Table of Contents
Why you might want to go with LinkedIn:
It's Monday morning, and you open LinkedIn to find your inbox buzzing. Amidst the usual recruiter spam and "Congratulate John on 20 years at Acme Corp," there's a message from the CTO of a company you've been eyeing. "Loved your post about scaling microservices. We're facing similar challenges. Got time for a call this week?" Your consistent efforts are finally paying off.
To get here, you'll need to:
- Write thoughtful, relevant posts that showcase your expertise (and your humor if you have it)
- Engage regularly with people in your network, with your followers, and with other content
- Build a profile that reflects your professional journey and accomplishments
Why you might not want to go with LinkedIn:
You're staring at your screen, cringing at yet another post trying to extract business lessons from a global tragedy. You've spent hours polishing your profile, but your connection requests are met with silence and the only people connecting with your a grifters trying to recruit you. The thought of writing another "agree or disagree?" post makes you question your career choices.
This might be you if:
- You struggle to maintain a professional or consistent online persona
- You find it challenging to network without feeling like a total fake
- Writing long-form content feels like pulling teeth
Who you need to be to make LinkedIn work for you:
You're the type of person who:
- Has a track record of professional achievements to share
- Can articulate complex ideas in accessible, engaging, and even fun ways
- Enjoys building and maintaining professional relationships
- Can strike a balance between personal and professional in your content
What you can expect:
- Timeline: Like Twitter, expect to invest 500+ hours before seeing consistent results. However, with a strong professional background, you might see traction sooner.
- Audience: You'll connect more with corporate decision-makers, managers, and established professionals.
- Benefits beyond leads: Enhanced professional credibility, recruitment opportunities, and potential speaking or writing invitations.
A word of caution:
LinkedIn's professional veneer can make it tempting to play it safe. But remember, authenticity cuts through the noise. Share your genuine insights and experiences, not what you think people want to hear. And please, resist the urge to turn every world event into a tenuous business lesson. Your network will thank you.
Written by