Guide to LinkedIn Networking: Connections To Collaborators

Linkedin is one of the largest professional networks with a very good reputation. It has millions of users across the world, and there are many companies too which are registered with this network.

The platform is useful for networking, finding jobs, finding employees, partnering with experts, connecting with venture partners, etc.

But you can do all these only if you have been using Linkedin for a while and have gained a good grip over it.

Things will be a bit challenging for those who have just started using this professional networking platform.

Thankfully, this article will provide you with tips on Linkedin networking; hence, it can guide you well. Read on, and you will get an idea.

Table of Contents

How To Take Up Networking On Linkedin? Your Guide For Professional Success.

There are a lot of things you can do on Linkedin. But there is no professional manual teaching you how to gain followers, foster professional growth with the help of this platform, how write a perfect summary on Linkedin, and network for your maximum advantage.

Suppose you understand the power of this professional networking platform. In that case, you will know it can take you to success.

But here’s what you need to do. Read the tips and make your career reach great heights.

1. Focus on completing your profile.

You are identified as your profile on Linkedin. So, to prove that you exist, you must have a profile. Your main focus should first be to complete the profile.

You must not leave blank spaces in between. You must fill out all the details. If it is incomplete, it doesn’t make the right impression. Your profile must be complete in all senses, and there should be:

A good profile picture with a decent background
Headline
A LinkedIn summary
Your location, country, zip code
Your job profile at present
Work experience
Academic details
Five relevant skills
Any voluntary work you have done before

These are all the basic things that make your profile complete.

2. Work on profile optimization.

When optimizing the profile, first, you must check the completed profile and edit things wherever you feel like adding more potency and relevance to the profile. Like, it would help if you made the headline catchy and attractive.

You must also spend a little bit more time on the summary. Also, while writing about the work experience, put in the relevant dates at each company.

If you work on profile optimization, your profile will become comprehensive and appealing. If the employers or some good connections pass by, the profile will surely impress them.

3. Get endorsed

Getting endorsed is one more step to effective networking on Linkedin. Here, you can ask someone to endorse you directly for your skills.

The other thing is you can endorse them for their skills and, in return, do them a favor. On the Linkedin profile, there is a section called “skills and endorsements” as you scroll down. Use this to your best advantage.

Just keep in mind one thing: if you are asking someone to endorse you, that should be for a particular skill you mentioned in the profile.

4. Make your connections list stronger.

You must add the best of your connections on Linkedin as well. So, you must import your phone and Gmail contacts and get the same as your connection on Linkedin.

Once you have these contacts on Linkedin, you must try and gain access to more connections. Apart from that, you can look out for more networks too.

There’s one more feature called “people you may know,” and with this feature, there will be many other contacts that you will come across. It will make the connection list better and more potent.

5. Connect with experts in your field.

Your target should be to get in touch with the best networks and expert connections. If they become part of your networking list, then it will make your profile stronger and better. Some people go after strangers to add to the list.

It would be better to connect meaningfully. Find experts in your field and get connected with them.

To connect with them, you must send them a personalized message about why you wish to connect with them.

For example: “I have been in the IT field as a network engineer in XYZ company. I am looking forward to having bigger and better challenges. Thus, I wanted to connect with you”.

6. Join Linkedin groups

It is better to join Linkedin groups and interact with like-minded people therein. Many groups on Linkedin might be of your interest.

You can search for some specific keywords and likewise find the groups. Then you can send a joining request.

Once in the group, you can share your thoughts on that forum or group. For example, if you belong to the field of content writing and content marketing, there are more than 7000 groups on this topic.

So, if you have decided to network correctly, there’s a sea for you.

7. Be participative on the network.

You must be active and participative if you are there on the network. It means that if someone has written an article or some content, if you liked it, you can write a comment or show your love for that piece of content, etc.

You can also post relevant content or videos on the group. If you can write something, then that too will be great. But while you write or comment, you must sound professional and authoritative.

Now you know about the best networking tips on Linkedin, it would also be good to check out what not to do on Linkedin.

What Not To Do On Linkedin?

Here are tips on what you must be careful about while networking on Linkedin.

Don’t send generic and general messages to your network connections.
Don’t over-network. Don’t feel bad if someone has not responded to your networking request.
Don’t spam.
Don’t make your profile fake. Write genuine things.
Don’t hurt people’s sentiments by posting some such content or while introducing yourself. When you introduce yourself to someone, write statements that would not hurt the sentiments of the opposite person.
Don’t expect to get the personal details of the contact. It is not a social media platform. It would help to connect with someone here only for purely professional reasons.
Do not connect with anyone or everyone who has no common interests with you.

Linkedin works in terms of networking, and hence, it is one of the successful ways to connect with professionals with similar interests.

Conclusion

With the above Linkedin networking guide, it is clear that you can use the professional network for many reasons, including finding a mentor, finding a good job, finding a suitable candidate for a job position, etc.

You can also use the network to contact lost professional contacts in previous companies or educational institutions.

It matters that you network in the right way, and only you can fetch the best advantage of this network.

Right networking tips can open up a host of avenues for you. All you must do is, stay clear about your career goals and use your network and your profile on Linkedin to your best benefit.