I underestimated the importance of social media earlier in my career. Presently, I see it as a great tool to achieve worldwide connections and push marketing tactics, but this was not always the case. I definitely did not do my homework before I signed up. After examining what led to successful business practices, I decided to revamp my account.
Based on my personal analysis, I found the following best practices lead to successful professional networking:
Understand LinkedIn’s Use – LinkedIn is a site to showcase professionalism and network with others involved in a common field. It is not the platform to share family milestones or reconnect with old acquaintances
“The more focused and clean the newsfeed is, the more beneficial it will be for business.”
Connect with a purpose – do not accept requests from every businessperson who notices your profile. Think of whether the connection will benefit you and your business. Remember: The chances of conducting business with a novice entrepreneur from an obscure part of the world are unrealistic.
Take pride in who you connect with, not your numbers – to showcase that you have 25,000+ connections insinuates that you do not interact with your followers, nor see any meaningful updates. Others may assume you are easily fooled by Bots (Computer-generated users).
“Take pride in who you connect with, not your numbers”
Don’t connect with co-workers – since you should be interacting with your boss, friends, and family members regularly, there is little to no need for a LinkedIn follow as well. Will some be offended by this? Maybe. But don’t try to please everyone; even Jesus got an 11 out of 12.
Join Groups relevant to your area of expertise – this is how you will stay up to date with the latest trends and information regarding your business.
If you like my 5 tips, please pass this along and help make LinkedIn more effective!
Here we highlight the importance of purposeful networking, a principle I’ve emphasized in my entrepreneurial endeavors. In the world of DoD Manufacturing, building meaningful connections with suppliers, partners, and clients is crucial. I’ve learned that connecting with a purpose, as the article suggests, is more valuable than amassing many connections. It’s not about the quantity; it’s about the quality of relationships. This perspective aligns with my belief in building strong, mutually beneficial connections that drive business growth and collaboration.
