Get Visible on LinkedIn, Part 2
After the workshop I hosted with Codecademy several weeks ago with 343 RSVPs, I knew I had to share the content with you! In Part 1 of this 2-part newsletter, I shared six updates to make your LinkedIn profile pop. Beyond the aesthetics and content of your profile, there’s something even more powerful for your professional growth on LinkedIn — networking.
Why is networking important?
Professional networking was once only available to the elite at private events, country clubs, or prestigious schools. LinkedIn has become a game-changer, allowing people from ALL backgrounds to be in the same ‘rooms’ as hiring managers, decision-makers, executives, and other influential people.
By being strategic and proactive about outreach, anyone can create a more robust professional network and gain access to opportunities and resources.
Most people suck at it.
I bet at least a few of you are cringing at the idea of networking.
Networking has a bad rep because so many people do it wrong. There’s a common misconception that networking is only for when you need something — getting a job, selling something, or asking for favors. So with that expectation in mind, many people come off as desperate, pushy, or needy when networking.
What networking IS —
It’s being genuinely curious about others by asking interesting questions. It’s sharing, revealing, being real, telling your story, and finding ways to provide value.
When you take this approach, networking becomes exploratory. And it can be fun, especially when no expectations or conditions are tied to it.
What networking IS NOT —
It’s not transactional. When you enter a conversation with an expectation of a job offer, a referral, a sale, etc., the vibe of the conversation can become ingenuine and desperate.
Networking is not all about you. If you’re cold outreaching to someone, I recommend the 80/20 rule — make 80% about them, 20% about you. Being more INTERESTED in them, rather than trying to be INTERESTING and only talk about yourself, will increase your odds of getting a response and building a relationship.
Controlling your narrative.
You’re familiar with the saying — it’s not WHAT you know; it’s WHO you know. Yes, but it’s also “WHO you know and WHAT they know you for.” On LinkedIn, you get to control that. Here are a few things you can start to do TODAY to control your narrative and gain visibility.
Low effort
Connect with people at your work, industry, and previous jobs
Repost other people's content with your point of view
Engage with other people's content by liking and commenting
Follow influential people with mass followings, comment on their posts
Follow #hashtags of topics that are interesting/relevant
Joined LinkedIn Groups
Medium effort
Come up with a POV around the type of work you do
Share your insights
Decide on a cadence and commit to being consistent
Join LinkedIn Events (Audio, Live, Workshops) on topics you're interested in
Subscribe to LinkedIn Newsletters
Higher effort
Become an Admin for your company's LI page to establish credibility
Create original content to share your expertise
Engage with your followers with polls
Write newsletters
Create videos in an area that you're an expert in
Host a Live discussion/chat (LinkedIn Live, LinkedIn Audio)
Remember — 85% of jobs are filled through networking.
If you're looking for a new job, rather than spend your time applying online with a 15% chance of getting hired, could you use that time to foster and build your network, increasing your odds to 85%?
For this reason, I’m opening up my calendar for a limited time for 90-minute Intensive Strategy Sessions to help you stand out from the crowd and land your next job using LinkedIn and effective networking.
Without a clear strategy on LinkedIn, you’re missing out on opportunities. You may also not get responses from employers when you’re using a generic, uninteresting outreach message. With a well-executed, thought-out plan, you can stand out to recruiters AND grow your professional network to land your next job.
Book an Intensive Strategy Session today.
As always, I’m here for you.
