What is LinkedIn social media?

LinkedIn has been around since 2003 but only became mainstream in 2007 when the company acquired TheLadders.com (now known as TopResume). 

The service was originally designed to help people find jobs by connecting them with other job seekers. In recent years, they have expanded their offerings into a variety of different areas including recruiting, career advice, education, mentoring, and more.

Today, there are several ways you can use LinkedIn to connect with others online who share similar interests. You can also create your own group or page where you can discuss topics that interest you and then invite others to join. This way, you can get together offline if you want to meet up in person.

In this article, we will explain why LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional social networks today, so whether you’re just starting out on LinkedIn or already know all about it, keep reading!

Why LinkedIn is the best platform?

LinkedIn offers many features which make it an ideal place for businesses looking to grow their network. Here are some reasons why it's such a great option for those seeking new customers and partners:

It provides easy access to millions of users worldwide – With over 500 million members globally, LinkedIn boasts a user base second only to Facebook.

You can easily manage multiple profiles at once – If you work across departments within your organization like marketing, sales, production, finance, HR, etc., you can easily add these profiles under your main account. Your personal info remains separate from your work information.

Find potential clients and suppliers - If you're working with companies outside of your own industry, LinkedIn makes it easier to reach out to them. By joining groups focused on specific industries and professions, you'll be able to learn more about their needs and figure out how you might be able to provide value.

Create targeted content - Since LinkedIn connects you with contacts based on shared connections, you don't need to waste time creating generic posts. Instead, you can focus on writing specifically tailored messages to engage with each individual member.

Build relationships faster - It takes less effort to build meaningful rapport with someone through LinkedIn rather than emailing back and forth. Once you've established trust with another party, you can leverage this relationship whenever you feel the need.

Get involved in relevant discussions - When you search for something on Google, you can expect results that match your query. However, on LinkedIn, everyone searches for things differently. That means you can see what kind of conversations take place in various forums and choose to participate accordingly.

Become recognized as an expert in your field - People often look for experts before making decisions related to buying products or services. When you become well-known for your expertise in certain fields, you stand a much greater chance of being invited to speak at events or workshops, write articles, appear on podcasts, and even give speeches. Plus, getting featured on LinkedIn gives you a chance to showcase yourself to a wider audience.

Use LinkedIn Learning - While you can certainly go straight to Wikipedia to research any topic, chances are that someone else took the initiative first. Most likely, that person went through LinkedIn Learning to educate themselves further. So, instead of copying and pasting answers from the internet, you can simply follow along with the lessons offered and receive instant feedback.

Is LinkedIn same as Facebook?

While they both offer a lot of similarities, there are key differences between the two sites. For instance, while Facebook allows anyone to join, LinkedIn requires you to sign up with a verified e-mail address. Also, unlike Facebook, LinkedIn does not allow its users to post videos directly on the website.

However, the majority of the functionality available on LinkedIn is also available on Facebook. Both websites let you send private messages, upload photos, comment on others' updates, and create lists of friends. They also support sharing links via text message, posting status updates and pictures, uploading files, and liking pages and comments.

However, it should be noted that the size of the average user base on LinkedIn is considerably smaller compared to Facebook. According to Statista, Facebook currently claims 1.9 billion monthly active users, whereas LinkedIn claims fewer than 300 million.

Is LinkedIn part of Facebook?

No. Although LinkedIn shares many similarities with Facebook, it isn't considered to be part of Facebook. Even though LinkedIn owns The Ladders, Top Resumes, and HireVue, it doesn't operate under the umbrella of Facebook because it's technically owned by Microsoft.

Also, although LinkedIn has a strong presence in Europe and Asia, it hasn't yet made significant headway in North America.

Since LinkedIn operates independently from Facebook, you won't encounter ads for Facebook apps and games inside LinkedIn. On the contrary, you may come across ads promoting LinkedIn products and services.

Is LinkedIn better than Facebook?

