Is your LinkedIn Profile “lonely?” In other words, have you created a strong LinkedIn Profile yet struggle with maintaining your engagement with the site? Depending on your current focus with utilizing LinkedIn, it may be easier for you to engage with this valuable resource on a regular basis. For example, if you are actively involved in a job search, you may be checking the site daily for job postings, e-mails from recruiters, and updates from your network. However, if you are primarily utilizing LinkedIn for networking purposes and/or to establish more of a presence in your field with an undetermined strategy, it may be more difficult to promote regular engagement.
While lack of regular engagement with LinkedIn may be a common issue, there are several ways to stay active on the site which don’t require a great deal of time. In addition, with LinkedIn reaching over 1 billion members as of June, 2024, there are many ways in which your regular online presence may enhance your overall career development strategy and professional development! To promote more of a regular online presence through LinkedIn, try these three tips:
- Schedule daily “LinkedIn Time.” In order to encourage regular involvement with the site, it is oftentimes a great practice to incorporate a consistent block of time on your calendar dedicated to LinkedIn. LinkedIn’s algorithms do track your involvement on the site and therefore, the more frequently you are engaged with the site, the more visible you will be to others. You may want to start with 30 minutes a day, Monday-Friday, to dedicate to LinkedIn time where, depending on your primary use of the site at this time, you decide to briefly scan your feed, comment on posts, start a new conversation, reply to e-mails, and/or scan for new opportunities. You may also consider adding a longer block of time on Fridays to apply for new positions, if applicable.
- Utilize the LinkedIn Alumni Tool to learn from, and connect with, other WGU students and graduates. The Alumni Tool feature may encourage additional LinkedIn site usage and engagement while expanding your professional network and discovering career information related to those who may possess the same degree from the same institution as you. You may even want to consider scheduling informational interviews with other professionals of interest. View this brief video from the CPD YouTube Channel for additional information on optimal usage of this helpful tool.
- Write an article and/or share a post about a recent professional development activity. Writing an article provides you with more visibility on LinkedIn, as all of your first-level contacts are notified when you publish an article. You also don’t have to be a top expert in your field to share your experience. For example, you may consider writing an article about your Capstone project and the knowledge gleaned from the experience, as many others may benefit from your perspective as well. You may also consider sharing a post about recent professional development opportunities, such as participation in an impactful webinar, attendance at a professional association conference, or a reflection on the process of recently obtaining your C.P.A. Adding a question prompt for engagement with your post is oftentimes beneficial and may further encourage interaction with you through LinkedIn.
By approaching your LinkedIn engagement from a strategic perspective, you are more likely to maximize your time and visibility—regardless of your current objective for utilizing the site. For more tips on creating a strong LinkedIn Profile and related use strategy, please access our LinkedIn User Guide, as well as our pre-recorded webinar on “Maximizing LinkedIn for the Job Search.”
