Keep it Professional, Not Political, on LinkedIn

Social Media can be your career’s best or worst friend. With the current climate on and offline, you need to filter your platforms now more than ever.

Social media has given you many outlets to let the world know just what you think. However, if you share your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter, you might get into a fight with a friend or even choose to sever a connection with an old acquaintance.

But, if you post your political beliefs on LinkedIn, it could cost your company business or even result in the loss of your own job.

Here are 7 tips to help you remain professional and relevant on LinkedIn at all times:

1. No Political Posts – These have no place on a professional networking site like LinkedIn and amount to nothing more than a waste of time. Why would you risk getting into arguments with people who disagree with you and who will never change their minds? Stop it! Your job is to be appealing and valuable to the most people possible within your professional network.
2. No Religious Posts – Religion is a VERY private thing – keep it that way. It has not place on LinkedIn. If you have to profess a religious belief in order to get people to trust you, then you are doing something wrong and we should all be weary.
3. LinkedIn is NOT a Dating Service – Most people who attend networking events and engage others on professional networking sites are there to do business, not to find a romantic interest. If you choose to pester people by asking them out, proposing to them, or even stalking them in some way, you’re actually violating LinkedIn rules. Plus, it’s cheesy and creepy. You don’t believe me? Check out Section 8 on LinkedIn’s User Agreement at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement
4. Promote Yourself – Promote your work, your accomplishments, events, and causes that are applicable to your career.
5. Promote Others – Promote the work, accomplishments, and events of others in your professional network. One of the main goals of professional networking is to become a sponsor of the people you know, like, and trust.
6. Inspirational Leaders – Comment and share the content provided by inspirational leaders that you follow. This will make you more visible and relevant on LinkedIn.
7. Post Blogs – If you are eager to share an opinion or analysis, do so via blog posts on LinkedIn. Write a blog post of about 600 words and share it. You will be surprised how many people read it and the connections you derive from it.

People on LinkedIn are there to become more efficient, productive, inspired, and to further their careers. Be part of that success and remember… keep it professional, not political.