As mentioned above, both Facebook and LinkedIn are very useful tools when it comes to building your brand. But, depending on what niche you're targeting, it's possible that one service could outperform the other.

For example, if you run a small restaurant, LinkedIn would probably serve you better than Facebook. As you'd be trying to attract chefs and foodies, LinkedIn would prove to be a valuable tool as it helps you stay connected with those individuals.

But, if you're running a large corporation, Facebook might actually prove to be a better choice. Because of its sheer number of users, you'd potentially be able to reach a larger market. And since Facebook works with advertisers, it can show you exactly how many impressions you've received without having to pay anything upfront.

If you're interested in learning more about the pros and cons of both services, check out our comparison guide below:

What is the purpose of LinkedIn for Business?

Social media sites are used primarily for communication purposes. These days, almost every major social networking site caters to businesses as well. However, LinkedIn differs significantly from the rest of the pack. Rather than focusing solely on customer engagement, it focuses heavily on helping companies expand their networks.

This makes LinkedIn perfect for B2B marketers. Whether you're managing a team or leading a department, LinkedIn offers a convenient channel for reaching out to prospective buyers and vendors alike. Moreover, its advanced analytics feature lets you track the effectiveness of your efforts.

Whether you're setting up recruitment campaigns or conducting product launches, LinkedIn is worth considering.

How do I set up my LinkedIn Profile?

Getting started on LinkedIn is extremely simple. All you have to do is log onto your account and click "Edit My Info" followed by clicking "Change Photo." From here, you can customize your bio, update your location, change your cover photo, and add additional details such as your current position and educational background.

Once everything looks good, scroll down to the bottom and hit "Save Changes," after which you can start adding your connections. To begin doing this, hover your mouse cursor over the "Add Connections" button located next to your name. Then select "Connect with Companies & Services" and browse through the list until you locate a suitable prospect. Next, enter their full name and click "Send Request". After confirming the request, you'll now be connected.

Do I need to verify my identity on LinkedIn?

Yes. At present, verifying your identity on LinkedIn is mandatory. Until recently, it wasn't required for accounts created prior to 2016. However, due to security concerns, it's important to confirm your identity.

To do this, navigate to your settings section and click on "Privacy Settings" followed by "Settings" and selecting "Account Security." Underneath the heading "Security Verification," click on "Manage Security Verifications." Select the appropriate verification method, complete the form, and submit.

Afterwards, you can either continue browsing LinkedIn anonymously or opt to turn off automatic notifications on your phone.

How long does it take to get verified on LinkedIn?

Depending on the type of verification method you selected, it usually takes anywhere between 30 minutes to 72 hours. There are three types of verifications:

Verified Email Address - A confirmation code will arrive in your inbox, which you must input into the LinkedIn app. Once completed, you'll immediately gain access to LinkedIn Groups.

Phone Number - You can call a local representative to receive a number that will enable you to activate your account.

Address Verification - This involves sending a postal mail containing a QR code and a unique ID to your physical address. Upon receiving the package, scan the QR Code and follow instructions to retrieve a temporary password.

When it comes to verifying your identity, it's always recommended that you try to avoid third-party applications that promise quick verification methods. These tend to be scams that ask for payment upfront and never deliver.

Instead, stick to the official verification process outlined above.

Who can edit my LinkedIn profile?

Anyone can edit your profile on LinkedIn. Simply visit your Account Settings menu and open Edit Profile. From here, you can modify your picture, headline, summary, description, and contact information.

Can I delete my LinkedIn profile?

Of course! Just go to your Account Settings area, open Privacy Controls, and uncheck the box labeled Delete My Content. Click Save Changes and you're done.

Is LinkedIn free?

LinkedIn has become a popular tool among both job seekers and employers alike. This article takes you through some of its features to help you understand why so many businesses choose this platform over others.

If you're new to these types of websites or just want more information on them, we've covered Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Reddit in detail before. Here's an overview of their uses and purposes along with some tips if you need advice on any of them.

How does LinkedIn social media work?

