As the Economy Slips, How Important is it to be LinkedIn?

Tips for Managing Your Profile

Keeping up with how you present yourself to current and potential employers is more important today than ever. With unemployment at a 14-year high, people are working harder to keep their current positions, but are also aware of the fact that their job status can change at anytime. According to Reid Hoffman, creator of LinkedIn, “As industries struggle, more workers shed the illusion that they're safe and protected inside companies.”  In a recent article in BusinessWeek, “LinkedIn and Reid Hoffman Recession Ready,” http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_46, Hoffman predicted that workers increasingly will be networking outside their companies, looking for the right leads or morsels of knowledge—and for this, millions of them will turn to LinkedIn.

Considering that potential and current employers will likely increase their use of this social networking site to build their talent pipelines, how can you make sure your profile holds its own against the more than 30 million LinkedIn members?  Here are a few tips:

1. Be Picky about Your Profile Picture. Unlike Facebook or MySpace, profiles on LinkedIn should be professional. Including a snapshot of you swinging from the chandeliers or lounging at the beach is considered inappropriate for this social networking site. With a mission to “help users open doors to opportunities using professional relationships,” keeping social snapshots off your profile is step number one. Remember, your profile picture is the first thing people see on your LinkedIn page—and first impressions count.
2. Write a good summary. According to Kirsten Dixson, a reputation management and online identity expert, be very concise, engaging and specific in the summary field of your LinkedIn page, http://www.itworld.com/internet. If the summary doesn't draw people in, all the experience you've had over the years (listed in the "experience" section below it) might not receive any attention.
3. Build Your Personal Brand. There are so many opportunities to “be involved” with your LinkedIn account. You can do as little or as much as you wish—but the more attention you pay to the material you post, the better chances you have to strengthen impressions and direct how you would like others to view you. Building a personal brand is much like building a company brand, it doesn’t happen overnight, http://www.shoestringbranding.com.  Take time before it’s too late and you’re in a rush to update your account, post accurate and complete information, determine which links will benefit you and participate in interactive sections. These steps allow you to showcase your expertise in a well-planned way—leaving visitors with a positive image of your personal brand.
4. Maximize your Networking Potential. Getting a profile on LinkedIn to network is one thing, but really networking is quite another. Following are summaries a few networking tips included in SearchEngine Journal, http://www.searchenginejournal.com/successful-networking:
   1. Do it naturally. Build your network with authentic connections. Don’t add people as connections just to look impressive. Make sure they’re valid and of value.
   2. Ask and Answer Questions. LinkedIn’s Ask and Answer section provides you with great resources, and when you answer, it positions you as an expert in the said area.
   3. Update Your Friendfinder Emails. It’s easy to let this slip, but if you dedicate time each week to update this section, you’re increasing valid connections and opening up opportunities for fresh networking.