Why do you want to stand out on LinkedIn?
It doesn't sound as enticing as Instagram or TikTok and may look boring compared to other social platforms.
And why not?
Because LinkedIn isn't a place where people watch viral dances or cat videos.
But if you're a creative professional, an entrepreneur, or a startup, LinkedIn can help you leverage your expertise and win lucrative business deals.
Gone are the days when people thought LinkedIn was primarily for job seekers or recruiters
But now, times have changed!
With over 800 million users in 2022, LinkedIn has become a platform where individuals can showcase their intellectual expertise globally.
It stands far above all other social media platforms when it comes to networking, connecting with professionals, or building your personal and professional brand.
What is LinkedIn Used for and Why It Matters?
Aside from job searches, people also use LinkedIn for business opportunities - to network, connect with others, and learn more about other businesses.
It's a professional platform where people promote business, whether B2B or B2C.
Usually, professionals use LinkedIn for 4 main things-
- Attraction, which is drawing people towards them
- Connection, which is broadening their network of contacts, prospective business partners, and clients, especially those who are working remotely
- Influencer, which means demonstrating their knowledge, expertise, and offers
- Engagement, which means starting real conversations with people and building relationships
Now, let’s discuss why it matters to be on LinkedIn concerning building your personal and professional brand.
Of the total number of users on LinkedIn, 40% use the platform every day in some form.
90 million users are senior-level influencers, meaning they're at VP or at the executive level of their company.
63 million users are decision-makers, and 17 million are considered opinion leaders.
10 million users are C-suite executives.
And did you know that LinkedIn is responsible for over 50% of all social media traffic to B2B websites?
That's right - whether you're an entrepreneur or working at an enterprise-level organization, half of the social media traffic to your website is coming from LinkedIn.
Also, it's interesting to note that 41% of millionaires use LinkedIn and that 44% of LinkedIn users earn $75,000 or more annually. This just goes to show that LinkedIn can be a powerful platform not only for networking but also for improving your earnings potential.
How to Build Your LinkedIn Personal Brand?
Personal branding is the art of deliberately and strategically managing your professional identity - including your online presence - to create visibility, opportunity, and exposure.
With some strategic planning, brand management, and self-promotion, you can boost your visibility on LinkedIn and get noticed by people who matter.
And for that…
The first thing you should think about is who your audience will be. This depends mainly on the line of work you're in.
Let's say you're in healthcare, finance, or technology. Then look out for thought leaders you admire in your industry. Start following them and engaging with their posts.
A genuine engagement:
- Gets more eyes on your profile
- Builds relationships and grows your network
- Often, it makes up for the lack of posting
Secondly, start posting content on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the perfect platform to share your thought leadership with the world and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. By sharing content on areas where you've extensive knowledge, you can connect with your audience and help them solve problems they may have.
Your unique perspective sets you apart from others in your field, so don't be afraid to showcase your passions and let the world know what makes you tick!
Understanding The LinkedIn Algorithm Hierarchy
Once you've prepared your content for LinkedIn, it's important to know what kind of content gets the most engagement.
According to the 4th Annual LinkedIn Algorithm Research Report, 2022, 67% of our feeds contain only four types of content-
- 21% single image posts (posts with single image only)
- 20% promoted posts (posts that are promoted or boosted)
- 16% document posts (posts that contains carousels or any pdf document)
- 10% text-only posts (regular text posts with good engagement)
Although, videos are a great way to spark curiosity and start a conversation. By posting LinkedIn videos, you can expect to get more comments, likes, and shares.
You can upload an impressive, engaging video in your field. In 1 year, LinkedIn video posts generated more than 300 million impressions on the platform. In fact, video marketing on LinkedIn can help your brand to grow its revenue 49% faster, according to Aberdeen Group.
However, rather than putting a link to a YouTube or Vimeo video, prefer to upload a LinkedIn “native video,” i.e., uploading a video directly to LinkedIn or created on the platform itself.
And with BIGVU, you can easily engage your viewers with interactive videos by sharing what’s in your mind. Additionally, you can crop and style it according to your branding by seamlessly changing the logo, title, or music.
How to Get More Views on LinkedIn?
Views are an essential metric to track on LinkedIn, as they indicate the reach of your content.
The initial step to getting your profile or post in front of more people is to engage in whatever way you can. If you’ve published a post and someone has left a comment, you should reply to that comment as soon as possible to continue the conversation.
Start a conversation to your own post. Don’t just put it out and forget it. Doing this boosts your post’s reach and increases the chances of getting maximum eyeballs.
You can also use hashtags to increase the visibility of your post. This way, your post will be shown to a selection of followers of that hashtag, as well as others who the algorithm assumes will also like your content.
If your post is well received, and people like, share, and comment on it, it'll be shown to even more followers of that hashtag as well as the followers of those who engaged with your content.
For best results, start using up to 3 hashtags per post.
The Engagement Phases of LinkedIn- Best Time to Post on LinkedIn or Engage
When you publish a post, there are actually two phases in which you'll engage.
The first phase-
Engagement in the first 90 minutes influences the fast growth for the next 8 hours!
This is known as the golden hour, which means when you publish the post, be active for the first 90 minutes. Engage with comments that people left on your post and keep the conversation going on.
The second phase is…
Engagement after the first 90 minutes to 8 hours influences constant growth over the next several days!
Now an important question...
What is the best time to post on LinkedIn?
Let's take a closer look. LinkedIn isn't like Twitter, where you post several times a week.
For consistent growth, it's better to post every day or once or twice a week. But remember: once you publish a new post, the reach of your previous post will be washed away.
Instead of posting more and more, it's more important to engage in other people's posts too.
LinkedIn Profile Levels- 12 Steps to Achieve LinkedIn All-Star Status
LinkedIn has five status levels that indicate how complete your LinkedIn profile is. These levels are Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and All-Star.
The following 7 steps will show you exactly how to take your LinkedIn profile to All-Star status. They'll make all the difference when it comes to getting discovered for new opportunities.
Step 1:
Use a professional headshot.
Step 2:
Captivate the reader with a strong headline.
Step 3:
Complete the summary/about section of your profile.
Step 4:
Add your work history or volunteer experience.
Step 5:
Complete the education, course, and certification section.
Step 6:
Add skills and expertise- endorsements.
Step 7:
Get connected with a minimum of 50 people.
Step 8:
Get at least 3 recommendations.
Step 9:
Secure a public profile URL.
Step 10:
Tell people what interests you.
Step 11:
Complete your contact information.
Step 12:
Use the platform.
Wrap Up
By building your brand on LinkedIn, you open yourself up to a world of new opportunities. Not only can you connect with other professionals in your field, but you can also stay up-to-date with current industry news.
By following the tips and best practices outlined in this article, you'll be well on your way to making valuable connections and exchanging innovative ideas.
So give a big round of applause to yourself and get started!