LinkedIn is a social network that allows users to connect with each other based on shared interests within specific industries. It was created by Reid Hoffman and David Sacks in 2003 and began as a way to find jobs, but now serves as a useful tool for finding potential partners, clients, and employees.

The website offers several ways for users to interact with one another. You can post updates (called "status updates") directly to your friends' timelines, follow people who share common connections, view profiles of those you know, join groups, take part in discussions, create events, upload photos, search for companies and organizations, look at company pages, see news articles written by members, and participate in polls.

There are also plenty of ways to customize your LinkedIn experience, including changing your avatar picture, adding additional content, creating custom sections, and editing your cover photo.

Why do people use LinkedIn as social media?

You might already be familiar with LinkedIn because of all the buzz around it during the 2016 presidential election season. Although it didn't play much of a role in deciding the outcome, it did affect the general public perception of the candidate and his policies.

For instance, Hillary Clinton used her page to highlight her policy positions and accomplishments, while Donald Trump made a point of attacking her personally. In fact, she even received death threats after posting a message regarding abortion rights. While that may not seem like a big deal today, it shows the power of social media when put into the hands of millions of voters.

In addition, LinkedIn lets you easily stay up-to-date without constantly checking your email inbox or scrolling past hundreds of tweets. Instead, you get notifications whenever someone mentions you online, which means you don't have to worry about missing out on important comments. The same goes for messages sent via text, phone calls, emails, instant messaging apps, and voice mails. There's no reason to miss anything anymore!

Furthermore, LinkedIn gives you a chance to show off your skills and talents, allowing you to stand out to prospective clients, colleagues, and employers. If you're looking for a new position, you can simply check out the openings posted by companies and recruiters. If something catches your eye, you can send a message asking for further details or apply right away.

Why do people use LinkedIn for?

As mentioned above, there are numerous reasons to use LinkedIn as social media. But here are five great examples of why it's valuable for entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, marketers, salespeople, students, and anyone else interested in building relationships and getting ahead professionally.

1) Find local talent fast

When searching for new employees, you'll often hear about the importance of making sure they fit well with the team culture. That doesn't mean you should only hire people who live nearby or are willing to relocate, though. A good employee will make himself/herself available anytime and anywhere he/she needs to.

That's where LinkedIn comes in handy. For starters, you can browse open positions throughout the country and beyond. Then you can narrow down candidates by location and skill set. When you decide whom to contact first, you won't waste time calling everyone who works remotely since the majority probably won't respond anyway.

2) Learn about industry leaders

Even if you aren't planning to interview potential hires, you still may be curious about their backgrounds. LinkedIn makes it easy to learn about the latest trends in your field and discover prominent figures in your industry.

For example, you could research successful marketing campaigns, innovative products, new technologies, and best practices that top managers use every day. By doing so, you can identify areas of interest that you would never think to explore otherwise.

3) Create opportunities for yourself

One great benefit of LinkedIn is that it connects you with people across the world. With this knowledge, you can start conversations about topics related to your career goals, meet new contacts, and build lasting friendships. As long as you keep things positive, it's possible to turn acquaintances into lifelong friends.

4) Build credibility

People trust recommendations and endorsements more than ever before. They're especially helpful when trying to convince others that you deserve a promotion, raise, bonus, etc., because most people tend to believe the words of their peers.

5) Get noticed

It's true that there are tons of places where you can publish content and promote your brand, such as blogs, podcasts, newsletters, video channels, and more. However, LinkedIn isn't limited to just those options. You can also reach thousands of followers with posts, status updates, videos, images, presentations, and group discussions. Plus, as noted earlier, you can access a wide range of tools designed specifically for sharing content.

Why is LinkedIn different from other social media?

Although LinkedIn shares similarities with other social networks, it brings unique benefits to the table. Let's compare it to other major sites and services.

Facebook vs. LinkedIn: Both provide similar functionality, but the former focuses on connecting with old friends and family while the latter caters to individuals working together in various professions. Because it specializes in collaboration, LinkedIn tends to attract business professionals rather than casual users. Therefore, you'll likely receive fewer invitations compared to Facebook.

