What is LinkedIn and how to use it to grow professionally

The phrase “If you’re not on the Internet, you don’t exist” has much more weight today. While online social networks were born to connect us with friends, they are the best way to get professional contacts, and that is what LinkedIn was born for.

For more than 10 years LinkedIn has been connecting professionals around the world, and is a success in the global marketplace. However, there are people who still do not use this platform.

Focused on professionals, LinkedIn offers you the possibility of finding new business opportunities, as well as professional growth. It is currently owned by Microsoft and has more than 750 million registered users around the world. It is ranked as the best professional community, where you can also grow and expand your network of work and professional contacts.

LinkedIn is a very good option to look for a new job and, if you have a company, it will help you to position yourself more solidly and effectively.

What is LinkedIn?

Now, what is LinkedIn and how can you take advantage of it? It is a business social network focused on business, networking and employment; it is a strategic tool that can help you get new job offers.

It was born in 2002 in the city of California and with the rise of the Internet its growth has been accelerated.

On LinkedIn anyone can register and create a professional profile to apply for a new job. You can also use the platform to connect with other companies in the same work environment. You don’t have to pay anything for this, registration is free.

This platform has become a great way to connect with friends, colleagues, former co-workers. It is ideal for contacting recruiters from local and international companies.

Utility of this professional network

LinkedIn brings you closer to new local and international job opportunities. This platform connects you with new employers around the world, fostering your professional development and growth.

If you are looking for a new job this platform is ideal. Whether you are looking for them remotely or in person, on LinkedIn you will be able to contact employers directly to apply.

On the other hand, if you have your own company, LinkedIn will be very useful for online networking. This is a resource that many companies take advantage of for Business to Business, or B2B, activities.

How LinkedIn works

You already know what LinkedIn is, now we explain how it works.

Whether to create your professional profile, or if you have a company, using this social network has many advantages for your professional development.

Create a personal account (in case you are a professional):

To start taking advantage of it you must join LinkedIn’s community of active users. Registering won’t take long, it’s easy and free. As in other social networks, you only have to fill in your personal and professional information, such as:

– Educational level.
– Professional and work experience.
– Languages.
– Professional skills and qualities.

Once you have fully registered and have your professional profile, LinkedIn will start suggesting you some contacts, either by the university you graduated from, or by the places where you worked.

Create a page for your business or company:

If your case is that you have a company, then you must create a company page. It is very simple; it is done from your personal profile by simply accessing the “Company Pages” option.

When you are registering your company include all the information that identifies it, from the logo, an accurate and clear description, to the business address, to make it easier for people to contact you.

Great advantages of using LinkedIn

In case you are still not convinced to join LinkedIn, these are the advantages of having a professional profile on this platform:

1. Connect with other professionals in your niche. Here you will be able to network with colleagues who are experts in your field and who will be of great help to you in your professional development.

2. Get new jobs, remote or on-site, through the offers published by the companies.

3. Network. You will be able to develop large networks without any boundaries.

4. Share your content and improve the image of your business. This will also help you position your personal brand.

5. Improve web traffic to your website. LinkedIn is ideal whether you have an online business or an online store, you will be able to attract new customers.

6. If you are recruiting for your company with LinkedIn it will be more effective. You will be able to find very talented professionals.

7. LinkedIn has the largest database of companies and workers in the world.

Platform disadvantages

Unfortunately, nothing is perfect. However, LinkedIn has almost no disadvantages as it is a very complete platform, perfect for connecting companies with talented professionals. Perhaps its only disadvantage is that some of its functionalities are paid, and they are not exactly cheap. The LinkedIn Premium version offers more advanced features to both professionals and companies.

Some of these premium features include:

– To be able to contact people who are not part of your network by private message.

– Know who has visited your profile during the last 90 days.

– Get better results when searching with filters

– Option to promote your business.

– Access to professional courses to acquire new skills to improve your CV.

– Stand out in professional searches, thus increasing your chances of being contacted by active recruiters on LinkedIn.

Use LinkedIn to grow professionally

The advantages of LinkedIn are many and now that you know how it works you can start using it actively to grow professionally.

Whether you are looking for a new job, or if your company is growing and you need to expand your team with qualified professionals, this platform will be ideal for your development in the workplace.

They are endless benefits; take full advantage of them for your professional growth and financial freedom, or for your business to have much more presence in the market.

Flin & Associates on LinkedIn

HERE you can find many books about everything to do with LinkedIn!