Month: December 2021

LinkedIn Tips and Techniques, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Not just new year’s, but rather all-year-long, resolutions

Marc W. Halpert
graphing paper with text

I resolved a long time ago not to make new year’s resolutions. And I don’t read others’. Why? Because no one follows through on them, so they ring hollow for the new year.

However, I resolve to continually improve and amend my ways with each new day. As I learn throughout the year. As a challenge to myself. As I encourage others to practice that philosophy.

So even if I did (which I don’t since COVID) work out in a membership brick-and-mortar exercise facility, I would not be one of those gymrats who come daily for a couple of weeks in January, and then disappear.

I would go at the same time. Daily. And for the next day, week, and month. Year round. A healthy habit, not a lugubrious chore and thus temporary.

Learning new behaviors, practicing, mentally embracing that I am always in beta, changing, career-morphing to meet new environmental influences (however you define them): these are also daily parts of my entrepreneurial life. Read more about this.

Am I a symbol of perfection? Hell no.

I just aim for my “it,” and work towards “it,” and demonstrate “it,” from my lens, in hopes to help others achieve their “it”s.

All while trying to be amazing-er. And getting you there too.

All year long. Not just a week or so and then back to old familiar ways.

My questions:

  1. How about you? How do you seek to be amazing-er?
  2. Do you aim for better practices in using tools in your toolbox, LinkedIn included, to show your entrepreneurial or professional brand?
  3. What are your differentiators? How do you strive to be unique?

I am looking for a professional conversation here on this topic. Yes, a few minutes’ time with your written comments. Not “like” or “celebrate” emojis, please–let’s leave that old click-and-run habit behind in the old year!

“Why you do what you do” is the continual answer that will resonate and stick in the inquisitive minds of your audience. Make them want to know and be memorable.

See you back here January 3rd. Happy, healthy, prosperous new year to you, treasured readers!

Finer Points, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Let’s celebrate our differences

Marc W. Halpert

I made this graphic extra large. It’s really a photo I took last year in a retail store selling calendars, and I was looking for the right time and place to use it, and now I think it’s that time.

Just when the pandemic seems to smash us further and partisan politics drives us further apart, perhaps, just perhaps, there’s an element of the best of humanity right there on LinkedIn. Everyday hiding in plain sight.

People helping others, adding to the global conversation, offering impressions of new ideas and adaptable concepts, referring and warmly introducing like minds to expand business circles.

All while we all come to the LinkedIn table with diverse cultural filters on what we do, when we say it, how we react, and the thought process we carry.

We can discuss and query. We should challenge, professionally of course, what we do not readily see, in order to more easily absorb it. Reword it in a way we can absorb it.

We can be coopetors instead of competitors. No black-and-white, just shades of gray.

In this dim light of an ebbing year that has tried our humanity, let’s strive to share our similarities and celebrate our differences.

Despite the date on the graphic, will you join me in this in 2022?

Back to Basics Tuesdays, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Back to Basics Tuesday: killing 2 social media birds (1 literally) with a post

Marc W. Halpert

Did you know that just as quickly as posting on LinkedIn, you can simultaneously post to your Twitter account?

Three simple steps:

  1. If you have not already done so, add your Twitter account to the settings on your LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/2754
  2. On your Home Page, at the top of the page, first click “start a post” to get the ball rolling. Then click the dropdown box and select “anyone + Twitter” as you see below.
  3. Be terse (especially for each tweet’s 280-character limit), and intentional in choosing the words on your post/tweet. Refrain from abbreviations (like “b4” for “before”) since that looks too Twitter-y and not normally used on LinkedIn. Remember to use 3-5 hashtags that serve both your LinkedIn and Twitter audiences and add a link or graphic if you want the respective audiences, and just perhaps, the algorithms to notice you.

Don’t forget to “post” your work with the blue button at the bottom of your entry.

Done! Instantly you have posted in two very high-flying social media places at once. Check both to be sure they each appear as you intended.

I hope this post helps you gain additional audience attention to quality posts you share on both platforms.

I have found the press loves Twitter…so if both places work for you, fly with them.

LinkedIn Tips and Techniques, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

“I’m looking to meet…”

Marc W. Halpert

Scene: Zoom networking meeting Christmas week. The theme for that meeting: how can we help you?

Rounding the Hollywood Squares on my screen, it stopped at a guy who said, “I’m looking to meet the head of HR at XYZ Corporation to see if I can get him or her to bring me in to {what my expertise is in}.

Hmmm. The name of the company sounded familiar. So I politely switched my video to a static picture of myself, opened LinkedIn (you knew that was coming!), searched for the company, found their Page, clicked on “people,” and (lo-and-behold!) one of our fellow members of the very same networking group is connected to the CEO!

Back with my video on “live,” I chatted to that guy on the zoom call with what I found and he thanked me.

Five minutes later, the zoom conversation got around to the notion of how small the world is and how so many good people know other good people. So I just had to tell the group what I had found, and that they could have discovered that too.

In essence, the connection search tool we call LinkedIn helps all who use it well. Or not.

Update: the shared connection to the CEO is not in touch anymore (it helps to update your connections please!) so I repeated the search and found 2 more of my connections with nexus to two more XYZ Corp. decisionmakers to restart the process. It will work, I just know it.

But I think this particular LinkedIn lesson is worth learning by all who might need it someday. Like you.

