I installed the LinkedIn app around 2023. At the time, the purpose of the app in my mind was to expand my professional network and build productive, long-term relationships. If you had asked me back then about having 1,000+ connections, I would have assumed I knew every CEO in the state. Now, I use LinkedIn to share and reshare my writing while trying to increase traffic to my website. Although the shift is almost a 180-degree turn, so was my perspective on networking.
Networking is the art of building mutually beneficial relationships, or at least that is what we convince ourselves. The majority of the time, networking is framed as a relationship, but it often amounts to someone taking up another person's time. Selfishly, in the past, I built connections with others purely for my own benefit. These one-sided relationships fell apart quickly, regardless of how many coffee chats or Zoom calls I requested. Stuck in a constant loop of building connections, pouring myself into them, and watching them fade away, I shifted my focus on LinkedIn toward personal growth. To this day, I use LinkedIn to showcase my individual strengths, even though these highlights don’t always provide a direct benefit to an employer. With this shift, I have seen not only a dramatic increase in connections, but I have also built meaningful relationships, ones that I maintain to this day.
Here is some advice for those who want to get more out of LinkedIn:
Although LinkedIn is a “professional” app, the people on it have a mindset similar to users on other social media platforms: the more impressive and entertaining your profile is, the more engagement you will receive.
Use your profile to highlight your strengths: Your profile should showcase the very best of what you offer: include achievements, internships, and projects.
Quality > Quantity: Although I have 1,000 connections, I couldn't tell you the names of everyone or how I connected with each person. Learn from my experience and be intentional with your connections.
Showcase personality: A LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to put people to sleep; it should allow others to engage with, understand, and interact with your content. Allow your thoughts to thrive by speaking openly about issues close to you.
One thing you will notice about my LinkedIn profile (you can view it by clicking the link at the top right of the screen) is that every single one of my Readership posts, starting last month, has been posted on my company page and reposted by me. It’s a deliberate strategy to expand reach and create meaningful discussions. Networking goes beyond formal coffee chats and video calls; it’s about putting your ideas out there so the right people can discover them.