What is LinkedIn?

Note: By providing screen reader assistance articles on a wide range of functionality on LinkedIn.com and on our mobile apps, LinkedIn is committed to encouraging inclusion and equal opportunity. The link below provides a thorough listing of articles unique to Profile, each of which includes step-by-step instructions for carrying out various tasks using a variety of browsers and screen readers.

Screen Reader Support Page:

https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a1431878

• Home: Once you’ve logged in to LinkedIn, the home feed serves as your news feed and displays recent updates from the corporate pages and connections you’ve made with other professionals.
• Profile: Right at the top of your profile are your name, photo, location, occupation, and other information. Below that, you can edit various elements including an educational and professional summary, employment history, education, and other sections in a manner similar to how you would make a conventional resume or CV.
• My Network: A list of all the people you are currently associated with on LinkedIn may be found here. You can also see several other professionals to add to your contacts, look up potential acquaintances, and look up alumni if you would like.
• Jobs: Every day, employers post all different kinds of job ads on LinkedIn. Based on your current information, including your location and optional job preferences that you may fill out to get more customised job postings, LinkedIn will recommend particular opportunities to you.
• Messaging: One of the best ways to build network on LinkedIn is sending a private message through to another professional. It is a great way to strike up a conversation. Additionally, you can also incorporate photographs, files, and more.
• Notifications: Similar to other social media platforms, LinkedIn provides a function that notifies you when you’ve received endorsements, invitations to join something, or invitations to look at a post you might be interested in.

• Banner: It’s crucial to have a banner image at the top of your profile because it’s the first thing people will notice when visiting it. Think of it as an advertisement or billboard for your brand value. Possibly include pictures of you in action or ones that are pertinent to your clients.

The size is 1584 x 396 pixels, and Canva (www.canva.com) is a wonderful free application to help you make it because it contains free photos and a template for the right LinkedIn size. Never place anything significant on the left side where the photo might cover it.

• Photo: Photos are still important – it’s the image people hold in their mind when they think of We recommend imagining that you are meeting an employer (or your other target audience) for the first time and want to make a good impression. In real life, what will they see when you walk through the door? That can be a good photo – ideally showing the head and shoulders.
• Headline: You have 220 characters in the text that appears to the left of your photo in the profile to describe what you do or to begin forming an impression in the reader’s mind. This might be your 5-second lift pitch. Maintaining your work title while adding a slogan about you, your business, or your own special area of focus is an option.

Put yourself in their position and respond to the question, “What’s in it for me?” to connect with and converse with this person, i.e., you!

A suitable format is as follows whether you are looking for work or are an independent consultant:

Job title, essential competencies, and skills you offer, and how you make a difference.

• About: Since it is the largest text section on your profile, it is a wonderful location to introduce yourself, your work, your core service areas, case studies, etc. to others. Use the LinkedIn ‘About’ section to deliver exactly what your target audience needs. If you’re a job seeker seeking to draw hiring managers and job interviews, always keep your attention on the prospect, HR, or client and how you and your skills can make their lives easier. If your attention is on your job search, this is essential. Keep in mind that the About section is not merely a compilation of all of your job descriptions.
• Experience: Experience section emphasises your contributions, abilities, value proposition, and your ability to assist your target audience in achieving their goals.

1. Start the introduction with a section about you, emphasising your experience, background, and/or services offered, if possible.
2. Include a few bullet points or lines explaining who you are, what you do, how you assist clients, important details, etc. Although it need not be lengthy, it is wise to provide some details.
3. Every company you list in your LinkedIn Experience section needs to have a logo. Lack of a logo equates to lack of credibility. And that’s not helpful for anyone using LinkedIn, whether job seekers, business owners, or anyone else.

• Education: Your Education section contains a wealth of information about you, particularly for the prospective employer and your former classmates or alumnus who are hoping to reconnect and expand their network.

Consider the following advice when adding a school name to your education section:

1. Mention any subjects and themes that you studied, which may be relevant to your area of work.
2. Enter extra-curricular activities that you took part in while attending that school.
3. List any honours or awards you received.
4. Include rich media to highlight your proud memories while attending that institution, such as a photo, video, link, or document.

• Other sections that can be added: LinkedIn allow you to add additional sections such as License and certifications, honors and awards, Languages, as well as Volunteering.

Expanding your LinkedIn network is crucial for staying informed about industry trends and enhancing your visibility. LinkedIn categorizes connections into levels:

• 1^st Level: Direct connections
• 2^nd Level: Connections of your connections
• 3^rd Level: Wider network connections
• 4^th Level: Members of shared groups
• 5^th Level: Those beyond your current network scope

Your search results on LinkedIn are influenced by your network size. A larger network yields more accurate and extensive search results.

Some of the steps that you can take to expand and engage with your network are as follows-

• Stay Active in Your Network: Regularly share content, comment on posts, and send personalized messages to keep your network engaged. This fosters deeper connections and boosts your visibility.
• Join Relevant Groups: Participate in industry-related discussions and connect with professionals who share your interests by joining LinkedIn groups aligned with your field.
• Personalize Connection Requests: When reaching out to new connections, explain your reasons for connecting and seek out potential mentors or industry peers. Utilize LinkedIn’s “People You May Know” feature to expand your network.
• Attend Virtual Events: Engage with others and expand your network by attending virtual events and webinars, even if in-person events are limited.
• Be Consistent: Allocate time each week to interact with your connections, share valuable content, and connect with new professionals. Consistency is key to nurturing and growing your LinkedIn network over time.

 By applying these tactics, you can expand your network, enhance visibility, and engage with industry peers. Building a strong network requires dedication, but the benefits are significant.