LinkedIn is considered by many as the social media to use if you want to build a strong professional network. The site is used by many professionals and if you are in the system, you can reach out to potential clients and partners. The more connections you have, the more opportunities will open for you.

However, like any other social media like Facebook and Instagram, you need to strategise to maximise your LinkedIn page’s potential. So, how should you go about building your network with LinkedIn?

Here are some golden tips to help you get started:

1. Add your current contacts to the site

When you create your LinkedIn account, you will be asked if you want to add your email contacts to your network. Once your contacts have been uploaded, LinkedIn would generate the invitations so you can see which ones have an account in the site and those who do not.

Before you send out the invitations, review which ones you want to add and personalise their invitations. LinkedIn would then customise its “People You May Know” service and suggest people who could be beneficial to your network.

Do not start blasting invites to your next door retired neighbour, your long-lost kindergarten friend or your best friend’s dog.

Just kidding, the dog is fine.

2. Review people requesting to be your friend

As your network grows, you will definitely get new invitations from people who wish to connect with you.

While it would be nice to accept all these invites, you have to be careful when adding them because it may affect your network. Take time to review each friend request and see why they wish to connect.

Worse, they may start spamming advertisement into your messages or in comments under any article you wrote or forward on LinkedIn.

3. Look at LinkedIn Groups

If you want to create new connections, it is best to go out of your network and join groups.

LinkedIn has a Groups feature which connects people who have similar interests or fields. However, you need to do your research before you join these groups because some groups are not updated. Others may not have the right content you are looking for.

4. Set Growth Goals

As you use your account, you will definitely notice that your network will grow slowly but surely. But, if you plan to build a large network, you will need time to find the right connections and cultivate your relationship.

Set some time every day to look into new connections and each your targets. Just remember to look into the people you know and make sure you have reasons for adding them.

You should also take note that not all of them may accept your invitation because they too have a strategy when using LinkedIn.

5. Update Often

Like any social media site, you should make sure your account is always updated.

In LinkedIn, keeping your page often allows your connections to reach out to you. It will also tell your second-degree connections that your content is related to their interests.

The best part about updating your LinkedIn page? It also means you are updating your resume. Kills two birds with one stone. Yay!

6. Promote Your URL

In many social media sites, there is a space in the “About Me” tab that allows users to add their other social media accounts. If you fill up your biography, it will help interested connections to add you up.

Make sure you get your own special URL when you sign up for LinkedIn so people can look for your site faster.

Conclusion

Just like other social media sites out there, you need to use your LinkedIn account wisely to make the most out of your experience. If you build your network carefully, it will help open new opportunities for you and your career. Take a little time each day to cultivate your account and with time, you will definitely reap its benefits in the long run.  

Using Social Media to build your reputation? Here are some articles that you should read:
9 Ways to Boost Your LinkedIn Profile to Get That Job You Want
Social Media: Friend or Foe?
Social Media Rants

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