We have a new series on the blog! Every Wednesday from now until the end of November, enjoy our brand new series, Networking in November. Through this series we hope to bring you all of the Networking details to help you connect, operate your LinkedIn account, and so much more. Stay tuned every week for more helpful content and, as always, let us know your thoughts for any future series ideas!

LinkedIn is an amazing networking tool that allows business-people to connect, communicate, and share in a more professional environment as opposed to the ever problematic Facebook. Due to the more professional nature of LinkedIn, it’s important to keep a mental checklist of what you should be doing with your LinkedIn account...and what you should not be doing. Oftentimes folks new to the LinkedIn space treat it as they would a social media channel or platform such as Twitter or Instagram by sharing personal information, inappropriate commentary, and, believe it or not, selfies. Are you new to LinkedIn or looking to revamp your current feed? Check out our list of the Do’s and Don’ts of LinkedIn and how you should best use the platform.

Do’s:

• Keep it Professional- This should be a no-brainer--keep it professional! Your LinkedIn profile should display your professional interests, connections, current job, previous jobs, and maybe even a copy of your resume. That’s it. This extends into your person to person communication, keep that professional, to the point, and clear so that way the individual you’re speaking with takes you seriously. Your professionalism shouldn’t disappear when you enter your direct messages and it definitely shouldn’t disappear in the comments. To efficiently navigate LinkedIn, the professional route is the best, and in our opinion, the only option for successful LinkedIn professionals.

• Build your Network- If you haven’t noticed, LinkedIn is a hot spot for networking and connecting with those business professionals that you would love to have in your circle. Make it a point to connect with those old co-workers or that awesome boss from 2007-- your past employers should eagerly welcome you into their network. This is also a great chance to add that successful Uncle on your Mom’s side who makes 7 figures and has a successful business--he would look great on your connections list!

• Send Personalized Messages to your Connections- Everyone loves a personalized message! When you connect with someone through LinkedIn, especially if this connection is an old friend or employer, send them a quick hello. It’s not informal to reintroduce yourself or refresh their memory as to who you are. Something simple such as “Hi John, I’d love to connect. Loved my days working for ApplicantOne in Lakeland, FL. Hope you’re doing well.” --It takes 5 minutes of your time and lets the individual know that you have a previous connection, you enjoyed being their co-worker (or whatever you were) and also gives them a chance to reply and catch up!

• Market your Business as well as Yourself- Not only is LinkedIn a great networking tool, it can also be an awesome way to market! Through LinkedIn you can create a Company Profile where you can share updates, content, comment, and like posts relevant to you. It gives your business or product another channel for direct communication with customers, clients, or hopeful hires. If your current company has a page, it’s also a great way to share with your network what you do! Last but not least, did you know that LinkedIn is also perfect for job hunting? It has it’s very own job search bar where you can allow your profile to be accessible to recruiters and also submit applications through their site just like you would on ZipRecruiter or Monster. This is the chance to market yourself as a potential employee! Hiring managers can view your profile and potentially make judgements based off of your basic information, which is why it’s so important to remain professional!

• Contribute Valuable Content- If you’re going to make 500 connections on LinkedIn, they’re not going to want to continue the connection if you’re posting irrelevant or obnoxious content. Keep this especially professional and only share business related content to ensure your connections won’t disconnect and also that you’re adding some sort of value to the site and not garbage.

• Don’ts:

• Randomly Connect for the Sake of Connecting- We live in an age where the number of followers or the amount of “likes” your photo receives determines your worth. While it may be acceptable to follow every single account on Instagram or Twitter, it’s in your best interest to keep your connections relevant and not just send out invites to every individual to cross your feed. Allow your connections to grow and connect organically, don’t force any unwanted connections and definitely don’t try to connect with just anyone, especially if you’re not sending personalized messages or reasons why you find the connection beneficial.

• Spam- This falls under a few previously mentioned categories, however it should be said explicitly: Don’t Spam Anyone...ever. Especially on LinkedIn, it’s important to be purposeful and only connect with and comment what’s necessary. No one likes a spammy LinkedIn, in fact, spam can be reported and those posting or using “spammy” tendencies could be deactivated or blocked, limiting your potential connections and also leaving a negative reputation on your account.

• Treat LinkedIn like Facebook or Instagram- This related directly to that previous “Do”--Keep it Professional! Facebook and Instagram exist for a reason and are great platforms for photos, opinions, and personal, unprofessional content (if that’s your style). These forms of content should stay on their respective platforms and stay far away from LinkedIn. Don’t post those borderline offensive thoughts, beach selfies, or 20 photos of your kids, keep it strictly business. There’s nothing wrong with self expression, just keep it on the appropriate platforms so that those serious about LinkedIn can enjoy it for what it is and should be.

• Leave a Vacant Profile- LinkedIn is clear when you sign up, how your account should look and what pertinent information you should include. Details such as your work history, a recent photo, 10 connections, and your current job duties are just a few pieces of information that your profile should have. Don’t leave it incomplete or outdated--especially if you’re still using it actively and making those connections. People that connect with you want to know what you’re up to, what you look like, and what you did for that 5 year gap where you lost communication, SO, keep your profile updated over the years, it helps you remain relevant and will allow higher odds of someone connecting with you.

• Have Multiple Profiles- This is another no-brainer but keep it all on one profile. If you made an account 10 years ago and can’t remember your login, LinkedIn has a helpful way of recovering lost accounts--go the extra mile and recover it. It can get confusing for hiring managers or potential employers to connect with the proper, active account if there are 10 “Kyle Zimmermans” who work for ApplicantOne. It’ll be easier on you and easier on everyone who wants to connect with you if you don’t create more than one profile.

Do you have LinkedIn Etiquette tips you’d like to share? Let us know! Also, be sure to check out our other blogs here.