New LinkedIn guide helps both new and experienced users
LinkedIn is neither a new nor unknown social media. But it remains relevant for everyone who wants to strengthen their professional network and showcase their projects and results for relevant peers, partners and foundations, etc. Get the most out of LinkedIn with the help of Health's new online guide.
Health has its own profile on LinkedIn, and in recent years the faculty has offered LinkedIn courses with a focus on strengthening its employees presence on the platform. These initiatives are now furthered by a new online guide, in which Helle Terkildsen Maindal and Reimar W. Thomsen also share their top tips and tricks.
Recommendations, examples and guidelines
Employees at the faculty can use the new guide to LinkedIn to find relevant help for self-help. The guide is divided into two sections – one for new LinkedIn users and one for users who are ready to upgrade their presence on the professionals' social media.
So while new users can read about what you can do with a post and how to build your network, the more experienced used can e.g. find inspiration to measure their SSI Score – which shows how effective they are at establishing their professional brand, connecting with 'the right people', engaging with relevant content and generally expanding their network.
LinkedIn is an obvious choice for knowledge sharing – also for researchers
For Professor Helle Terkildsen Maindal from the Department of Public Health, being active on LinkedIn is a matter of course.
"Personally, I think that we have an obligation as researchers to share our knowledge with others, and LinkedIn connects on a practical, research and political level. That makes the platform an obvious choice," she says and continues:
"I use LinkedIn to maintain and develop my international network in particular. I’m also professor at Deakin University in Melbourne, and it’s easy for me to keep up with the activities ‘down under’ via LinkedIn. The same also applies to my Danish network. You can keep up with everything from conferences and workshops to new calls for applications.”
Embrace your inner geek
Clinical Associate Professor Reimar W. Thomsen from the Department of Clinical Medicine adds:
"For me, LinkedIn is equal parts scientific communication, networking and social interaction. "I receive most – and best – response when I manage to bring my expertise and my field of knowledge into play in relation to the current media debate in a constructive, understandable and preferably slightly warm way,” he says and elaborates.
"For example, I’ve been able to talk about an ongoing research project several times by relating it to media coverage of the corona pandemic. Although it could also be climate change, social inequality, lifestyle or other topics that interest many people," he says.
Reimar W. Thomsen also says that he tries to avoid the obvious showing off that almost turns into boasting. Instead, he embraces his inner geek and makes his professional expertise available. And he loves likes – both as liker and liked.
“I admit that I’m a sucker for positive comments from colleagues and other peers who find the research my group is doing interesting. Everyone needs likes, a ‘well done’ or some other encouragement now and then,” he says.
Sign up for the faculty’s LinkedIn course
Health Communication invites all interested employees at the faculty to a free LinkedIn crash course on Wednesday 26 May 2021 between 9:00 - 11:00.
On the course, you will learn about:
- What a good LinkedIn profile contains
- How to communicate most effectively on LinkedIn
- Which content works best
- Guidelines about appropriate behaviour on social media
Note: The course is held in Danish.
Read more in the article "Course: Do you want to learn to use LinkedIn?” and register via the faculty’s staff website.
Why is being on LinkedIn an obvious move?
- LinkedIn is a professional social media devoid of cat videos and holiday photos.
- LinkedIn content has a long lifespan compared to content on e.g. Twitter and Facebook, because people generally post less frequently. It is therefore easier for posts to get likes, shares and comments several months after they appear.
- Being on LinkedIn can give you:
- A bigger professional network
- Increased visibility that can benefit you and your work (e.g. increased attention from foundations, potential collaborations and potential new colleagues)
- Exchange of knowledge and experience with peers in your field of study
- A direct line to your peers, partners, politicians and foundations
- The opportunity to help set the agenda within your field
- Recognition from your network and peers
- Exposure of potential career-promoting projects and results.
Contact
Communication Partner Sabina Bjerre Hansen
Aarhus University, HE Administrative Centre – Health Communication
Mobile: (+45) 30 12 3732
Email: sbh@au.dk