LinkedIn: The Social Media Platform That’s More Than Just a Basic Online CV

The Microsoft Effect

LinkedIn is slowly but surely growing on me. For a long time, LinkedIn seemed to have been ticking over with slightly clunky mechanics and was nothing more than a basic online platform for your CV. I’ve often asked someone the question “are you on LinkedIn?” or “is your company on LinkedIn?” More often than not, the response is “no, I don’t get it” or “I just can’t get into it!”

All this looks set to change. New ownership in the form of Microsoft and a new desktop interface has breathed some much-needed life into this professional social platform. LinkedIn’s new logo, new interface and new lease of life has made it slightly easier (and a lot more pleasurable) to navigate through the site. With more of a focus on content and engagement with peers, the move seems to me to suggest that LinkedIn is moving one step closer to becoming a number one tool for recruiters and job-seekers alike.

Why LinkedIn?

Google likes LinkedIn. So much so, a simple name search for someone – for example ‘Daniel Jenkins’ – will always bring up the usual suspects: IMDb, Twitter, Wikipedia and yes, that’s right, LinkedIn.

When building a personal business or a personal profile, it’s hugely important to have an active presence on LinkedIn. Not only will it be a useful outlet for potential clients or employees to understand more about what you offer, but it’ll also help drive traffic to your website. Publish regular updates, like and share content from similarly-minded individuals or organisations, and get involved in LinkedIn’s content as much as you would with a well-constructed tweet or Facebook post. Connect with colleagues and potential clients, use it to research companies and opportunities, and keep your profile professional, personal and enticing. Your LinkedIn profile is as powerful as you want it to be. The more you engage with up-to-date articles and blog posts, the more involved you will become in your industry.

Get Connected

Want to get connected? You can find me on LinkedIn, or reach out to me via my Twitter Handle @DanWJenkins.

You can follow my blog by clicking on the below link, and if you can’t wait for the next article and want to read more today, take a look at my last blog article on Matthew Pattimore Photography.

Thanks for reading.

Daniel Jenkins (@DanWJenkins)