LinkedIn is a social media platform that primarily focusses on the social networking in the business community. Having a LinkedIn account means that you upload all your accomplishments, qualifications, achievements and employment history, like resume and CV and by this, you will be connecting with people you know and your employers.

Many people and businesses have embraced LinkedIn to showcase what they do and also to give information to their customers. LinkedIn profile says so much about a person or a business as it attracts future employers and makes your profile a stepping stone for your future in your industry of expertise. Some of the advantages that you gain by creating a personal or business profile are as follows.

 

Advantages of having a LinkedIn Personal Profile

Connecting with People, Friends or Former Colleagues.

This one of advantages of having a personal LinkedIn profile is that you will have some friends to connect with as you proceed in the future since nobody can live alone. Connecting with people from other social media accounts. By having a personal account you can land an employment opportunity as you are looking for a job.

Receiving Job Vacancies direct in your Email.

LinkedIn has activated email alerts that notify whenever job vacancies are available. You can modify the alert procedure like according to location, a specific company or your qualifications.

Job Applications.

After receiving job vacancies alerts, you can further apply the jobs using your personal account on LinkedIn as your Profile contains your CV or Resume. For job applications on the company’s website, the personal account should be upgraded to do that.

A Personal Account creates a Positive First Impression.

As you are looking for an employment and you land an interview opportunity, the hiring manager reads your profile and this means he will have his/her opinion of you at that moment. A completed professionally written account gets the attention as they go through your skills and your past experience.

 

Advantages of Having a LinkedIn Business Account

Maintaining Relationships.

Engaging with customers on LinkedIn maintains relationships easier without having to track down people via emails and phone calls. LinkedIn maintains a personal contact and a business can share their content, answer questions asked or engage your customers in a group discussion.

Targeting Audiences for a New Product and Services for your Company.

Audience following you expecting information on how the company is doing to achieve their professional goals. The content you create for your latest products and services can generate sales through LinkedIn. Furthermore, a business account can receive feedback on their product and services in order to better them.

Ease of Finding the Right Candidate for a Job.

LinkedIn personal accounts reveal the candidates according to their achievements, job qualifications and record of excellent accomplishments. A Business may have the right candidate with the right expertise the company is looking to hire. Employees with LinkedIn accounts boosts your company’s profile, enhance customer relationships and referral sources.

Improving SEO of a Business site.

A business with a professional LinkedIn page helps in networking and ranking in the search engines. Adding updates frequently on your LinkedIn account and optimizing the SEO in the content improves the SEO performance.

 

Data Analysis on LinkedIn Growth

A LinkedIn profile is beneficial for an individual and a business in creating an online self-reputation. LinkedIn is a growing social networking platform. Statistics from Statista shows that LinkedIn has been growing steadily where the users have almost tripled over the last 5 years.

In 2012, 161 million users were on LinkedIn and 1/3 of them were monthly visiting members. This number grew to 433 million in 2016 and the number still growing slowly and steadily in 2017. Comparing LinkedIn and other social media platforms, you will notice that having a LinkedIn account is fundamental.

 

LinkedIn Best Practices in 2017

Picture.

Taking a picture that looks professional is an important aspect of that successful LinkedIn profile. Many people won’t accept requests from a person who don’t have a picture. A picture represents a person or a company such that anyone interested is able to view who you are.

The Email Address on your Profile.

Including an email address on your profile is yet another important thing you need. Someone needs to contact you outside, then you offer them an alternative.

Sharing your Business Content.

Having established a company profile on LinkedIn significantly requires sharing content that reflects your business keeping in mind that you have created this profile in order to get your business to the customers.

LinkedIn Groups.

Participating in LinkedIn groups, asking and answering questions is one of the best practices on LinkedIn. This will boost audience engagement with a business and for personal account, you never know when you land a job opportunity.