Pix_SproutYou know the old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” It’s only partially true. On LinkedIn, you need to know as many people as you possibly can. LinkedIn’s search engine / search algorithm favors existing connections first – in other words, the more people you know, the more chances you will show up in searches as 1st and 2nd degree connections.

In addition to powerful profile content, here are some tips that you can use to increase your visibility.

  1. Complete your profile

Completely filling out your profile will make you 14x more likely to be found – and make sure that you don’t look fake or scammy. Yes, you DO need a picture! Just remember that a complete profile will really help capture attention and increase your views. For more information on how to create a great profile, click this link. (https://virtuosoresumes.com/linkedin-hero/)

  1. Quantity over Quality

While LinkedIn encourages that you know all of your connections, some people (LIONs) prefer a broad approach. These folks have a large circle of connections, sometimes in the 1000s. If you can get on their radar, you’re much more likely to be seen during searches, which means more views and, hopefully, more job opportunities…opportunities that you have to get hired.

  1. Invite and Accept Invitations

Take steps to invite everyone you can to link with you. Think of any coworker or client you’ve ever worked with and invite them. I recommend inviting your entire email address book. Part of the magic of LinkedIn is finding out that old coworker from ten years ago now has connections that can help your job search.

  1. Look for and Join Groups

Join national groups as well as local professional or networking groups. Also, join groups of your peers as well as groups filled with potential clients. Remember that you’re playing a percentage game – the more you participate, the more people are likely to notice you.

  1. Actually SAY Something!

To the wallflowers out there, simply joining isn’t enough. You need to engage. Share your thoughts and opinions!  Talk with people in groups, and you’ll start receiving invitations to connect.

  1. Share Stuff In Your Feed

Use the 80/20 rule here. Share other people’s stuff 80% of the time and share your own about 20% of the time. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone else’s work – useful information is useful information. People will start to remember you as the one who had useful things to talk about – and when they have an issue, they are more likely to come to you.

  1. Blogging

LinkedIn offers a blog platform where you can share information with your fellow group members and connections. Each blog post is another data point that someone can use to find you in a search, and your blog posts can also be picked up by major search engines.

The key to networking with other people and building your sphere of influence on LinkedIn is participation. You need to talk with people, offer useful information, and develop a good reputation to use LinkedIn to the fullest. Take these tips and start building your reputation to new heights.

Virtuoso Resumes is a resume writing service located in Gilbert, AZ, outside Phoenix.