How Linking With LinkedIn Can Lead To Leads

Are you utilizing LinkedIn for your business? Read some of the facts and reasons why you should be using LinkedIn for your business and professional career.

LinkedIn is one of the few social networks that has stood the test of time and technology. Officially launched in 2003 by optimistic entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, the initial growth of the professional social media platform was slow. However Hoffman and his small team didn’t lose hope, and by the end of 2010, LinkedIn had obtained 90 million members and had over 1,000 employees working in 10 different offices.
Today, LinkedIn has over 347 million users spanning across 200 countries and territories. It is considered to be the world’s largest professional network and is used by everyone from CEOs to aspiring college students.
In addition to the astonishing growth of LinkedIn for the creation of personal professional profiles, more and more professionals are using the platform to hire new employees and post new jobs. When asked if you or your business has a LinkedIn profile (and if it’s updated), can you answer yes? If not, maybe some statistics can inspire you to make a change.
Here are some of the facts on LinkedIn and tips on how you can improve your profile:

• Over a third of millionaires use LinkedIn. This number has more than doubled since 2010. However, the majority of these millionaires say they use the network for social purposes rather than professional.
• The average number of connections a CEO has on LinkedIn is 930. This is particularly interesting considering 80% of employees say that they would prefer to work for a social CEO.
• Over 39 million students and recent college graduates are on LinkedIn. This is LinkedIn’s fastest growing demographic (no surprise considering so many employers use the network to find new and rising talent). Many college students are encouraged by professors and advisors to have an updated LinkedIn profile in order to make themselves stand out.
• More than 90% of job recruiters use social media (primarily LinkedIn) to fill open job positions. Looking at a LinkedIn profile helps a recruiter gauge whether it’s worth asking the hopeful candidate to discuss professional matters over a cup of coffee. It can also filter out those who may not be as serious about the job.
• Your LinkedIn profile is 11 times more likely to be viewed if you include a photo. Consider using a photo of you in the midst of your work. If you’re a web designer, maybe include a picture of you at your computer. Give it a try, it’s been proven to work!
• ‘Statistical Analysis and Data Mining’ was the “hottest skill” on LinkedIn in 2014. Skills involving science, technology, engineering and math (commonly known as STEM) were by far the most desirable traits on LinkedIn.
• The most overused buzzword on LinkedIn is “responsible”. If you include cliché buzzwords on your profile, make sure to back them up with experiences and actual results.
• The average LinkedIn user spends 17 minutes a month on the professional social network. This is significantly lower than Facebook (6.75 hours a month), but higher than Google+ (3 minutes a month). Use your 17 minutes to make sure your profile is up to date!
• Volunteer experience was cited as equivalent to formal work experience by 42% of hiring managers. Include any experience that you have, whether it’s professional, volunteer or an internship.

The numbers don’t lie; LinkedIn continues to grow in the professional networking world. Some recruiters say that not having a profile can actually restrict your chances of being hired, especially if your field is in marketing or another related field. Also, making sure your profile is up to date and stands out from the rest is good professional practice.
Check out the official LinkedIn Blog for more tips on how you can create an intriguing profile.

You can find WestHost on LinkedIn! Let us know what you think!