LinkedIn might not win the social media race when it comes to a lot of statistics and comparisons, but I believe it is the #1 social media platform right now. The best part of it all is that it is relatively untapped and free of competition.
1. LinkedIn is a professional platform
The social media platform does not hide its intent and its focus. LinkedIn members span the spectrum of students, graduates, business people and even millionaires, but the main focus of all interactions is around business and networking. This means that as a member
2. Recruiters are constantly looking through LinkedIn (+ more than 10 million active job posts)
If you want to be found, there is no better place than LinkedIn. Not only are recruiters contacting LinkedIn users offering them jobs, they’re posting millions of available jobs on the site as well. You probably know at least one person who either got a job or got called for an interview thanks to LinkedIn – when was the last time that happened on Facebook? LinkedIn’s benefit is that all the information a recruiter would need to find out is right there in your profile. They don’t have to guess, or even verify any details because they can look at recommendations and endorsements from real people including your colleagues and managers.
3. LinkedIn is less crowded than Facebook (and other platforms)
It might not always be the case as LinkedIn is growing at a rapid rate, but at least for now, LinkedIn is less crowded than most social media platforms. In fact, globally it isn’t even in the top 10 social media platforms. This means that your content and your profile is competing less on LinkedIn than other sites. So what ever your efforts may be, try to channel a majority of your energy onto LinkedIn. From a professional stand point it could benefit you much more.
4. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone
Further to Point 1, unlike Facebook and Google+, LinkedIn is not trying to be everything to everyone. This approach has led to social media platforms that are full of features, but are also packed to the brim with different businesses and people competing for different levels of attention – some on a personal level, some on a business level, and others on both.
By having a narrow focus, LinkedIn continues to innovate and add features that help build it out as a professional network. The other platforms are spreading themselves out across many facets of your life, and in the process becoming jacks of all trades and masters of none.
5. 80% of B2B leads come from LinkedIn
This point is especially useful for start ups and businesses out there. But it could be great for people looking for jobs as well. The fact that 80% of business to business leads come from LinkedIn has a trickle down effect on other facets including hiring. Again, focusing more energy on LinkedIn as a source of leads for your business would be a better move than investing energy on Facebook.
