If used correctly, LinkedIn is a social media tool that we can use to help improve our career prospects in various ways. In the same manner, LinkedIn can also cause some serious career hiccups if used incorrectly. LinkedIn comes with a series of unwritten rules that can help you improve your online presence significantly. Breaking these rules can often lead to leaving the wrong impression and could be harmful to your career.

First off, let’s think about the boundaries of LinkedIn in comparison to Facebook. LinkedIn and Facebook are not the same. While they have the same functions and operate in similar manners, their objectives are vastly different. Facebook is a website that is great for personal connections, expressing personal opinions, and sharing pictures from your weekend hangout. LinkedIn is a networking tool, a great way to keep in touch with professional connections, and a great way to try to get noticed by potential employers while helping to progress your career. With this being said, let’s review some LinkedIn Rules:

1. Think before you post – Thinking about posting something more casual on your LinkedIn feed? Before you do, make sure you consider your audience. Think about who your connections are and how this content is relevant to the reader. Post content that is compelling and relatable to your readers. This will not only get them to click on your content, but it could also start a conversation, which could help you reach the right people. When posting, also consider spreading out your posts throughout the day, rather than in a cluster all at one time.
2. Don’t get caught up in inappropriate conversations — See something on LinkedIn that didn’t sit well with you? Avoid the temptation to get caught up in the conversation. Once something is posted online, it is there forever! The same rules that you would follow during an in-person conversation still apply on social media. More and more employers are checking out the social media of potential candidates before making hiring decisions, so your activity online can really help employers in making a decision on whether or not they will be hiring you.
3. Be meaningful when making a connection — When you attempt to make a connection with others on LinkedIn, you want to make sure you have a purpose and not just a large number of connections. This is especially true when it comes to connecting with people you don’t know. When connecting with others, make sure you review their profile and make a reference to what you found interesting in their information. People love to be praised! The rule of thumb is to always make sure that you send a note when you connect on LinkedIn, especially if the person is not an immediate connection. Avoid sending generic requests; there are a lot of spam accounts on LinkedIn, and you don’t want to come across in a negative way.
4. Your Profile – Your profile can speak volumes about your career. When creating the content for your profile, it is always a good idea to make a goal of what you want your profile to say and then create the content based on your goals. When creating content, make sure that you have a detailed summary that explains where you are in your career and where you want to go. Also, ensure that each job you post on your profile gives the reader a clear description of what you did while employed – avoid keeping this section blank. When people look at your profile, it is because they want to know more about you and your potential. The picture you select should be professional and directed towards your industry. Getting a professional headshot done is always a great place to start.
5. Avoid sending mass/lengthy emails – Since social media is an easy way to reach out to people that you would normally not have access, it’s tempting to send out an email entailing your career goals and what you can offer a potential employer, and it is even easier to type up this email one time and send it to several connections! This is a strategy that you want to avoid; sending a generic email with your resume attached is not going to get you noticed any faster. In fact, it might end up in the trash bin! Rather, try sticking to writing blogs, posting resourceful and interesting statuses, taking part in a LinkedIn group conversation, and making meaningful and targeted connections. When making a targeted connection, ensure that the email content is unique to each connection. While it might take you a while to build up a momentum, the outcome will result in stronger connections and a lasting professional network.

So there you have it – the best LinkedIn practices in a nutshell. When using social media, it is important to remember that it is not a closed book; it is a window of your self that is projected to the world. Making strong connections and building relationships is one of the main key factors in maintaining a strong professional network. Stay consistent in your approach, and consider scheduling when you are going to post and what topic you will post. Use a combination of strategies to grow your network. Whichever method you use, always keep your audience in mind, cater to their interests, and keep inspired when building your network!