LinkedIn is the most important social networking tool for professionals in the world. People find jobs, connect with their peers, share insights and tell the world what their professional experience looks like. But how can you use this website to your advantage?

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Started in a living room, LinkedIn launched its site in 2003. Nowadays, every second two new members join the total amount of almost 350 million professionals. Of course, not everyone has an extensive profile or visits the site every day. Nonetheless millions use it as it should be used: to extend and maintain their professional network. There are numerous tips and tricks to get the most out of it, some of which you probably already have heard about. Here a short summary:

  • In general, make your profile as complete as possible and update it regularly. You might think this is coming from Captain Obvious, but there is a surprising amount of members who have a very basic profile.
  • Include your photo. Profiles with photos are viewed 11 times as much as profiles without. Don’t forget to pick a professional picture of yourself without that glass of beer in your hand or those shades you wear on some beach.
  • Make a summary of yourself. Describe who you are and what your intentions are. Here you can also show your personality, but be careful that you don’t overdo it. When you use at least forty words, you’ll end up higher in search results.
  • Customize your profile URL (do it here). And no, linkedin.com/partyboii1990 is not OK.
  • Ask for recommendations and endorsements. Recommendations make you end up higher in search results. It also shows that you’re not the only one who thinks you are great. Make sure you don’t tit-for-tat it. When two people write recommendations for each other, they will be taken less seriously. And please don’t ask your family for a recommendation.
  • Become a member of groups and be active. Be an expert, or at least try to be one. People will start noticing your terrific input.
  • Share your insights and thoughts. Let the world know what moves you.
  • Always include a personal message when you invite someone to connect. It needs to say something about a (mutual) benefit of the connection. That benefit is not: “Let’s connect because I want to reach 200 connections before the end of the week.”
  • Don’t lie. Just don’t. Do, however, tell the truth in a very positive way.

Some of these tips might be no surprise to you. What actually is most important is to stand out. You might be surprised that there are thousands of people just like you. Make sure you are memorized (in a positive way of course). Write an interesting and compelling summary about yourself, include links, customize your background, use uncommon words etc. Just look for best practices by browsing the profiles of others. Learn from them and apply what you think suits you best. Remember to sell yourself.

When you don’t have a profile yet, start now! Even when you think it is not yet important to tell the world about your professional experience, you can already build up your network and keep on improving. Of course, a well maintained profile is not a guarantee for anything. But in the end it can be helpful anyway. So make your network work!

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