5 LinkedIn tips on effective personal branding
[Editor's Note: This belongs to a series of contributing guest author posts from LinkedIn users sharing tips, tricks, and tweaks on getting the most from your LinkedIn usage. Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, April 09). You can also receive regular career tips on his Personal Branding Blog.]I remember when I was a junior at Bentley University (College at the time) and someone from my dorm ran over to me and told me about Facebook. He had gotten our school as one of the first 16 schools on Facebook and was promoting it all over the place. I rejected it at first because I didn’t understand it and was too busy studying and partying, to waste my time. Slowly, I went through the process of rejection, curiosity, trying, liking and then loving it. With LinkedIn, I had a similar experience, except I viewed it as a necessity because recruiters were already searching for passive candidates on there and I didn’t want to be ostracized.
Fast forward to today. I speak at many different colleges and to my surprise, not every student knows what LinkedIn is, so I always have to take time to give a summary of LinkedIn, its value and benefits. I really emphasize why it’s become one of the most important recruiting tools in the world and the majority of “good” headhunters have already signed up. LinkedIn, to me, has become the ultimate database of relationships and since networking is the key to getting anywhere in life, it’s significant to my professional development. It’s given me an avenue to connect with professionals and has helped position me as a leading personal branding expert.
Here are five tips on using a professional networking site like LinkedIn to build your personal and professional brand on the web:
1. Use LinkedIn Groups: Out of all the features on LinkedIn, I think the groups feature reigns supreme. It positions you as an expert and, just like people who start events; it makes you the center of information and the “connector.” I started the Personal Branding Network on LinkedIn about a month or so ago and have already built it up to 841 users! The value I’ve received out of this group is tremendous and now I spend less time updating the group because it’s generated a powerful community that support’s its growth.
2. Fill out your profile completely: I know that people use this tip all the time, but it’s important to repeat it because you don’t want to appear that you don’t do much. If you’ve had a lot of great work experience, then use all of it. Take your current resume and use all the fields in your LinkedIn profile, so that you can stand out.
3. Unique URL: For personal branding, you need to attach everything on the web to your full name and LinkedIn has vanity URL’s that you can use to help you control your Google results. LinkedIn, as a major website, as a high Google PageRank and gives you the ability to make a linkedin.com/in/yourfullname URL, which typically ranks very high for your name.
4. Applications: When applications first came out, I was praying that it wouldn’t be like how Facebook did it and I was right. I find great value in two of the applications LinkedIn currently supports: WordPress blog RSS and Slideshare.net. Having your blog syndicate through your profile is valuable to showing employers that you’re already writing about topics you’re interested in and a Slideshare presentation also makes you look like you’re contributing great value.
5. Linking: Your LinkedIn profile you should with you as you build profiles on other social networks, your website, blogs, etc. I tell a lot of people to use their LinkedIn profile URL on their traditional resume, and as the one link they have on Twitter, if they don’t have a blog. LinkedIn profiles are easy to read and are focused on your professional careers, so using the URL everywhere is a great idea for you.
Feel free to share any other tips you may have on personal branding in the comments section
Tags: brandyou, collegejobs, danschawbel, findjobs, graduatejobs, personalbranding
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Piyush Nahata April 7th, 2009
super! thanks a lot for the share.
regards
Not on Linked In yet? C’mon! « Etienne Chabot’s Blog April 7th, 2009
[...] Check out these 5 tips on effective personal branding posted on the Linked In blog here. [...]
Tracy A. Wehringer April 7th, 2009
Dear Dan:
Great article. Recently I was a college job fair at Rowan College and I was so surprised that none of their students had their Linkedin URL on their resume. During initial conversations they never heard of Linkedin which surprised me. I talked about the importance of creating their professional brand and using Linkedin and I actually received a few requests to Linkin to their network.
Sounds like a course is needed in many colleges & university’s – Personal branding through social networks!
All the best,
-Tracy
Guillaume April 7th, 2009
I would also add an intensive participation to the Q&A section as you can demonstrate your expertise.
RodeWorks » Blog Archive » Effective LinkedIn use April 7th, 2009
[...] The LinkedIn Blog » Blog Archive 5 LinkedIn tips on effective personal branding « Fast forward to today. I speak at many different colleges and to my surprise, not every student knows what LinkedIn is, so I always have to take time to give a summary of LinkedIn, its value and benefits. I really emphasize why it’s become one of the most important recruiting tools in the world and the majority of “good” headhunters have already signed up. LinkedIn, to me, has become the ultimate database of relationships and since networking is the key to getting anywhere in life, it’s significant to my professional development. [...]
Amit Paranjape April 8th, 2009
Good points.
Checkout this recent blog I wrote about 30 Do’s & Don’ts of Linkedin for personal networking at http://PuneTech.Com.
To access the Linkedin related post, please click here:
http://punetech.com/how-to-effectively-use-linkedin-for-professional-networking-30-do%e2%80%99s-and-don%e2%80%99ts/
Thanks
Amit
Sandra April 8th, 2009
I just read the book online. I am very new to the world of “Blogging”, just completed my linkedin today, and am already showing up on the First Page of Google. Isn’t that the ultimate goal…….to show up at the top of Google.
Thank You so much – Sandra
Susan P. Joyce April 8th, 2009
Excellent information from Dan, as usual.
To increase the probability that your network can expand, enable people who aren’t exactly sure how to spell your name and/or people who knew you with a different name to find you by:
* If you have a maiden name, including your maiden name in your Profile’s Summary section (labeled as “maiden name” for clarity).
