7 Expert LinkedIn Tips A Lot Of People Don't Really Know About

I bet you think you’re a LinkedIn expert. By now you probably have a professional profile picture, an elegantly outlined experience section and even a few recommendations to round it all out. Maybe you even have a well-written summary and a number of extracurricular activities highlighted.

But just because you’ve completed your profile as much as humanly possible doesn’t mean you can’t take it to the next level. Whether you’re job searching, networking or preparing for your next big promotion, here are eight LinkedIn tips for advanced users that’ll help you make even more of an impression.

1. Regularly Check In

Don’t let your beautiful profile sit there collecting dust. If you want to use your online presence for the good of your career, there are several things you should be doing on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Like, you know, liking and posting (seriously, don’t be afraid to get involved).

2. Publish An Article

You may not be a professional writer, but writing on LinkedIn (even a short blog-type post) is a great opportunity to be seen as a thought leader in your space. You can show off what you know about hiring practices, sales methods or marketing campaigns, and anyone who looks at your profile will instantly know that you know what you’re talking about.

3. Add Media To Your Profile

Chances are no one’s really “reading” your profile—they’re skimming it. You know what will make them more likely to stay on your page? Adding media—whether it’s a link to a blog post you wrote, a PowerPoint presentation you made for a big client deal or a video of you speaking at an event. Plus, having real-life examples of your work will only boost your credibility.

4. Follow People Who Are Where You Want to Go

You may not be able to connect with Sheryl Sandberg on LinkedIn, but you can certainly follow her. Following people who are in jobs or positions that you want to have someday is like getting free mentoring advice. That’s why we made a list of some of our favorite professionals to follow.

5. Send (Personalized) Connection Requests To People You Admire

If there’s someone you look up to, you can absolutely reach out to them for advice. But there’s a right and wrong way to do this: Don’t connect solely to get a job—start by talking about what you have in common. Then, take it from there.

6. Reach Out To People Who Look At Your Profile

If you see someone interesting creeping around on your profile, this is your chance to connect with them. They’re already interested in you, so why not return the favor? Who knows, maybe they’ll hand you your next big break (or, at least offer a great conversation).

7. Become Friends With Your LinkedIn Contacts IRL

One of the best things you can do with your online presence is use it to generate real, in-person connections. After all, who are you more likely to give a job to, someone that’s your connection on LinkedIn, or someone who’s bought you coffee a few times?

Now that your profile’s perfected, it’s time to start actually using it. Get engaged, like other people’s posts, write your own posts and start making friends with your professional connections. When the time comes to get a new job, or get promoted at an existing job, your LinkedIn presence will be ready to help you level-up your career.

*Source: 7 Expert LinkedIn Tips A Lot Of People Don't Really Know About