Are you publishing blog posts on LinkedIn? Even though this feature was opened up to most LinkedIn users nearly two years ago, not that many folks are taking advantage of it.

Blog word on laundry hook on white

There are other ways to share info on LinkedIn – such as via posting short updates and/or sharing what other connections put on LinkedIn.

It’s a good idea to regularly post short updates to share quick tips, trends, and observations related to your field of expertise. This keeps you top-of-mind, without being pushy or overtly marketing your business.

Another practice I recommend is commenting on and sharing the updates and posts of your LinkedIn connections. Sharing is especially effective as it takes almost no time and the person whose materials you shared is notified by LinkedIn that you have done so, reminding them of your expertise and that you have shared theirs.

Even though it takes time, energy, and commitment to post regularly on LinkedIn’s publishing platform, I believe that investment pays off.

 

Reasons to Post on LinkedIn

  1. Regular posting will help your profile come up higher in both LinkedIn searches and general internet searches.
  2. Your blog posts become connected with your LinkedIn profile. When people find you, they can start reading your blog posts to learn more about you and your areas of expertise.
  3. In addition to sharing the post with your connections, just as you do when you find something in your newsfeed you want to share – you can share your posts with a LinkedIn group you belong to and/or directly with an individual connection.
  4. All your connections are notified (via their flag icon) that you have published a post. The message includes your name and the title of your post. When something appears in the newsfeed, it is easy to miss, but people are less likely to a specific notification like that.

 

How to Post on LinkedIn

  1. Go to your Home page and click on the words “Publish a Post.”
  2. Add a photo that ties in with the topic of your blog post.
  3. Use an attention getting title in the section called “Write Your Headline.”
  4. Write your post in the area where it says “Start writing.” I suggest composting your blog post in a Word document. That way you can spend time polishing it. Then copy it and paste it into the space. I use a variation of the weekly blog post I put up on my website.
  5. Select some key words (they need to be ones that LinkedIn suggests) and click “Publish”.

 

What to Share in Blog Posts

  1. Trends in your industry.
  2. Reflections of a more personal nature that are still business-related.
  3. Practical tips and observations.
  4. Keep the focus on providing value to the reader and avoid being promotional.

 

 

How About You?

Do you post on LinkedIn’s publishing platform? What has been your experience with this process? What advice do you have for people who are just starting to post on LinkedIn?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more comfortable using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, leaders of nonprofit organizations, job seekers, retired people, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.