Social media for tax professionals: getting started with LinkedIn (Part 1)

This article discusses how to use LinkedIn to build your professional profile and enhance your network.

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is the largest professional network on the internet, with more than 175 million members in over 200 countries. The site offers valuable opportunities to build your professional profile and enhance your network, and allows you to connect with other professionals to exchange knowledge, ideas and opportunities.

Why get involved?

LinkedIn attracts decision-makers and helps you connect with them. It’s a place to generate new leads and stay up to date with the latest movements in your industry. Having a significant presence on the site can help you to position yourself as an expert in your field by sharing your expertise, as well as drive traffic to your business’ website.

Because the site is purely about your professional connections, there is not as much unrelated “noise” as on other social networks like Twitter and Facebook. One analogy suggests that Facebook is like the local pub, while LinkedIn is more like a trade show and an outlet to show off what you can offer professionally.

Build a solid presence

Stand out from the crowd by building a solid profile. The aim is to entice visitors to your profile to want to know more about you and your business. Filling in your profile completely will help you showcase what you have to offer. To complete your profile, upload a professional photograph, write an eye-catching and relevant headline, list your current position, and complete the “summary” section.

You should also request recommendations from those you have done business with; as this will prove that you are an expert in your field. Often the best ways to have someone else recommend you is to give them a recommendation.

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