LINKEDIN FOR WRITERS: SELF-MARKETING TOOL

LinkedIn is a valuable tool for writers to promote themselves and their services. Some professionals utilize LinkedIn like Facebook even though they are intended for different things. Do you remember when Facebook started out primarily as a social networking platform for college students to connect online? It has since evolved into an open-source platform where almost anyone can connect.

LinkedIn does not discriminate either. While it is a form of social networking for professionals, it is so much more especially for writers like me.

In the beginning, I connected with those I knew: friends, family, and colleagues. When I went all out on my LinkedIn, people thought I was a bit crazy. Back then, people did not realize the potential of LinkedIn, but I did.

While I was overseas, I rarely met someone who used the platform until I started seeing suggested connections based on those in my email. Slowly but surely, LinkedIn became what it is today.

Things all start with one connection. Granted, it took me years to build my LinkedIn and my network just as it took me years to gain the experience I have in education, law, and writing. Now, that I have been running my own business, I find having these connections beneficial.

Why? Because many business owners and professionals do not have time to write their own content or they just need someone to proofread their work. There are many reasons other professionals need to hire a writer.

As a writer, LinkedIn offers many benefits including:

· Marketing yourself using your digital resume as well as through many of the features which I am going to discuss individually.

· Sharing your writings as a status update so your connections can see. They have the capability of sharing your post as well.

· Sharing your news which could include new positions and new job opportunities. You can also share when your work gets published.

· Displaying samples of published work for other professionals to find.

· Searching the Job Ads for any writer positions.

· Displaying testimonials and recommendations from other LinkedIn members you worked with.

· Write articles on LinkedIn.

So, if you do not have a LinkedIn profile yet, what are you waiting for.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Education: When you list the places you went to school, write a description that highlights any writing assignments that you wrote, whether you were published, and whether you tutored your classmates. Think of what you do now as a writer and whether you started honing those skills.

Work Experience: I find it is beneficial to list any and all work experience. You never know when someone is going to need someone knowledgeable about working in a restaurant. If you waited tables in college, I am all about listing it on your LinkedIn profile. If you worked as a waiter at several restaurants, you could choose to lump it all together in one so long as you can say something like “Several Restaurants” in the Company field. As a writer, I find all my life experiences are valuable.

Connections: Connect away. Do keep in mind that your connections may be able to see who you are connected with. If you are concerned with some clients seeing you are doing business with their competitors, I suggest setting the visibility to “only you” to avoid unnecessary situations. You can only restrict so much. If you share a “mutual connection” with someone, this can not be hidden.

Recommendations: Reach out to people you previously worked with to write a recommendation on LinkedIn. If you have recommendations saved in hardcopy, you can add them to your work experience section as media.

Once you set up your profile, you will be able to utilize LinkedIn as a self-marketing tool.

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