LinkedIn has become one of the go-to social media platforms for professionals. While other platforms are comprised of a more wide-ranging community, LinkedIn is designed for the business crowd. If taken advantage, LinkedIn can be a powerful networking tool and an excellent avenue for personal promotion. Here are 3 tips for achieving that goal.

1. Keep Your Profile Current and Detailed

Similar to other social media platforms, some LinkedIn users will simply create an account to see what the site has to offer and forget about it. It’s crucial to ensure that the information you’re displaying about yourself is current and detailed.

Develop your profile by detailing your past work experience and education. List any and all important responsibilities, duties and tasks you’ve had to perform. Don’t be too modest while boasting about the results. Emphasize your personal participation within the context of your team’s results.

Next, create a short description for the ‘Specialties’ section. These are your proficiencies at a glance, so list form is fine.

Finally, create a personal brand statement. This statement is usually the section that other users will read first. Employers hire people they want to work with. Be creative, engaging and don’t be afraid to try something new and different. Be specific, memorable, and above all, fun. A detailed profile helps LinkedIn recommend employment opportunities to you in the ‘Jobs’ section.

Don’t forget to create a public profile URL to easily share your profile link with others. Head over to ‘Edit Profile’, scroll down to ‘Public Profile’, and click ‘Edit’. Select what sections you want to be visible, and start sharing.

2. Recommendations

One of my favorite LinkedIn features is the recommendation system. Consider this the LinkedIn equivalent of a Facebook ‘Like’, in a much more detailed and professional way. Recommendations enhance your profile by allowing other users to substantiate your work experience and support the professional specialties you’ve listed. This feature is especially important if you link your account to a social media aggregator, or use it as part of an online portfolio. Like a reference, make sure the strongest and most specific to your profession are showcased first. You can also ask past professors, classmates and society members to recommend you based on your interaction and experiences with them. These character references should support that “water cooler” image we mentioned earlier.

Remember, if someone takes the time to recommend you, ask them if they’d like one back!

3. Be Active in the LinkedIn Community

It’s called a community because it’s a forum for interaction and engaging conversations. Join groups and participate in the discussions. If you’re particularly interested in a given topic, create a group and administer it. By keeping the discussions relevant and lively, you increase your chances to be noticed by users who also want to expand their network. Groups are also an excellent way to find topic-specific webinars and live events.

Take advantage of the ‘Answers’ section under the ‘More…’ tab where you’ll find a wealth of knowledge for specific questions you may have. Simply type in a question and let others in the community share their professional experience and wisdom. This feature is especially useful for new entrepreneurs, or any young professional in the early stages of their career.

Overall, LinkedIn is an excellent tool to develop your professional reputation and should be used consistently to gain the most out of its many features. By taking advantage of these tips, you increase your chances to get noticed and make a memorable impression.  Take your time, be as detailed as possible and keep your profile up-to-date. You won’t regret it!