Keep Your Personal Brand Top-of-Mind with LinkedIn Updates

One of the many benefits of using LinkedIn for executive job search personal branding is the ability to stay top-of-mind with your network. One of the best ways to do that is with LinkedIn updates.

Your job search network needs to include employees and hiring decision makers at your target companies and recruiters, along with various other professional and non-professional contacts.

Executive Job Search Personal Branding with LinkedIn

Posting relevant updates to your LinkedIn activity feed is a relatively quick and easy way to keep your personal brand top-of-mind with your network.

To clarify, “posting a LinkedIn update” is not the same as “updating your LinkedIn profile“, which involves rewriting and adding to the content in your profile.

Get into a routine of posting updates once a week, or at least a few times a month.

You’ll find the blank field displayed at the top of the center column on your LinkedIn profile home page. You’ll see “Start a post” lightly printed there (as of this writing), ready for you to type over when you add an update.

Along with reminding your network about you, these updates reinforce your brand, subject matter expertise, and value to your target employers.

And your updates represent another opportunity to brand your profile with relevant keywords, so keep your brand and ROI in mind when you post an update.

Remember to include a link in the update that leads to further information, if applicable.

Ideas for LinkedIn Updates That Build Top-of-Mind Personal Branding

Check out this extensive list of ideas for LinkedIn updates from executive job search strategist Erin Kennedy, that she actually posted in a LinkedIn update:

Share a post you enjoyed.
Share a video you learned from.
Share statistics from something in your industry.
Share statistics about something you recently read about.
Write about something you feel strongly about.
Ask a question.
Start a poll.
Make a Top 10, 20, 50 or 100 list.
Make a list of your favorite companies.
Share an event.
List your Top 10 Job Search/Interviewing hacks.
List a roundup (and tag) your favorite industry expert.
Share your worst interview or your best interview.
Share how you stay productive working from home.
Share your favorite technology for working from home.
Share advice about your job search or your industry.
Start a Live.
Crowdsource for the best advice in your industry.
Answer common questions about your field/job.

My Ideas for LinkedIn Updates

An online article, blog post, or white paper you’ve published
An online article, blog post, or white paper that mentions or quotes you
An online article, blog post, or white paper, written by anyone, that is relevant to your industry or niche
An event or seminar you’re presenting or attending
A new project you’re working on
A promotion, transfer, or new assignment
A comment you’ve made on a relevant blog that demonstrates your subject matter expertise
Professional development, training, or new certification
A significant accomplishment or contribution to your company
Activities with your networks or LinkedIn Groups
An important seminar or event you’ll be attending or have attended
A community project you’re working on

Keep the tone and information on-brand and professional. LinkedIn is not the place to update your network with Facebook- or Twitter-worthy personal pursuits, such as “Just saw the new Marvel movie” or “Took the family on a one-week vacation to Disneyland” – unless items like this are relevant to the jobs you’re seeking.

And remember – if you’re in a confidential job search, don’t post anything here even hinting that you’re looking for a new job.