People often ask if they should consider a paid LinkedIn account. I counter their questions by asking: “are you using your free account to the max?” In this post you’ll learn about detailed and specific ways to search and engage on LinkedIn. Even if you don’t connect (yet) you can still engage on LinkedIn with interesting people.
1) START WITH A BOOLEAN EXPRESSION
If you are looking for an export manager, you don’t want all the results for export and all the results for manager. To search for this specific phrase you use “ “ around the words that need to stay together “export manager”. Only want export managers in the FMCG industry? Then you search for:
“export manager” AND (FMCG OR “fast moving consumer goods”)
Sounds complicated? Have a quick Google on “Boolean Expressions” to find out it is not all that tricky. The AND means your results need to include both the thing before and after the AND. The OR means as long as one or the other thing is found. By using ( ) we made it one thing after the AND. These things are called operators by geeks, mathematicians and other clever people.
2) USE THE FILTERS LINKEDIN OFFERS
You might want to narrow your search down to a certain location, industry or company. Scroll through the search results and open any LinkedIn profile that looks interesting.
3) CONNECT WITH THOSE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE INVITING
Say something like: “Having relocated to The Netherlands, I researched my area of expertise: export manager. I came across your profile. I noticed (insert something from their profile) and wondered if you’d like to connect”.
Each person who accepts your invite needs a follow-up message. Thank them for accepting your request. Include one question related to your work, ask what they see as typical in that respect in the local/country working environment.
The ones that respond are the ones you contact again. Ask them if they are open to having a 20 min chat on the phone to talk to you about their role and company as you are trying to understand how your expertise may/may not fit in the Dutch … industry.
This not only gives you a targeted network it also lets people get to KNOW you.
4) MOVE ON TO ENGAGING WITH CONTENT
In the search field on LinkedIn, type words relevant to your expertise/industry. Then filter the results to ‘content’ instead of the default ‘people’. Again using Boolean expressions to make your search as relevant as possible.
Scroll through the results and anything you find truly interesting … comment on it. Comment in a manner that is a compliment to the original post AND shows some of your expertise at the same time. Do tag/mention the author of the post @theirname so they get notified. Especially if the author is not the person posting the article.
5) DO THIS DAILY AND SOON YOUR NETWORK WILL START TO NOTICE YOU
Since you made sure your network is full of relevant industry people, they will think of you when they hear of an opening. This strategy also applies when you are looking for clients instead of a new job.
6) RULE OF THUMB FOR POSTING, COMMENTING & SHARING ON LINKEDIN
Notice I didn’t mention like? Likes are pointless in establishing your position as an expert on. A like makes people guess why you liked it and deprives you of the opportunity to share a tidbit of your expertise. Stay on brand (your area of expertise) 80% of the time like or comment to be nice to someone no more than 10% and also stay within 10% max of engaging off topic.
7) IT DOESN’T HAVE TO TAKE UP HALF YOUR DAY
With a bit of focus, you only need 10 min a day. Clients who applied this strategy for as little as 10 min 3 times a week reported results after two weeks.
>>> What is your strategy for reaching the right people on LinkedIn? <<<