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In this post, I’m sharing five powerful tools that will help you rapidly expand your LinkedIn network. With over 850 million users, LinkedIn is the biggest platform for professionals worldwide to connect, learn, share opportunities, and get inspired. However, despite its unique features, only around 10% of users are making the best use of LinkedIn’s tools, missing out on explosive power for connectivity, outreach, and effectiveness. As a LinkedIn Optimization expert and Career Coach, I’ve seen a significant disconnect between user expectations and results. Many users hope for a miracle, even subscribing to LinkedIn Premium, but without a targeted approach and strategy, building a strong LinkedIn network remains a dream.
That’s why I recommend creating a LinkedIn Targeting Strategy and asking yourself, “why am I doing this?” to make the most of LinkedIn’s extensive outreach and opportunities. Whether your network is small or large, you have the power of connectivity to reach potential customers, promote your brand, and lead as a subject matter expert. Ultimately, your LinkedIn profile’s outreach and your ability to expand your network are crucial to your success on the platform.
Everything boils down to your LinkedIn Profile’s outreach and your ability to expand your network.
Following are five ways I used that helped me expand my LinkedIn network:
There are no two ways to talk about the importance of an optimized profile. However, a common user does not understand what LinkedIn Profile Optimization means.
Whereas there are several articles available online on the topic, I would suggest to focus on the basics. Fix issues around your banner, display picture, add valuable headline keywords, use about summary optimally and develop a robust content strategy.
This package helps in kick-starting your dormant profile.
This starts with basics too, that is your introduction. Your profile has three major ‘hooks’ for visitors,
If you master the three, you will do well. Your elevator pitch should be embedded in the first 156 characters on your About Summary. If those 156 characters are powerful to grab attention of your profile visitor, you are okay to expand your network quickly.
Now there could be a random effort to connect with more and more people on LinkedIn, or you can deploy a more focused and targeted approach. Obviously, more targeted is highly recommended. I will write a post on how to target your audience and connections in the weeks to come. Follow my posts on LinkedIn to stay updated.
It is important to be relevant, but why so?
Remember, with information explosion, our attention timespan has reduced to a few seconds. People are only interested in reading what is relevant to them. Your network should be relevant. This means, if you are an accountant, you should build your network within the relevant community, with the multiplier effect, relevant will provide better results in a shorter span of time.
This is easy. Think what you can offer. A smallest possible help is a good starting point. In my LinkedIn Coaching, I encourage my clients to think at least one small help they can offer to their network.
There are more people looking for help and fewer are out there to extend help. Those who extend help, stand out easily.
This help could be as simple as sharing small toolkits you have gathered, a phone consultation on resume fixing etc. Think loud and be creative in your offerings.
Following the above five ideas, you will gradually see an increased traction to your posts and increased views to your profile.
Your focus is importance. Treat your LinkedIn as a growth tool. Particularly if you are a job seeker or an immigrant in a new country such as Canada, USA, or Australia, LinkedIn should be your target. An optimized profile is the ultimate goal, it will help you to get hired in a new job market.
Cultivate relevant connections and stay connected by remain engaged with them. Develop and post engaging content regularly.
Engagement and conversation leads to strengthening trust and creates interaction and credibility. LinkedIn algorithm loves fresh and original content. If you keep posting some great content, LinkedIn would push your profile up in its search.
If you struggle in creating engaging content for LinkedIn, consider using my 365+ content ideas for LinkedIn posts.
Stay authentic, stay cool and build your relevant network that is the only most effective process of establishing a personal brand on LinkedIn!
