LinkedIn etiquette for beginners
LinkedIn is a staple for anyone in business wanting to stay connected. It’s an opportunity to make valuable connections with others in your industry, establish yourself as a thought-leader and build your credibility.
If you’re just starting out in business, you might not know the ins and outs of LinkedIn etiquette. You might be thinking, ‘I’ve got Facebook and Twitter, it can’t be that different, right?’. Well, you might be surprised.
There are a few ‘rules’ to follow if you want LinkedIn to work for you and your business. And you’ll find that a lot of them go hand in hand with networking. Here are our top tips for beginners.
It’s not just about who you know
You’ll probably have heard time and time again, ‘don’t accept that Facebook friend request if you don’t know who they are.’ ‘Keep your social media private so your details are protected.’ Well, with LinkedIn, it can be a little bit different.
It’s not just about who you know. It’s about who you want to get to know. Think of LinkedIn as a gateway to fellow professionals who are also open to meeting with you. You’re all on there for the same reasons: to build your network, credibility and learn from each other.
Customise your invitations
That being said, remember to approach new connections thoughtfully. You wouldn’t barge in to a stranger in a face-to-face networking meeting, so treat LinkedIn in the same way.
Don’t just send out connection requests to anyone and everyone. Not only will that make people think you’re not genuine, it’ll also stop you from connecting with the right people. Before you send out connection requests, do your research. Demonstrate genuine interest in what they do, and they’ll be much more likely to accept the request. And much more likely to engage in further conversations.
And don’t just go in on the hard sell. Try starting a discussion to pique their interest or offer a point of view on something they’re interested in. Again, people are much more likely to engage with this approach.
Stay active
Posting regularly will keep you in the loop, and put you in favour with the LinkedIn algorithm. It’ll also show you’re the real deal to your connections. You’re here to be known and share your thoughts and advice. You’re a real player in the game.
Engaging with other posts is important too. Not just for LinkedIn’s algorithm, but to show your connections you’re genuinely interested in what they’ve got to say. No good conversation is ever one way. It’s all about give and take.
The give and take nature of LinkedIn is very similar to networking. You want people to engage with your posts, so you have to engage a little too. For more networking advice and guidance, take a look at our networking checklist.
Ready to get started?
Starting a new business can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. LinkedIn is a great start for those who want to build connections quickly and hit the ground running.
At In Business, we want to help you tick all the boxes. Take a look at our sure-fire steps to starting out on your business venture here.
And if you’re all ready to go, talk to us today about joining In Business. We can’t wait to meet you!