Finer Points, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Happy holidays to readers around the world

Marc W. Halpert

It is indeed the holiday season all around the world: ethnic, religious, secular, and historic traditions included, many unique.

For fellow northern hemisphere readers, we experience the month with the least daylight and it is no wonder that our observance of the holiday season is also sunlight-oriented. And yes, my friends, we will shiver and shovel together.

For readers in the southern hemisphere, your days are long and my warm thoughts are reflected back to you. Your insights and opinions are truly eye-opening as you comment back to me in this blog, and on LinkedIn.

Happy holidays all, wherever you are, whenever, however you celebrate. Thank you for reading and your feedback.

LinkedIn Tips and Techniques, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Sowing the seeds of change

Marc W. Halpert
a woman in white long sleeves shirt and denim shorts standing

End of one growing cycle rolls into the start of a new one in sight.

What physical change, improvement, increased business, i.e. seeds sprouting new limbs or establishing firm branches, are you contemplating for germination?

How much energy will you expend?

Will all sprout?

How will you fertilize them for strength and rigor?

What flowers do you anticipate and will you further pollenate them to bear fruit?

Not speaking about new year’s resolutions. Not asking rhetorical questions.

The greenhouse is open.

Tell us your plans. What can we expect from you?

Back to Basics Tuesdays, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Back to basics Tuesday: LinkedIn shiny penny syndrome? A better idea…

Marc W. Halpert

LinkedIn is always changing. Believe me I know from the book manuscripts I submitted, days later only having to make last minute changes–even once while it was on the press!

You can keep up with major changes by subscribing to LinkedIn’s blog announcing coming attractions. Or you can see what I and my fellow LinkedIn coaches update you with, here, and on LinkedIn.

But is it changing for the better? Are the changes being used well?

Yes, it’s mindful to be on top of all the latest.

But it’s mindless IMHO to use them to excess (however you define that) as soon as they are introduced, like shiny pennies you feel you just have to pick up and use. You know what I mean, like polls and newsletters and any of the other enhancements that seem to be all the rage. Including emoticons (don’t get me started).

I always say I can teach monkeys to click the “like” button, but it’s business intelligent to tell WHY you liked it! Where’s your value-add, your branding?

These days, monkeys seem to create the polls and other distractions I am seeing and shake my head at. Digging further, their profiles are anemic and resume-y. They missed the point of LinkedIn as a powertool in your branding toolbox.

I would much rather you distill your creative juices and disburse your quality time tweaking your profile, yes, in everything you post and comment, as a high-quality source of inspiration, curation, ideation, and contemplation. Be “amazing-er” (my word) than the competition.

Then you will not flash, sputter, flame out, but rather radiate consistent warmth that will bring people to you as a memorable and reliable source of thought leadership and valuable content.

In the end you have to evaluate what’s your goal on LinkedIn:

1) attracting fleeting, low quality visual attention, in effect being annoying, by aping others’ similar antics,

or

2) being a cerebral brand, true to yourself, your business contribution, and for others to willingly refer, in the long game of being a professional.

Your choice. I’d go with door #2.

LinkedIn Tips and Techniques, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

STOP the noise!

Marc W. Halpert
close up photo of woman putting an earplug

I see so many useless, frivolous polls being pushed out via LinkedIn!

“If you had $10 million in the bank,” the pollster asked, “would you or would you not work?”

Really?

What value are you adding to the global conversation from this poll?

LinkedIn should be other than, better than, more valuable than, a personal soapbox! Pollster, are you so lonely that you have to poll us?

Responders, do you feel so isolated that you are compelled somehow to answer?

Just because LinkedIn offers polls doesn’t meant they should be so overused. Or anything else offered on LinkedIn.

Use discretion please.

Please remember that a great way to be ignored on LinkedIn is to “cry wolf,” like someone who posted every time he ate breakfasts, lunches, or dinners out. Ugh, did that ever add meaningless electrons to his posts! And loss of readership!

Clicking “likes,” or other emojis, in essence makes you transparent and uninteresting, and is another bad habit that dies hard. If you read me here you know my admontition on that topic.

Isn’t telling, in quality words, why you like something more satisfying, to you and more valuable to your readers? Quality of observation builds readership and followership. Not quantity of clicks and keystrokes.

So don’t complain that you get very little nothing from LinkedIn. You reap what you sow. As I often suggest, take a 30,000 foot view of your LinkedIn profile, posts, and comments. Would you even consider buying from you?

Finer Points, Today's LinkedIn Nugget

Is that a wrap?

Marc W. Halpert

A week from today is Christmas Eve day. And a week after that New Year’s Eve day.

Is 2021 all packed and wrapped up for you, or do you have some overhanging to-do’s to do?

It’s fine to have some receivables and some payables in the entrepreneurial time continuum.

One payable you owe yourself may be unpacking and then rewrapping your LinkedIn profile.

Yes, it’s not a task I understand you would first rush to perform. But it is a necessity of modern business to have a LinkedIn profile. And, I may add, a great one. No, make that an amazing-er one.

Whether you can, or want to, go it alone or with help, get started in the quieter, retrospective next couple of weeks.

Perhaps a coach can elicit from you some new themes and threads to weave that you were not consciously aware of. Subconsciously yes, but how else than writing it well, really well, in your profile would you offer that for others to read and assess?

That’s a new receivable that will pay you back.

So, adapting “you don’t cut your own hair, you don’t pull your own teeth,” I will be brazen enough to ask, “do you need some help with that profile?”