Are you afraid to look bad on LinkedIn? Reading this post will help you understand why being more visible on LinkedIn is actually to your benefit.
A few years back, just the thought of being on Social Media was considered a big risk by most people. Companies were afraid that by putting themselves out there, they put the power into the hands of consumers while people feared that the wrong message or photo might jeopardize their personal or professional lives.
Thankfully, those days are over, and both businesses and regular users have embraced social networks and began experimenting.
When it comes to LinkedIn, however, most people are still afraid of getting creative. Because LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented platform, they fear that if they are taking a creative risk, they may look bad in the eyes of their prospects & professional contacts.
I’m here to change this attitude and tell you why you should be taking more risks on LinkedIn and how this approach can help you.
Don’t be afraid to look bad on LinkedIn
Instead…
Outplay Your Competition
Evil isn’t the biggest threat to greatness. Mediocrity is. Just think about it: there is no way to make a splash and stand out if you follow the same recipe just like everyone else. Sure, the result may be a moderately successful profile with a decent number of connections and engagement.
But, if you want to take your business (or career) to the next level, then you need to innovate. So, don’t be afraid to be different.
Make sure, though, that the content is relevant to your audience and business profile. Sure, a cute cat meme may bring you a few extra likes and comments, but does it add any value to your audience? If the answer is no, then look for something that is funny, smart, and relevant to your industry.
Encourage Interactions
One of the reasons business owners and companies avoid connecting more with their LinkedIn audience is that they are afraid that their comments and reviews will reflect poorly on them. Sure, that is a risk when you put your business out there. But, the benefits exceed the disadvantages.
Just picture the following scenario: you’re thinking about adding a new feature to your mobile app, but you’re unsure whether users will like it. So, you ask your LinkedIn audience about what they think. Some will hate it while others will love it. But, that’s not what’s important. What matters is that you now have an insight into what your audience wants and can make an educated decision. And, that’s huge!
Personally I also like to ask my LinkedIn network for help: for example this post was written with the help of my network.
Over-Control = Stagnation
A lot of companies can’t even entertain the idea of letting their employees take the reins and post content on LinkedIn. After all, if anyone could write an update in your business’ name, how could you control your brand image, right?
But, here’s the thing: the more people will share content on your social media, the higher the reach. And, the more diverse the content will be, the greater the chances of standing out. Don’t assume that if everyone in your company has access to your LinkedIn account, then they will all create content. And, don’t you think that this approach will make you look bad. Au contraire! It’s an excellent way to showcase your human side and show your audience that you are more than just a logo interested in their wallets. Your employees are your greatest ambassadors! Read this post for more details on that topic.
So, are you still afraid to take some risks on LinkedIn? Or, better yet, are there things you’ve always wanted to try but were too afraid to do it? Now may be the time!