Using LinkedIn to fall back in love with your career
“I… posted other professional photos using the #flashbackfriday to minimize the narcissism and it was really nice to tag people. I got some nice messages back…. So, thanks for that. I don’t quite see how those photos are linked to my profile…” -She Who Must Not be Named
An email message from a client/friend who, having scored a huge new promotion, is undertaking the process of transforming her LinkedIn profile from a staid place-holder into a living body of evidence, proactive testimony to her professional passions and accomplishments.
If that sounds pretentious, blame me, not her. In a larger sense, this client is tackling the ritual of falling in love (all over again), with her career: she’s worked hard, she’s reached a new level, and she’s reminding herself of what she’s done, in order to fully maximize this time, and figure out where she wants to go. Organizing and identifying those photos, in her own words, “… reminds me of a time I was powerful and transforming others.” Being reminded of that power re-creates that power.
I’m sharing my friend’s quote for several reasons: first of all, she’s a class act. When she posted some older shots of her activity at conferences and speaking engagements, she used it an opportunity to tag fellow colleagues, including them, publicly, in her success and good works. How wonderful did that make those people feel? So good that a few immediately reached out, and started a conversation that is likely to lead to other lecturing situations. So many people have a bare-bones LinkedIn profile, and then hope that, magically, someone will read it and say, “Hey, you’re awesome. My organization wants to hire you to speak and/or throw cash at you.” In reality, groups want to know that you already have speaking experience, and that you have the personality, and passion and expertise to make it worth their time.
Here’s a hint: consider, seriously and dispassionately, your background. Start isolating the nuggets that differentiate you. How would you sell yourself, and why? Who would benefit from the things you’ve done? Where can you find those types of people? In what kinds of groups, trade associations, organizations, fraternities, sororities? Start making a list of those groups: these are the people you want to network with, both actively and passively.
I’d suggest you create a “Public Speaker” section on your LinkedIn profile, and share photos, videos, programs of your previous engagements. At the very least, let the reader know you do this. Do not waste your own time ambition, presuming that people will read your mine. With your ideal audience in mind, start considering a series of LinkedIn Pulse articles, consisting of the subjects and expertise you’d eventually want to speak on. Instead of articles bragging about your talent for lecturing on, for example, B2B marketing strategy, write a series of short, compelling LinkedIn Pulse pieces about B2B marketing strategy. By “series,” I mean even two intelligent LinkedIn Pulse articles a month. Once a week is better, but even two a month is a huge start.
When you’re using LinkedIn’s entire website correctly, you’re regularly adding interesting, compelling content that propels your branding personality, i.e. allows the reader to understand your intellectual process, and how it could impact them. I don’t know about you, but as I get older, I find the brain the sexiest organ*, and when I can make that intellectual connection with someone, whatever field they’re in, whatever it is they’re doing…I’m hooked. I want to know more. That person has given me a reason to get involved on their behalf.
Finally, this client added the photos as “updates” in her news-feed. (Think of it as the difference between posting new photos in your Facebook news feed, and changing your overall Facebook profile photo.) Eventually, she’ll add them to her actual profile. Translation: eventually my nagging/encouragement/headlocks/outright bribery will work its subtle magic. But too many people on LinkedIn believe that adding something to your profile is the only way to get stuff out there; they add it and forget it. Those people are very wrong. Worse, those people are only using a fraction of LinkedIn’s abilities to help themselves. Your career, your expertise, your responsibility…your empowerment. #GetToWork
*Usually.
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