There's a lot of buzz around LinkedIn as one of the most popular professional social media networks and job search platforms, so as a C-level executive, you might be on the fence as to whether LinkedIn is the place to be for you. Let's change that perspective and eliminate any doubt you have towards joining the platform (if you aren't on it already). After all, LinkedIn is not the same caliber of social media as Facebook or Twitter.
LinkedIn is key for all professionals to grow their network, strengthen their personal brand, and showcase their qualifications - whether they're C-suite executives or just starting off their career. If you need another reason why you should be on LinkedIn in the first place as a C-level executive, we guarantee your target audience is already on the platform, so you definitely don't want to miss out on that.
Nowadays, there's lots of different types of C-suite executive titles. We've got CIO, CMO, COO, CTO, CFO, CEO, CDO, and the list goes on. Pretty soon we'll have a chief executive title for every letter of the alphabet - only kidding. But, needless to say, you are not alone in the business world, so you won't be alone on LinkedIn either.
Let's go through what LinkedIn is used for in the first place as well as some steps to how you can get more involved on the platform as a C-suite executive.
One great thing about the LinkedIn platform is that there's no "one right way” to use it. Some people are looking to build connections and are on the job search for different opportunities, others utilize it for thought leadership and leverage their knowledge to share their expertise with their network via content or blog posts. And of course we've got the salespeople, the recruiters, and all types of professionals in between. The platform itself even offers on-demand courses for people to receive certifications in all sorts of topics.
Sure, you might be the Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 company, but you're actually much more than that. This is where your personal brand comes into play. We're not talking about sharing pictures or your dinner every night (save that for Instagram or Facebook). What we are talking about is showcasing your relevant accomplishments, skills, and experiences. Even senior executives started from the bottom once, so sharing your professional experiences on your page for all to see may just inspire a new professional.
Maybe you'd like to set yourself up as a thought leader by sharing various leadership skills. If that’s your cup of tea, great! If it’s not, you don't have to put out your own content in order to strengthen your personal brand. If you see a blog post or article that you’re interested in sharing with your network, don’t hesitate to do just that. Whatever content you share also plays into shaping your personal brand and what you stand for.
Having an online presence and staying up to date with LinkedIn can actually increase people's trust in you. Instead of having a rep that you're the "non approachable" Chief Executive Officer, people may start to view you as the opposite.
The beauty of the platform is that you can be as vocal or as quiet as you'd like. If you're interested in sharing content with your connections on a regular basis, go for it. Or, if you're looking to stay under the radar, that's also an option. No matter which stance you take, simply having an online presence on LinkedIn increases your visibility and can build people's trust in you. Your appearance on the platform can also increase the brand awareness of the organization in which you're currently leading.
Today, there are over 830 million users on LinkedIn. Nope, that's not a typo, just a lot of people. C-suite executives are like superheroes in the LinkedIn world, so chances are you'll probably get a bunch of connection requests. This doesn't mean you have to connect with everyone that you cross paths with on the site. You have the power to connect with the right people and grow a wider audience at your own pace. There's also a setting that gives you the option to hide your connections from others, so you can control the amount of visibility people have on your profile.
Even if you're not using LinkedIn for recruiting efforts, you can still follow these recruiting techniques when building your network. For example, maybe you're looking for a thought leader who's passionate about sharing their experiences through forms of content, or maybe you're searching for an old friend you studied information technology with in business school, who's now the Chief Information Officer at a successful organization. No matter who you’re trying to find, you can search certain keywords and phrases to scout out these people to connect with.
LinkedIn is one of the most common resources people use when it comes to recruitment in the professional field. Recruiters and talent acquisition teams are set to scout people who have the right qualifications for a job they're trying to fill. It's kind of like sharks scouring the ocean for the right seal. Except in this case, instead of becoming lunch, you're landing a new job.
Even if you're not looking for your next position right this moment, LinkedIn has lots of job postings of open positions, so you're able to see what's out there. Who knows, the new position you didn't know you needed could be right in front of you (on your computer screen).
As a business leader, are you feeling more confident that you belong on LinkedIn now? Any marketing department would agree with us that it's crucial for any C-level executive to have a LinkedIn presence. There's just so many paths you can take to be successful on the platform.
If you're a C-level executive looking for a little assistance on how to update your processes, make decisions more effectively, or utilize LinkedIn to promote yourself or your business, we're your people. We'd be happy to introduce ourselves and come up with custom solutions for your organization. Reach out to us today to set up your discovery call.