With 332 million existing users and two more people joining every second, LinkedIn is the top-of-mind network for professionals looking to advance their careers.
LinkedIn offers five significant opportunities to expand your network that save time and escalate your visibility:
- Marketing
- Branding
- Networking
- Communicating
- Researching people
Here are three areas to focus your LinkedIn efforts to gain a corporate board seat:
1. Compose
Use the tools LinkedIn provides to share your expertise. For written work, use the Long-form Post feature and start conversations in groups with board-level discussions. To showcase your materials in your profile, use the LinkedIn Professional Portfolio capabilities to upload media or point to websites that include:
- Examples of your work
- Written or video testimonials
- Presentations you have made
2. Connect
Add connections consistently and strategically. Target the people you want to connect with and the groups you want to join. LinkedIn now limits the number of searches you can do each month so be thoughtful by using keywords such as “board of directors”, “independent directors” and “CEO”. (As of the writing of this article, the number of searches allowed per month has not been disclosed).
3. Consistency
Consistency is one of the cornerstones of a successful marketing strategy on LinkedIn. By coordinating your efforts, you can amplify your message and reach a much larger audience. This can be done by using the appropriate keywords in your written material and branding statements that are in keeping with your board-level value proposition. You can also leverage group activities by posting and commenting within your brand.
Tracy Houston
Tracy E. Houston, M.A., is the president of Board Resources Services, LLC. She is a refined specialist in board consulting and executive coaching with a heartfelt passion for rethinking performance, teams and the boardroom. Her company, Board Resource Services, LLC, is online at www.eboardmember.com and www.eboardguru.com. You can follow Tracy on Twitter @BoardGuru. Headquartered in the Denver, Colorado area, Tracy is an avid hiker.
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