* If you’ve been married more than once, and changed your name each time, including all versions of your name in your Profile Summary (labeled as “variations of my name in the past” possibley).
* If your name is misspelled often – or COULD be misspelled – adding a section to your Profile called, “Common Misspellings” and include those incorrect (yes!) variations of your name there.
For a more complete explanation with examples, my blog posting -
http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-news/2008/12/04/add-misspellings-to-your-linkedin-profile/
james oh April 8th, 2009
We, at the http://liftyouup.blogspot.com, delighted to join this networking and we strongly believe that both sides may collaborate one way or another to achieve our mutual objectives. More importantly, we can at the same time pass these benefits to everyone at these networks. Let pray and work together to bring greater height to everyone who makes this network a success.
Tracy A. Wehringer April 9th, 2009
Yes, Guillaume, you are correct about participating with the Q&A section to demonstrate strong skill-set. Very important.
Joe Macaluso April 9th, 2009
The first sentence of point #5,”Linking” makes no sense to me. I understand everything after that, but found the opening confusing.
Jack Palancio April 10th, 2009
Hi Dan,
Want to take your advice on the unique url but can’t figure out how to do it. I’ve searched LinkeIn and haven’t found any good information on how to go about it. Can you explain for us all?
Thanks,
Jack
Betty Unger April 12th, 2009
I’ve been aware of and reading about, for some time, this new way to social-network. Recently, I heard a popular radio commentator mention Linkedin. So today, finally, I took the plunge. Rather like entering politics for the first time – a bit scary! As a Leo, I’m naturally curious.
Supriyo Choudhury April 13th, 2009
Thanks a lot for sharing such a wonderful article.
Muzammil April 13th, 2009
Great Article Dan.
Thanks a lot!
Mario Sundar April 14th, 2009
@Jack,
Here’s where you can edit your public profile vanity URL (unique URL) that Dan was referring to
http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?editwp=&locale=en_US#
Mario from LinkedIn
Sumita Ramgirwar April 14th, 2009
Excellent tips, I have been using LinkedIn from almost a year and had no idea of how to make my profile so eye catching and visible. Thanks to Dans tips which helped me alot in building my profile in well structure, joining groups etc.
Thank you very much
Sanjeev Gupta April 15th, 2009
There is one flaw that I notice in Invites through Groups. These invites ask how you know the person you are inviting to join your network but it never shows these details in invite. Invite simply says that Invitee has indicated he or she knows invited. This gives people impression that invitee has lied and they do no research on looking at your profile and simply press “Don’t Know” button. I would like to advise people please look at invitation and take a peak at invitee profile which shows how you are connected and also groups you share before pressing “Don’t Know” button.
Dirk Frey April 16th, 2009
@ Sanjeev- That is something to consider. I always recommend that you personalize the Invitation message that is provided. Jog their memory on how you met or know them. The personal touch can go a long way.
Jeff Goldman April 16th, 2009
I would also use your status statement for branding purposes. The great thing is it also supports HTML links.
In regards to #3, I have made a simulation that will instruct anyone on how to customize their profile’s URL. It is accessible here: http://www.minutebio.com/LI/PowerTips.htm.
Thanks for the great post.
Mario Sundar April 16th, 2009
@Jeff,
Thanks for the tip. Mario
How To Use LinkedIn For Small Business | Understanding Marketing April 19th, 2009
[...] Personal Brand: Fill out your profile with lots of good information to help shape your own personal brand. [...]
LinkedIn SuperGuide -Tutorials, Tips and Tools May 12th, 2009
[...] 5 LinkedIn tips on effective personal branding From the Official LinkedIn Blog: Personal branding guru Dan Schawbel offers up five tips on using a professional networking site like LinkedIn to build your personal and professional brand on the web. [...]
Kalindi May 15th, 2009
Hello,
I customized my address, but when I google search my name the old URL appears. How is this updated?
Thanks.
Dirk Frey May 19th, 2009
@Kalindi- It may take several days for a Search engine to index your updated Public Profile. If this is still an issue, please contact Customer Service and they will be able to troubleshoot the issue. Great to see you are taking some of Dan’s advice!
-Dirk
Chris Perry May 19th, 2009
Great post! I second Dan’s comments.
Definitely join as many relevant groups as you can (maximum is currently 50) and position yourself as an expert by answering others’ discussion threads and offering advice and tips as their own discussion threads.
Using the Q&A section of LinkedIn is also an effective way to be active in establishing your personal brand as the expert in a given subject.
Your LinkedIn subtitle should reflect your personal brand, not necessarily your job (as that is included under your positions regardless anyway) and your status can direct visitors to your blog, website, profiles elsewhere and even current activities and accomplishments that can help with reinforcing your personal branding efforts.
Choose a solid picture that supports the brand you present, despite the small size, make sure it visually improves upon your written branding.
Chris Perry – Career Rocketeer & Personal Branding Expert
Jonathan May 28th, 2009
Thanks for the good post. I wrote a post called “Five Steps Toward Becoming a LinkedIn Rockstar.”
You can find that here “http://www.jonathansackheim.com/?p=35
Brad Remillard September 1st, 2009
The complete profile is so important. I’m a recruiter and nothing is more furstrating when a person on Linkedin has an incomplete profile. Why join Linkedin if you are not going to at least have a complete profile.
This is the most basic thing to do.
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My Career Advice on Fox News Live…
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[...] And find more tips from Dan Schawbel on the LinkedIn blog at: http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/04/07/5-linkedin-tips-on-effective-personal-branding/ [...]
Chuck Balcher January 30th, 2010
I pend lots of time on the answers section. It’s a blast.