LinkedIn is a social network used by over 70 million professionals. It is important to maintain proper social networking etiquette when using any type of online media. Your LinkedIn page is a very important part of your personal brand.
LinkedIn Etiquette: Tips for the Business Professional
- Your profile, is like an online resume or business card. Is it professional and well written?
- Is your photo updated? You might want to go the extra mile and have your headshot taken by a professional. This is not the time to stand in front of a bare wall or a photo from ten years ago. Make it a professional one.
- Say thank you often. If someone takes the time to make a connection or answers a question through LinkedIn, express your gratitude early.
- Customize every connection request you make. LinkedIn provides a generic request, “I would like to add you to my professional network,” but you do not have to use it. Take the extra time and create a personal message. You can mention a mutual contact or where you met them. You can make a brief self-introduction if you have never met and the reason why you would like to connect. By taking this action or extra step you have shown that you value the people in your network and you desire to build a relationship rather than just make a connection.
- Status Updates: Only post professional comments. This might be “quick bites” about business related topics, professional material, links to industry related articles. This is not the time talk about what you had for lunch or the latest airport delays.
- LinkedIn’s mission was built on trusted business relationships, not blatant self-promotion. To stay connected, consider writing a thoughtful comment on someone’s post, congratulate someone on a recent promotion or write a glowing recommendation. If you are an “expert” respond to a question in a group post.
- Do not automatically link Twitter to your LinkedIn profile, especially if you tweet many times a day.
Written communication is a very important aspect of our personal brand or first impression. If you would not say it or do it in person, do not write or post it online. Very important words to consider in this age of social media.
