As LinkedIn features are regularly added and updated, it can be a challenge to keep on top of everything!
LinkedIn is my favourite social media platform for doing business, and I love sharing my knowledge, especially when it helps my connections maximise their value from the platform.
In this article, I’ve highlighted some of the top LinkedIn features you need to discover. I’ve tried and tested them all personally, and as I’ve found the majority of my clients on LinkedIn, I know they deliver results.
1. The LinkedIn service page
The service page is one of the more recent LinkedIn features to have been introduced, so it might have escaped your attention. However, it’s well worth checking out as it allows you to create a page listing the services you offer – with a link right below the headline on your LinkedIn profile.
It’s a great opportunity for business owners, consultants and coaches to showcase their services to prospective clients. It also helps you show up in search results both on and off LinkedIn.
An additional benefit of using this feature is that any LinkedIn user can message you about your services. This is regardless of whether they are a first, second or third-degree connection. It’s also available on the free version of LinkedIn so there’s no need to upgrade.
If you haven’t set this up yet, it only takes a few minutes. Simply follow the instructions here.
2. Using Boolean search to find your ideal clients
Boolean Search is a smart tool which can help you specifically locate your ideal clients. It’s one of the LinkedIn features that has helped me grow my own customer base in a targeted way.
It might sound complicated, but in simple terms, it’s a way of filtering out unwanted search results, which can be used as a tool to help you find prospects. This is done by using 5 main ‘operators’:
- “”
- AND
- OR
- NOT
- ()
Boolean Search allows you to target people more effectively, improving your Social Selling Index (SSI score). That’s because LinkedIn sees you connecting and networking with the right people. More importantly, it will save you from wasting valuable time and resources sifting through irrelevant search results.
In my article, A Beginner’s Guide to Using Boolean Search on LinkedIn I demonstrate how you can use each of the main Boolean search functions to refine your prospect lists to match your professional needs.
3. Viewing LinkedIn profiles in private mode
Did you know that you don’t need a premium LinkedIn subscription to view other people’s Linkedin profiles in private mode? This comes in very handy when you’re conducting research, perhaps when using Linkedin features such as Boolean Search.
Sometimes, when you’re looking at competitors’ or prospective clients’ profiles you don’t want to leave a digital footprint. I call this ‘professional stalking’ – we all do it!
Often, as part of your lead generation process, you might identify prospects who you want to connect with at a later date. Doing your research in private mode means that there’s no pressure to connect with them immediately. Instead, you can take the time to craft a personalised message to send with your connection request at a time that suits you.
It also helps prevent those annoying messages that we’ve all received that start with “I see you’ve viewed my profile…”. Never the greatest opening line for a LinkedIn message!
I’ve created a video to show you how to check this and two other privacy settings on LinkedIn. Click on this link to view my step by step demo of how to change your profile viewing settings.
4. Making your Linkedin connections private
By default, your LinkedIn connections are visible to everyone on LinkedIn, but there are circumstances where you may want to keep your connections confidential. Many LinkedIn users haven’t yet discovered one of the most useful LinkedIn features, the ability to make your connections private.
In certain sectors, client confidentiality is key – particularly for certain professions such as lawyers, accountants and insolvency practitioners. Your clients may not want it to be common knowledge that they have engaged your services.
Additionally, when you’ve put a lot of time and effort into building up a solid base of potential clients, you might want to keep that list private from your competitors. This can help prevent them from copying your connections list, especially if you are well respected in your field.
To show you how to do this step by step, I’ve created this Knowledge Base Video. I also take you through some other settings that you might want to take a look at, including how to hide your surname from anyone who isn’t your connection.
5. Sending voice messages using LinkedIn mobile
One little-known way of communicating with your connections is by sending voice messages on LinkedIn using the mobile app. It’s one of my favourite LinkedIn features and is an effective, easy and quick form of LinkedIn messaging.
Using this feature is a great way to build trust and show people that you’re genuine. As hardly anyone uses this feature, you’ll STAND OUT, and voice messages are so quick and easy to send. It’s one of my favourite strategies to use when I’ve messaged someone and haven’t heard back. It gets your voice heard and chances are they’ll listen and respond quickly.
You can message your 1st-degree connections using this feature with messages of up to a minute. It’s only available from the mobile app, not on the desktop version of LinkedIn. Follow this link for step by step instructions.
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the top LinkedIn features you need to discover, and that I’ve helped you get more out of the platform. There are plenty of other resources on my website – feel free to take a look around!
I’d also encourage you to sign up for my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, where I share more tips, advice, and free resources. Simply click here to register, and please feel free to share with any of your contacts who might find it useful.
If you need more help or advice with anything LinkedIn related, I’d be delighted to hear from you. Please send me a DM on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].
