As the leading professional networking site in the world, LinkedIn has transformed the traditional process of recruitment and job search. Recruiters largely use LinkedIn to buy access to data about LinkedIn users for hiring purposes. Job seekers use this space to connect with mentors, employers, coworkers, peers, and influencers. On a daily basis, companies post advice columns, the latest news about the company, and other interesting finds. Not only does LinkedIn tailor your home page news feed to your interests, LinkedIn also cares about its users because it continually notifies your connections to congratulate you on your new job, anniversaries, or other notable moments. This large, successful and rapidly growing social networking platform is one that will continue to shape the world we live in today.
One of the amazing tools of LinkedIn is their long-form publishing option. LinkedIn long-form publishing serves as a platform for members to contribute professional insights and expertise to the public. This simple and easy tool allows users to learn from others in the profession and enables users to establish their own professional identity by expressing their opinions and sharing their experiences. Here are five tips on publishing a successful LinkedIn post:
- Talk about something you know. Having expertise in a subject draws in people’s attention and makes them want to hear what you have to say and take advice from you. Maybe you took on a challenge and were able to overcome it. Tell us how you did it. Maybe you experienced failure and learned something from that experience. Let us know about that too. Or maybe you want to talk about a problem that your industry is currently facing. Share with us some possible solutions.
- Authenticity is more valuable than eloquent words that fit nicely together. Having a genuine voice will distinguish you from a generic post. When you speak with authenticity, your words mean so much more because they bring out your passion. An authentic voice is relatable and credible. Your words have value when you tell the truth and believe in what you are writing about.
- Be focused and concise. Although these posts are called long-form posts, your posts should not be as lengthy as the name might sound. It should simply be detailed enough to cover the main points in an organized and concise manner, no more and no less.
- Whatever your post may be about, make sure it is appropriate. This is your chance to establish your professional identity, so you want people to respect your opinions. You want to build credibility with these posts and be able to positively influence other LinkedIn users, not tarnish your image. For example, if you write about a subject with heavy political influence, you should be cautious about the words you use. Although you want to express your opinions, you do not want to go overboard and aggravate readers.
- And lastly, visuals matter. Upload pictures, videos, and other documents into your post to engage your readers. Visuals help to establish concrete examples and share information in ways that words cannot. Also, sometimes when there are too many words on a page, it becomes overwhelming. Space your thoughts out by including visual relief.
