Why Use LinkedIn? Here Are 7 Benefits

By Greg Kratz, Contributing Writer

Most people who are part of the business world—and some who aren’t—have a LinkedIn profile. At some point, they likely heard that it was important to join and use LinkedIn for networking and, if necessary, finding a new job. As such, they spent a few minutes and signed up for a free account.

But once you’ve taken that relatively simple step, is it worthwhile to keep using LinkedIn? Or is it just another social media platform that has the potential to waste more time than it’s worth?

7 Reasons to Use LinkedIn

1. A Good Way to Network

Especially if you’re not much for schmoozing with people in person, LinkedIn can help you build a virtual network of contacts. While it’s easy to lose a business card, a connection on LinkedIn will always be there. This could prove valuable if you are looking for a job at some point in your career.

2. Recruiters Use It

Whether you’re actively searching for a job or not, LinkedIn is a great way to connect with recruiters. Up to 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn to find active and passive job search candidates, and 35.5 million people have been hired by someone they connected with on LinkedIn.

3. Research Companies

LinkedIn is also a great way to research companies before you apply and interview for a position. By looking over a company’s LinkedIn page, you can learn a lot about its culture, mission, and even hiring trends.

4. Join Groups That Provide Support

LinkedIn offers interest-based and professional groups, which can be a great place to connect with others. You can start a discussion, offer your insights, or simply ask for help.

Joining groups can also help you grow your network and connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to meet.

5. Establish Yourself as a Knowledgeable Professional

Through sharing articles or insights, you can establish yourself as a knowledgeable and active professional in your field.

To help validate that perception, take advantage of endorsements and recommendations. These features help demonstrate that other reputable professionals in the field consider you a skilled expert.

6. Build Your Brand

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for developing and strengthening your brand. It can increase your visibility as an individual, even as it allows you to raise your company’s profile. For example, sharing samples of your work is a great way to demonstrate that you can get the job done.

7. Find Informative and Helpful Posts

While other social media platforms tend to focus on people’s personal lives, LinkedIn’s emphasis is on the professional. It features business news, as well as motivational or educational articles on various professional topics, and you can learn quite a bit with some brief, daily scrolling.

Worth It

Whether you’re an individual looking to build your network or a job seeker that’s looking for information, you may find help through LinkedIn. As with any social network, you’ll need to make sure you use it wisely and don’t get sucked into continually refreshing your feed. But a small investment on the site could bring rich dividends for your career or business.

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