Many people see their follower number on LinkedIn as their crowning achievement on LinkedIn, but how you ascend the throne to become the king or queen of this powerful platform is changing.
If you use LinkedIn a lot, you may have noticed this change already – you may have even commented to others about whether you are unsure of your approach to posting.
So, what has changed?
Put simply, LinkedIn has become far more personal than professional. It is not uncommon to see people sharing news about their families, experiences, pets and more.
Being open and transparent has become an important approach on other platforms, but until recently it has not made its way in the same volume to LinkedIn.
This once-staid feed of career updates, company sales and new product launches has now been injected with stories featuring childhood memories, daily experiences and even tragedies.
Posts once only seen on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram have now become the bread and butter of successful LinkedIn users.
Why are things changing?
A recent article on the BBC highlighted several reasons for this change, from boredom with corporate-style announcements to changes in people’s overall approach to social media.
While this new approach is quite divisive, the results speak for themselves. Personal posts are leading the way for engagement on LinkedIn. They feed into the very purpose of social media, to be social.
They create a space where people can share their own experiences, share their opinions or just recognise the bravery or creativity of those willing to speak openly about their lives.
LinkedIn may be a professional platform, but posts shouldn’t be boring. People are investing their precious time and so opening up and presenting a true version of yourself can pay dividends.
Why does it matter?
In an age where people are increasingly driven in their decision by personal brand, the outpourings of business leaders, partners and directors allows people to make a close connection with practices.
LinkedIn users may not want to follow your firm on LinkedIn, but they may be more willing to follow you. To achieve this, being a little more personal never hurts.
If you would like help to develop your personal brand on LinkedIn or any other platforms, please speak to us.
