Networking through social

media

Dr. Brecca R. Farr, GCDF ~ May 19, 2015

In our audience today?

Human resources?Marketing?Operations?

Other?

LinkedIn

The ever-evolving social network:

! Individual profiles ~ professionally-focused

! Facilitating network connections

✓ Develop new connections

✓ Maintain established connections

✓ Expand opportunities for connections

! Brand management for individuals & organizations

! Identifying opportunities

! Content provider

! Launched in 2003

! Has over 1 million members by 2005

! Establishes global focus with Spanish & French language versions in 2008 [now at 17million members]

! Publically traded company in 2011 – now 120million members

! “Today” (early 2015) > nearly 340million members

▪ Fastest growing: Students & new professionals

▪ Approximately 1/3 are U.S. based

! #1 site for talent managers (entry – senior)

▪ 75-95% of organizations use social networks for finding talent

By the numbers

What makes a profile effective?

Increases profile traffic

Enhances brandAids search results

Top 3 profile elements

➢Headshot ➢Headline ➢Summary

! What is your overall message?

! What are your goals?

! What is your next step in your career?

Be attentive to: ! Quality of photo ! Eye contact ! Smiling ! Proportion of

image ! Cropping

LinkedIn: Headshot

! What is your message?

LinkedIn: Headshot

! What is your message???

LinkedIn: Headshot

! Go beyond “job title”

… Why rely on the system default? …

! Can be THE most challenging part to write

LinkedIn: Headline

! First person perspective

! Include discussion of your career goal(s)

! Integrate info about status of your professional development

! Flexibility for what you share

✓ Keep it professionally focused

✓ Relevant for the reader

LinkedIn: Summary

BRAND your profile

Be purposeful

Reflect the right (key) words

Attend to your audience

No stone unturned ➔ complete your profile!

Develop & deliver your message

LinkedIn: Profile

BRAND your profile

Be purposeful

What are you trying to accomplish?

For yourself?

For your organization?

LinkedIn: Profile

How much do you want

employer brand

to “bleed” over?

LinkedIn: Headshot

Be attentive to: ! Use of associated colors in background or what you’re wearing ! Visibility of logo(s) ! Standing in front of clearly identifiable buildings or landmarks

! No right or wrongs – just be purposeful in what you include!

BRAND your profile

Reflect the right (key) words

Critical components:

! Headline

! Summary

LinkedIn: Profile

Integrate key words!Experience

! Organization ! Job or leadership title ! Dates & location ! Accomplishments & responsibilities ! Don’t limit to the job description!

Skills ! Connections are asked to provide endorsements ! Does Brecca know about __________ ? ! Which ones are relevant to your area?

LinkedIn: Profile content

BRAND your profile

Attend to your audience

Who do you want to reach?

Who do you need to reach?

LinkedIn: Profile

BRAND your profile

No stone unturned ➔ complete your profile!

LinkedIn: Profile

! Organizational membership ! Professional associations ! Leadership positions ! Activities & volunteer service ! Awards, honors, recognitions ! Certifications

! Watch for suggestions from LinkedIn

BRAND your profile

Develop & deliver your message

New feature: Photos & background image ➢ Consider the message ➢ Quality and relevance critical for effectiveness

LinkedIn: Profile

! Pulse ~ great for monitoring and getting news feeds

! Connected ~ good for prompting to keep in touch

! LinkedIn Jobs ~ source of opportunities across many industries

! SlideShare o Good source for mining for presentations

o Can aid “expert” status

o Use to promote organization

LinkedIn apps

! Allows the user to manage “lists” of content

! Easy to use interface adapted well to touch-screen technology

! Promotes sharing, commenting, and furthering discussions

LinkedIn Pulse

LinkedIn Connected

LinkedIn Jobs

! Allows the user to search by job title or function, industry, geography

! Facilitates direct application process (when organization uses LinkedIn)

! A bit “clunky” at times for certain screens

LinkedIn SlideShare

! Allows the user to manage categories of content

! Can review an author’s complete listing of presentations

! Easy to review presentation on screen (in the app)

! One way to help establish expertise or organizational branding

LinkedIn app

! Great tool for managing your network

! Some limitations for editing profile

! Be attentive to the completeness of your profile

! Be mindful of your audience

! Be purposeful in your message

! Be focused in your writing

! Be smart about use of key words

LinkedIn: In Summary

Crafting an effective LinkedIn profile:Defining your professional identity, direction,

and long-term goals – then using LinkedIn to share your message with others

Alternate title?

Thank you!

Dr. Brecca R. Farr, GCDF LinkedIn: Brecca Rhea Farr

Email: brecca.farr@okstate.edu

We’re done (for today!)