Tristan Layfield discusses a few new features that LinkedIn has recently added. These updates significantly shift the focus to the content you’re posting to the platform to help build your audience and expand your reach, so brush up on them and maximize your platform presence!
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TRANSCRIPT
Tristan: What’s going on, Living Corporate? It’s Tristan, and I want to thank you for tapping back in with me as I provide some tips and advice for professionals. Today, let’s discuss a few new features that LinkedIn has added. Anyone who’s worked with me or been listening to this podcast knows I’m a big advocate for building your professional brand utilizing social media networks, especially LinkedIn. When I work with clients, I think one of the most significant barriers to people utilizing LinkedIn is awareness of the features and how to use them, so I’m going to try to bring you information on new features as they roll out. If you’re anything like me, you probably started your LinkedIn years ago because someone told you it was the place to be for professionals and it could help you get a job. Back then, when I dived into the platform, it felt a little too professional and stuffy, so I just let the profile collect dust and didn’t do much with it. But over the years, LinkedIn has evolved a bit, and while they are still a professional social networking site, they’ve been leaning a bit more into the social networking part of that. LinkedIn has consistently rolled out features to help users share more of their personal story and maximize their platform presence. Recently, they added a new video cover story option that lets users add an introductory video that visitors to your LinkedIn profile can view. Job seekers could utilize this feature to share a quick video overview of their skills and experience. On the other hand, business owners could use this to promote their services or products. To add a video, go to your profile on any mobile device, click your profile picture, and click “Add cover story.” Once you add your story, an orange ring will appear around your profile photo, and a preview of your video will auto-play silently within your photo frame. Another feature LinkedIn added is optional gender pronouns showcased at the top of your profile s allowing people to express their gender identity. To add your pronouns, head to your profile. Across from your profile picture right below your banner, you’ll see a pencil icon; click that. The fourth option on that page allows you to change your pronouns to She/Her, He/Him, They/Them, or even custom ones! The last feature the platform added is what they are calling “Creator Mode.” This mode allows you to add a selection of hashtags to indicate what topics you post about most on the platform. This then helps LinkedIn to showcase you to interested audiences. It also slightly rearranges your profile, bringing your Featured and Activity sections to the top. This will also change the “Connect” button on your profile to a “Follow” button to help build your audience. Lastly, if you do LinkedIn Live broadcasts this feature will now show your Live broadcast in your profile banner/header image/ background (whatever you like to call it) when you start streaming to help increase the visibility of your content. These updates significantly shift the focus to the content you’re posting to the platform to help build your audience and expand your reach. If you weren’t posting original content on LinkedIn, now’s the time to get started! Thanks for tapping in with me today! Don’t forget; I’m now taking submissions from you all on career questions, issues, concerns, or advice you think may help others! So make sure to submit yours at bit.ly/tapintristan. This tip is brought to you by Tristan of Layfield Resume Consulting. Check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @layfieldresume or connect with me, Tristan Layfield, on LinkedIn.
