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? Do your headline and summary still reflect your core skills and achievements? Are your industry and location information even accurate? If not, it’s time to fix them!

Regularly updating your profile informs prospects about changes in your career or business and aligns you with relevant opportunities. Invest the time to share the occasional article, respond to other people’s updates and find new connections. It takes little of your time but opens you up to countless possibilities.

Join Strategic Groups

Groups on LinkedIn are a great avenue to connect with like-minded people. With millions of groups to choose from, you are bound to find one that matches your interests or occupation and boosts your network.

Search and participate in groups that are relevant to you. Join in the conversations or start new and fascinating ones. Limit any form of selling and instead focus on demonstrating your expertise and strengthening your brand. This attracts the right prospects and positions you as the go-to expert.

LinkedIn is a goldmine for professionals, businesses and entrepreneurs. Used wisely, it helps you connect with the right people, wow prospects and expand your influence.