I have noted that people easily think that LinkedIn is just a tool when you are seeking for a new job, but there is so much more. Let’s, therefore, list some viewpoints on building your strategy:

1. Your strategy can be building your unique professional brand.

2. It can be finding a new job by actively looking for interesting open or hidden opportunities by reaching out to persons already working in such positions and companies.

3. To become headhunted by providing keywords

In addition, your strategy can be increasing your potential to become headhunted by providing important keywords and information in your profile or posts.

4. continuous plan for building your network

I also recommend that one key part of your strategy would always be building your network for new business, friends, or with people in the same industry for cooperation purposes or just for interesting conversations.

5. Social selling through LinkedIn client portfolio and connections

The last point to mention is social selling where building your client portfolio through LinkedIn can be very effective.

Your strategy can include various goals

Your strategy can be any of the points I mentioned, include all of them or some of them at the same time. It is important to have a clear strategy, so that you can match your actions to support it.

Questions to give a framework for your strategy building process

1. Where do you want to be in a year?

Is it a new job, bigger customer base or a successful personal brand?

2. Take the first step towards that goal

If it’s a new job, edit your page to support your goal. If it’s a bigger customer base, start networking with interesting people and maybe writing engaging content about your business.

3. How much time do you have?

If you have 5 hours or 2 hours a week for LinkedIn, concentrate on your strategy and consider what parts you need to focus on. You can set a target to make 20 new connections every week and use the rest of the time to plan your posts or edit your profile.

Case example

How to optimize your time when seeking for a new job?

Instead of applying only for open positions, you can try open applications for 5 to 6 companies that you find super interesting. Do your research, maybe contact some of their employees in LinkedIn to ask questions and send your application directly to the company in LinkedIn. You can easily find whether there is an HR person or CEO who is in charge of recruitments.

In the application, whether it’s written or video one, introduce your ideas of how you and your qualifications and for example contacts will help the company to reach its goals or to develop in the areas they are willing to do so. This way you can avoid the competition and many steps in long recruitment processes. Note also that this might be easier when the company is not super big.