Twitter vs. LinkedIn: Similarities aside, Twitter encourages quick exchanges between strangers whereas LinkedIn provides an opportunity to converse face-to-face with established professionals. Also, it emphasizes relationships instead of interactions, which explains why almost half of Twitter accounts belong to celebrities.

Instagram vs. LinkedIn: Social media influencers typically prefer Instagram, mainly due to its visual nature. On the other hand, LinkedIn boasts more professional-looking visuals, although it lacks filters and hashtags.

Snapchat vs. LinkedIn: Just like Instagram, Snapchat is primarily focused on pictures and videos. However, it differs from Instagram in terms of privacy settings. Unlike the latter, you can't edit your snaps once they go viral. And unlike LinkedIn, Snapchat doesn't allow you to add personal touches to your account.

Reddit vs. LinkedIn: Reddit is famous for being the place where everything happens -- whether good or bad. Meanwhile, LinkedIn aims to bring professionals together regardless of political beliefs, age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, education level, income bracket, occupation, hobbies, etc.

YouTube vs. LinkedIn: Like Twitch, YouTube serves as a hub for gamers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers. On the other hand, LinkedIn attracts people involved in corporate management, finance, human resources, IT support, law enforcement, customer service, real estate agents, advertising agencies, etc.

AngelList vs. LinkedIn: Founded in 2011, AngelList acts as a marketplace for early stage startups seeking funding. Its main function includes listing angel investors and venture capital firms alongside potential investments.

Hootsuite vs. LinkedIn: Hootsuite is a simple app that helps journalists manage multiple social networks simultaneously. On the other hand, LinkedIn is a digital resume builder and professional network provider. Even though both aim to give users control over their careers, LinkedIn focuses heavily on the workplace aspect.

Conclusion

So far, we've taken a closer look at the basics of LinkedIn and explained why it's becoming increasingly popular. We discussed the differences between LinkedIn and other social media giants, and touched upon why certain people tend to gravitate toward it. Now it's time to move forward with our next steps.

Keep reading to learn about the ins and outs of setting up a LinkedIn profile. Then, scroll back to the beginning of the article to brush up on your social media history. Finally, read through our list of essential LinkedIn hacks to ensure success.

We recommend starting with the free version of LinkedIn Premium. Once you're comfortable with its basic functions, consider upgrading to Business or Enterprise plans. These packages offer greater flexibility, better security, and advanced analytics.

LinkedIn is one of the most popular social networks on the internet today. It's no surprise that more businesses have adopted the platform to help them stay connected with their customers. Here's everything you need to know about LinkedIn, including its features, best practices, uses, and tips & tricks.

If you're curious why your friends use Instagram but not you, this article will explain exactly what makes Instagram so special. If you want to understand why Snapchat isn't as successful as its competitors (Instagram, YouTube, Vine), read our guide to Snapchat. And if you want to learn about Facebook, check out these resources.

Let’s get started!

How is LinkedIn different than Facebook and other social media?

For starters, LinkedIn has much less competition in terms of users. According to Statista, there were around 2 billion active accounts on LinkedIn in 2016, compared to 1.9 billion on Facebook. While both sites allow people to connect with others based on mutual interests, LinkedIn allows employees to be able to see who they work with and where they've worked before. This helps companies keep track of potential hires and avoid bad hires by seeing previous employers.

Facebook also offers some similar benefits. You can find old classmates through friend requests, which helps you reconnect with former co-workers. But that only works when someone accepts your request. On LinkedIn, however, everyone sees anyone else who is already an employee. There is no way to hide from your past employer unless you delete your account entirely.

The difference between LinkedIn and Facebook is even more apparent when looking at job searches. When searching for jobs on Facebook, you'll usually see ads from recruiters. That means you may end up getting multiple emails asking you to fill out a form. However, on LinkedIn, you won't see any recruiter ads whatsoever. Instead, you'll just see job postings from actual companies.

