Why does LinkedIn matter? Part one of a four part series!

By now, you’ve probably heard of LinkedIn. If you have a profile, you are one of 467 million current users with a LinkedIn account. But just having an account isn’t enough. LinkedIn by definition is a social network, emphasis on the word “social”.  With quarterly revenues topping $947 million, LinkedIn derives an estimated 65% of its revenue from talent solutions. And according to SHRM (the Society of Human Resource Management), an estimated 90% of recruiters rely heavily on LinkedIn for sourcing top talent. Can you think of any other career source with the potential of putting your talents in front of 90% of the populations’ recruiters?

Getting the most out of what LinkedIn offers depends on your activity. Our recommendation is that you spend a minimum of 15 minutes twice a week connecting with potential influencers in your target industry. In addition, spend a little time managing your current connections. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Find out what is going on with them and perhaps even suggest meeting for coffee. LinkedIn is about developing relationships and one of the keys to benefiting from this platform is communication.

Over the next three weeks we will be sharing specific strategies for creating a LinkedIn profile that works. We will provide suggestions on updating your profile, which sections you should pay the most attention to and strategies for creating a personal presence and not just a profile.  What if changes you made today led to new opportunities in the coming months? Until next week…