LinkedIn coach, trainer, marketing consultant at connect2collaborate.com
Answered a year ago
LinkedIn is an ideal conduit for open and direct discussion of industry trends and the changes we perceive. Since no one knows everything about their field, I suggest adding your insights to existing colleagues' or starting new relationships with others around these hot industry topics. I call that "networking up" which I define as creating new opportunity to meet others via discussion forums, to combine viewpoints with experienced thought leaders and renowned authorities in your field, the goal of combining their knowledge with yours and vice versa. Some strategies: 1) Research the "movers and shakers" in your business sphere, which is rather easy on LinkedIn: do your homework on their names on LinkedIn to see who they know that you also know, then ask the person in the middle to e-introduce you two. 2) Kick off the new contact via LinkedIn messaging, or better, offer to arrange a zoom session for true eye-to-eye conversation. 3) Know that everyone loves to be approached for their expertise; when asking for some of their time, invoke the name of the common friend, and always be sincere and professional by providing thumbnail information about you and your firm. Better context is your investment to improve the quality of communication when you two eventually meet. 4) If you see a post in your industry LinkedIn Groups or on your connections' feeds where you can offer your experienced perspective, do so, professionally. Be consistently reliable as a source and referable as a subject expert. 5) Comment on other comments in the conversation subsequent to yours, whenever you can add even more value. 6) Ask others you know to join in, by invoking their names with an @ in front of theirs, with a call to action like "What else in your 25 years' experience can you add to this @MarcHalpert?" I'd then be notified via my LinkedIn feed, feel invited to opine, and be more interested to get involved. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by advocating for industry inclusiveness. Draw on the right professionals' sincere desires to add to the industry's common knowledge base, using LinkedIn as the equalizing fulcrum. Network up.
I've never really optimized my LinkedIn to attract recruiters but I've done one thing consistently that's helped me attract opportunities: I posted like I wasn't looking for a job. Sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out. Most people treat LinkedIn like a resume museum. Polished. Passive. Boring. You show up when you need something, then ghost for 6 months. Instead, I started treating it like a place to think out loud. I wrote about stuff I was building, mistakes I was making, things that pissed me off in meetings, and even bad ideas that never went anywhere. No "value creation framework." No forced thought leadership. Just real thoughts, in my real tone. That one shift showing how I think, not just what I've done - changed everything. It brought: 75K followers. Millions of dollars in revenue. Inbound interest from founders who wanted to collaborate Recruiters who saw the fit, not just the function Clients who already felt like they knew me before the first call If I had to give actual profile tips (besides posting): Write your headline like a human, not a job title. Your 'About' section should sound like you, not ChatGPT. Pin posts that show how you think or solve problems. Don't treat LinkedIn like an obituary of past roles. Show what excites you now. And most importantly - don't post only when you need something. That's the fastest way to make people scroll past. Post like the job will come because of who you are - not in spite of it. Worked for me.
Staying updated on industry trends and connecting with fellow professionals has become second nature to me, thanks to LinkedIn. I make it a point to follow thought leaders, industry groups, and companies that align with my interests. This way, my feed is always filled with the latest insights and updates. Engagement is key. I regularly comment on posts that catch my eye and share content that I find valuable. This not only keeps me informed but also sparks conversations with others in my field. I've also taken advantage of LinkedIn's advanced search filters to connect with professionals who share similar interests and expertise. It's a great way to expand my network with like-minded individuals. Being part of LinkedIn groups has been another game-changer. These groups are treasure troves of knowledge, where members share experiences, ask questions, and offer advice. It's like having a virtual roundtable discussion with peers from around the world. By actively engaging with these features, I've managed to stay ahead of industry trends and build a network that's both supportive and informative. It's all about making LinkedIn work for you.
LinkedIn has been an invaluable tool for staying ahead in the fast-moving 3PL and eCommerce fulfillment space. I've built much of Fulfill.com's success on insights gathered through strategic LinkedIn networking. First, I curate my feed religiously. I follow not just the obvious logistics influencers but also niche experts in specific verticals like cold chain, hazmat, and international shipping. This diversity gives me a comprehensive view of where fulfillment is heading. Quarterly, I host connection threads for logistics professionals where I encourage everyone to connect with each other. This has created an incredible network effect – I'm now just one connection away from thousands of fulfillment experts with on-the-ground insights you won't find in industry reports. I also leverage LinkedIn Groups focused on supply chain innovation. When we were developing our 3PL matching algorithm at Fulfill.com, discussions in these groups helped us identify critical KPIs that eCommerce brands prioritize most. Content creation is equally important. By sharing our learnings (successes and failures) in building a 3PL marketplace, I've attracted partners and clients while positioning myself to receive early information about industry shifts. One practical tip: set up saved searches for specific logistics keywords and check them weekly. When we noticed increasing mentions of "micro-fulfillment centers" in 2021, we quickly adapted our platform to help brands connect with these emerging solutions. Remember that LinkedIn is relationship-driven. Don't just consume – engage meaningfully. When a warehouse operator in our network posted about labor challenges, our thoughtful response led to a breakthrough discussion on automation that shaped our fulfillment partner vetting process. Finally, LinkedIn's analytics tools help identify which fulfillment topics resonate most with our audience, guiding our content strategy and product development roadmap. The platform isn't just for connecting – it's an intelligence engine for staying ahead in an industry that's constantly evolving.
The job search landscape has changed--and so have the expectations. With more competition, evolving hiring practices, and new ways to connect, the pressure is real. Job seekers today are constantly asking: How do I stand out? How do I stay ready for interviews at all times? What do I say when I finally connect with someone? How do I craft a compelling email to a recruiter? These questions are valid--and more common than ever. If there's one piece of advice I'd offer, it's this: Always be interview ready. What does that actually mean? Have your resume tight. Keep it current and tailored. Focus on your top 3-4 accomplishments in each role. For example: "Increased year-to-date sales by 20% through targeted outreach and client retention strategies." That's the kind of metric that stands out. Know your wins. Don't just list achievements--be ready to talk about them. Learn how to speak to your resume, not read from it. Create a one-pager. Think of it as a visual snapshot of who you are. Include professional photos, company logos you've worked with, and bullet points that highlight your strengths. It's a memorable leave-behind after coffee chats or Zoom calls. Treat every conversation like an interview. Whether it's a virtual intro, a quick DM exchange, or a 15-minute coffee chat--show up ready. First impressions matter, and sometimes the smallest connection leads to the biggest opportunity. In 2025, being proactive, prepared, and polished isn't optional--it's your advantage.
I've turned LinkedIn from a static resume site into my personal event industry research platform. Weekly, I dedicate 30 minutes to study competitor event productions through their posted videos and client testimonials--this practice has revealed unexpected format innovations that we've adapted for our recent events. Instead of collecting random connections, I maintain a "focus five" list of industry visionaries whose content I never miss. My content engagement strategy targets skill gaps: I specifically follow hashtags related to emerging tech integration for hybrid events. For anyone wanting to extract true value from LinkedIn, I recommend creating saved searches for specific event types and technologies--this transforms the platform from a networking site into a constantly updating industry education portal.
I use LinkedIn as both a learning tool and a way to stay connected with what's happening in the industry. I follow leaders, companies, and publications that regularly share updates, insights, or commentary that's relevant to my work. It's a quick way to keep a pulse on trends without digging through new sites every day. One thing that's worked well is joining industry-specific groups and actually engaging, whether it's commenting on posts, asking questions, or sharing helpful content of my own. That kind of interaction has helped me build relationships with other professionals and stay top of mind in my network. It's not just about scrolling, it's about showing up and participating.