The latest articles on DEV Community by Olivia Still (@olivia_still). https://dev.to/olivia_still https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F892454%2Fffe65712-f975-4e28-8828-989dbbe3d681.jpeg https://dev.to/olivia_still en Olivia Still Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:52:22 +0000 https://dev.to/olivia_still/4-linkedin-promotional-strategies-that-work-dee https://dev.to/olivia_still/4-linkedin-promotional-strategies-that-work-dee <p>You are unemployed and looking for work. You are a business looking for employees. You are looking for specialized training and workshops. The best place where you can do all this, and more: LinkedIn. That is, if you know how to successfully set up your profile first.</p> <p>Diving into it might be overwhelming. Here are a few key strategies for creating a profile that will get noticed and fulfill its purpose: be clear on who you are; be strategic and clear on who you wish to interact with; use hashtags; keep your profile up-to-date, relevant and fresh. </p> <h2> Be clear on who you are </h2> <p>Even though LinkedIn falls into the category of social networks, it is specifically focused on business. You might be tempted to share your vacation sunset photo or that funny cat video, but don't. A professionally done photo, your company's logo and your business summary will achieve way more. Include your education, skills, work experience and any awards you might have received. Update it regularly with any new certificates or professional development events you attend. </p> <p>Keep it professional, but not too serious. Present yourself as someone who is credible and can offer value to other people. If viewers feel like you offer content that is relevant to them, they will be more likely to become followers and actively interact with you. </p> <h2> Be strategic and clear on who you wish to interact with </h2> <p>It is important to know who you want your audience to be before you start creating content and posts on your profile. Imagine your target reader/customer and gear your profile towards their interests and needs. Be relevant and to the point. Most people's attention span is around 10 seconds, so don't clutter your profile with too much information. <br> When selecting your network, it is best to include both your competitors and customers. Having competitors in your circle keeps you informed about what they're up to, so you can see where you and your business stand in relation to the competition. The benefits of having customers there, both previous and potential future ones are obvious. </p> <p><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--ZENtRz_D--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_880/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/68z79p9gybdcleg5yfmx.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--ZENtRz_D--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_880/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/68z79p9gybdcleg5yfmx.png" alt="Image description" width="880" height="462"></a></p> <h2> Use hashtags </h2> <p>Before you publish anything, make sure your posts are easy to find based on the content. Include catch phrases and words that will increase the odds of your content appearing in search results. One way of doing that on LinkedIn is to use hashtags. All hashtags are in the following format: #keyword. Familiarize <br> yourself with <a href="https://authoredin.com/">how to pick hashtags on LinkedIn</a>. Hashtags help viewers discover topics most relevant to them, so the right people can find you and start interacting with your business. </p> <h2> Keep your profile up-to-date, relevant and fresh </h2> <p>If you leave your red hat in the sun for too long, undisturbed, it will fade. The same will happen to your LinkedIn profile, if you don't publish posts regularly. </p> <p>Try to update your status at least a few times a week. In addition to that, about once a week, create or share content that is useful to your audience. Make it something that can provide information on the latest trends in the industry, teach them how to solve a problem or inspire them to be better in what they do. It might help to have a 'posting schedule' and stick to it. That way, your audience will also know when to expect content from you. Match the look of your LinkedIn profile with other online presence you might have (a website or a Facebook page). </p> <p>You don't have to include solely text-only posts. Using rich media content, like videos, graphics and custom images, will make your profile stand out and people from your network will be more likely to engage and comment on them. There is also the option of using LinkedIn live video, which can help you connect with your audience in real time, and on a more personal level. </p> <p>Whether you joined LinkedIn to find a job, offer work or look for professional development and education, it all starts with a properly designed profile. As long as you present yourself as a professional, with your education and work history and skills, speak about topics your target audience is seeking, use keywords and hashtags in your posts and publish regular updates and relevant content, the chances of reaching your goal are high.<br><br> Follow these steps and climb your way to success on LinkedIn.</p> linkedin promotion strategy socialmedia