Welcome back to The Friday Fandango. I’m Janet and this is your weekly dose of communication inspiration for the week ahead.
In this edition of The Friday Fandango, the third in a five part series, access my personal recommendations on the most important things you need to about LinkedIn that will make a difference to how you present yourself and how you navigate the platform.
If you missed previous editions, head over here → The Friday Fandango
Enjoy today’s read and please don’t forget to subscribe, comment and share.
Networking is the heart of LinkedIn's potential. In Part 3 of our guide, we delve into strategic approaches to building and nurturing professional relationships on the platform.
LinkedIn offers a powerful feature to search and follow relevant hashtags (aka "keywords"). By doing so, you can discover industry-specific conversations, trends, and valuable insights shared by professionals within your field.
Hashtags are a gateway to industry-specific discussions and trends. They allow you to engage with relevant content and connect with like-minded professionals.
Engaging with posts under these hashtags allows you to connect with like-minded individuals and broaden your network.
Use the search bar to find hashtags related to your field (eg, #digitalmarketing).
Click on the "Content" tab in the search results to see posts, articles, and conversations related to that hashtag.
You can also find people who have that hashtag in their profile, which is a good reason why you should also have hashtags in yours!
To follow a hashtag, click on the hashtag in the search results or on a post that includes the hashtag. You'll be redirected to a page dedicated to that hashtag, where you can click the "Follow" button.
Keep an eye on important hashtags to stay updated on specific topics or trends.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, LinkedIn Groups are mostly a dead zone.
You have to search to find groups that seem to be active (and not full of spam). However, if you find an active group that is related to your niche (think: keywords - see below!) then LinkedIn Groups can provide an opportunity to connect and engage with professionals who share similar interests or work in the same industry.
One fascinating aspect is the ability to send messages within LinkedIn Groups, even if you are not directly connected. This feature facilitates valuable discussions, knowledge exchange, and the potential to build new relationships with individuals who possess specialized expertise. Active participation in groups can lead to meaningful connections. Share insights, ask questions, and contribute to discussions.
While many groups may be inactive, or full of spam, there are still valuable communities out there. Look for groups with regular discussions, check out the profile of whoever is the administrator of the group and consider sending that person a message to ask about the group. Scroll to see if the posts are relevant, and if you can see useful information and people there. Make your judgements based on the information you discover and be selective. It’s not advisable to follow too many.
By definition, networking is a mode of exchanging information with individuals and groups. To be effective, plan to make the connection personal and relevant.
When networking on LinkedIn, it is crucial to make a personalized connection request (instead of just clicking the + button).
Take the time to write a tailored message that demonstrates your genuine interest in that person. Doing this increases the likelihood of acceptance (but is no guarantee).
Spamming people with a cut-and-pasted text that has no relevance to that person it a terrible practice which unfortunately happens too often. This is not a good way to generate valuable connections or sales leads. Don’t let yourself come across as lazy.
Personalize your requests by mentioning the specific relevant posts, articles or projects that the other person has done. Say why they caught your attention. Make it clear why the connection would be mutually beneficial. A personalized message can significantly increase the chances of your connection request being accepted.
How to Send a Personalized Connection Request:
Go to the person’s profile
Click on “Connect” or “More” and look for the “Connect” button
Clickn on “Add Personal Message”
LinkedIn provides a text box to add a personalized message.
You have only 300-characters - so it is very short!
Be sure to make it personal and relevant to the other person.
If done well, doing this may result in a new connection.
Give it some time. It’s possible they may never connect.
You can withdraw the request by clicking on “Network”, “Invitations” and “Manage”. LinkedIn will force you to wait 21 days before you can re-contact them with a different message.
Sometimes people will never respond, for whatever reason. Just move on.
If you are not already in the habit, you should analyze the profiles of professionals you admire within your industry, and identify the keywords that appear in their profiles.
Using this as a starting point, you can create a list of your own keywords, accurately representing your skills, expertise, and areas of specialization.
“Keywords” also serve as hashtags, as stated above. When you incorporate relevant keywords into your profile, you enhance your own visibility in searches.
Checking who has viewed your profile on LinkedIn can provide valuable insights and opportunities for networking and professional growth. When you see someone has visited your profile, it indicates that they have taken an interest in you (for whatever reason).
Knowing who has viewed your profile can be useful. It can indicate interest or curiosity on the part of someone who you recently were in contact with. Or, it can reveal new connections and open the door for new collaborations, or even job opportunities.
But, don’t act on this information right away!
While LinkedIn provides information about who has viewed your profile, it is poor etiquette to notify someone that you have noticed their visit. Use this information discreetly to gain insights into potential connections or professional opportunities.
By clicking on each person's profile in the "Who's viewed your profile" section, you can gain more insights into their professional background and potentially reach out to them if you find it relevant, at the right moment.
The “Who's viewed your profile” feature displays your profile visitors in the last 90 days, and can provide additional trends and insights about viewers. But you won't see this information if you haven't had any profile views in the past 90 days. Also, viewing timeframes may vary over time and as people view your profile. When possible, LinkedIn displays a minimum of five views over any timeframe.
Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, then “View Profile”.
Go to “View All Analytics” section (which is currently accessible at the very top of your profile page)
Click “Profile Viewers” to access the Who’s viewed your profile page.
The LinkedIn Basic account will have the following "Who’s viewed your profile" features:
If you have set your profile viewing options to display your name and headline when viewing profiles, you'll see the five most recent viewers in the last 90 days, as well as a list of suggestions for increasing your profile views.
(Note: That seems to be a trade-off, you may not be able to use “private mode” and also get this feature, if you have a free account.)
The list displays viewer insights such as:
Number of profile viewers
Interesting views
Where your profile viewers work
Where they found your profile
Their job titles
For premium accounts it is the same. Even if you have a Premium account, you won't see the names of viewers who choose to browse in private mode or private profile characteristics. Premium account users have a longer list of people who have viewed their profile.
You can gain interesting insights from seeing your profile visitors. Regularly check who's viewed your profile for potential networking opportunities. Then be discreet and use this information wisely. Avoid immediately reaching out to profile viewers, but consider it as a cue for potential future interactions.
Effective networking on LinkedIn requires a blend of strategic visibility, active engagement, and personalization. By mastering these tactics, you can expand your professional network and open doors to new opportunities. In the next part of our series, we'll explore how to use LinkedIn as a research tool and manage your time on the platform efficiently.
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I’m Janet Greco, and by night, I write The Friday Fandango and post on Linkedin.
By day, I run Broadcast Projects, a marketing consultancy for the broadcast and streaming media industry, where I help drive sales with customized market outreach for TV technology brands.
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