You might think that this would make LinkedIn less appealing because it wouldn't give you the same opportunities to network with prospective employers. The opposite is true though. For instance, you can search for specific types of jobs in your field and see what organizations are posting openings. Then you can contact those companies directly and apply without having to go through a third party. This gives you a better chance of being hired since you aren't limited to whoever happens to run a company's ad campaign right now.

Why does LinkedIn look like Facebook?

While there are many similarities between LinkedIn and Facebook, there is one major change that separates the two. With Facebook, all information is public by default. Users don't have to log into their profiles to share posts, comments, photos, etc. On LinkedIn, however, each user must sign in to view content posted by other members.

This is important because it means you could never accidentally post something embarrassing online. Unlike Facebook, you'd have to actively choose whether or not to share certain things publicly. In fact, you can actually turn off sharing completely if you wish.

In addition, LinkedIn has been criticized for making it too easy for people to create fake profiles. Since every member must sign in to access private messages, profiles are often created solely for spamming purposes. Because of this, the service has added several new security measures to prevent malicious activity.

Is LinkedIn social media or business media?

When trying to decide whether or not LinkedIn should replace Facebook or vice versa, consider their roles within the workplace. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter provide entertainment while helping us remain connected with family and friends. Businesses, on the other hand, tend to use these services to promote themselves and attract clients.

That said, there are times when both can come together. If you're running a small startup and you want to reach out to investors, you can do so via a LinkedIn message. Even large corporations rely heavily on LinkedIn to market their products and build brand awareness. So although it doesn't offer nearly as many connections as Facebook, LinkedIn still plays a significant role in marketing and promotion. It's simply used differently.

Is LinkedIn considered a social media?

There's certainly debate over whether or not LinkedIn should be classified as a "social" app. Some argue that it shouldn't be included due to its focus on business and career development. Others say it should be included because the majority of its usage comes from personal interactions.

Personally I feel LinkedIn is a mixture of both worlds. Many people use it strictly for personal reasons, but it's also used as a tool for business. As long as we remember that it was built for business first, then it's okay to include it under the umbrella term “social media.” After all, you can't really separate the two. Both serve different functions depending on the situation.

Is LinkedIn a good place for me to start my own business?

As mentioned above, LinkedIn is primarily designed to boost careers rather than building brands. Therefore, it's probably not the best option if you plan on starting your own business. Still, you can always try doing freelance writing and promoting yourself that way. Just be sure to put effort into creating a compelling image and portfolio.

Another idea is to become an influencer. By becoming well known among the local community, you'll gain credibility and potentially land gigs working alongside established brands. Be careful here though. Influencers sometimes get paid just to endorse products, so there are risks involved.

Finally, you could join a niche group and contribute regularly. These groups require minimal involvement and typically pay very little money. If you've got valuable knowledge to pass along, you could earn a few bucks each month.

Want to learn more about LinkedIn? Click below to discover additional articles related to the topic. We hope you enjoyed reading this article!

LinkedIn

The website was founded in 2003 by Reid Hoffman and Kevin Ryan.

Over time, LinkedIn has evolved into a professional network where people can connect with each other, share knowledge and seek new opportunities. In addition to helping companies find qualified candidates, LinkedIn also offers tools such as job search, career management, resume writing, and recruiting services.

In 2013, there were over 500 million users across the world - up from 200 million in 2012. The average user spends 40 minutes per day on LinkedIn.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when working with LinkedIn:

You must log-in before accessing any part of the site.

If you're not logged-in, your profile will be hidden and you won't be able to access any account information.

To change your password, go to "Settings" then click on Security Settings.

When someone contacts you via email, they'll receive an automatic reply with instructions on how to contact you through LinkedIn.

How do I get started using LinkedIn?

Once you've created a free profile (more details below), you can start creating connections. You'll want to create multiple profiles if you work at different places -- this way, everyone knows who you really are!

First, make sure you