The bottom line is this – of course it is. While the primary goal of LinkedIn is to build professional connections, showcase your expertise, and contribute to industry discussions, the use of appropriate personal content can add real authenticity and depth to your professional brand and improve your whole LinkedIn experience and success.
As a business owner on LinkedIn, it’s generally advisable to maintain a professional tone and focus on sharing content that is relevant to your industry, expertise, or business BUT also allowing your personality to shine through. The ideal is to be authentic, let the true you come through and at the same time position yourself as an expert in your field. It’s not necessarily easy at the start but even the least ‘wordsmith-y’ folk can achieve this with a bit of guidance and practice. Here are some guidelines to help you:
1. Relevance to Your Professional Brand: Find a way to weave your personal content into your professional brand and the image you want to portray as a business owner. Make sure the personal content contributes to your professional goals or adds value to your network.
2. Industry Relevance: Make sure the personal content is relevant or of interest to your industry or professional network – or at least brings professional ‘colour’ to your story. It’s ideal if the personal content can provide insights, lessons, or anecdotes that have relevance and can benefit your professional connections.
3. Professionalism and Appropriateness: Ensure that the personal content is appropriate for a professional audience and maintains a level of professionalism. Avoid sharing content that may be controversial, offensive, or overly personal in nature.
4. Personal Touch: While LinkedIn is primarily focused on professional topics, it is a great idea to occasionally share personal achievements, work milestones, or insights that provide a glimpse into your life as a business owner. However, always make sure your personal stuff aligns with your professional values and image.
5. Target Audience Considerations: Keep in mind your target audience on LinkedIn and make sure your personal stuff will resonate with them or contribute to your business objectives.
Remember, the primary goal of LinkedIn is to build professional connections, showcase your expertise, and contribute to industry discussions. However, the use of appropriate personal content can add real authenticity and depth to your professional brand and improve your whole LinkedIn experience and success.
How much personality are you showing on LinkedIn?
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