When LinkedIn burst onto the scene in the mid-200s, it revolutionized professional networking. No longer did you have to keep business cards or have a rolodex, rather the website did all the work for you.
Some 20 years later, there are many different ways people use LinkedIn. There is no right or wrong way, it comes down to personal preference.
There are those who will only connect with people they’ve already met in real life while others have no issue connecting with anyone and everyone.
This isn’t a big deal one way or another. What seems to be a big deal is the line that separates LinkedIn users from those who use it like Facebook and those who don’t.
To be fair, when LinkedIn introduced a feed like Facebook and just about like every other social network has, this was inevitable. And these opinions and hot takes are limited to topics of a professional nature – they can be about anything, even political. With another Presidential election looming, expect plenty of posts on this subject.
While it’s your right to post anything you want, you need to appreciate there are implications to doing so from an online reputation management perspective.
LinkedIn isn’t like Twitter where you can post under the veil of anonymity – you’re posting as yourself and if people are looking you up, they’re going to look under the hood of your profile to see who you are.
When you’re applying for a job, do you want people at that company to read everything you’ve posted?
Or more concern, how do you feel about people at your current company seeing it?
You may not have done anything wrong and thus have anything to worry about, but LinkedIn is a professional networking site and so you need to be extremely mindful of conducting yourself in a professional manner.
There is greater latitude for a certain amount of levity and personal opinions on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Everywhere there’s a threat is also an opportunity.
Take advantage of the publishing options LinkedIn offers in order to position yourself as a thought leader. Write well thought out pieces that have to do with the industry you’re in.
Posting about such things as the work you do at your company, some of the philanthropic activities, and the ways in which you give back to the community and your colleagues, positions yourself as someone who makes a real difference. This is exactly the kind of thing you’d want an employer – future or present to see.
If you want to get into debates or spirited discussions with anyone, best to do so in real life where they aren’t posted on social media for the whole world to see.