LinkedIn For College (University) Students:

10 Things You Can Do to Brand Yourself as an Expert

(Choose 3)

Presented by

Laura ShortUniversity Relations Specialist

shortl@uwstout.edu

(715) 232-2384

Why LinkedIn?

• It gives you a professional presence online—your resume, and more.

• Publicly viewable so employers and clients can find you.

• Ranks high in search engine results.

Google your name. How high do you rank?

LinkedIn is Boring.Yes, but…

• LinkedIn provides a place where you can list three clickable Web sites.

• Use these three opportunities to link to other social media sites that help you put your best face forward.

Web site options found under Additional Information tab

Don’t think you have three sites to link to?

Yes, you do.

1. Blog your work. Work your blog.

• Link to a career-related blog that you write or contribute to.

• If you are a contributor, link to your personal tag or category, or to your favorite posting.

• Popular blogging software– Blogger.com– Wordpress.com

What do you blog about?

• Your homework and class assignments, i.e., what did you learn today?

• Your thoughts on current trends in your industry.

• Your thoughts on popular books or articles that you can draw inspiration from.

2. Digg for gold.

• Create a profile at Digg.com.

• Digg articles that you feel are important to your chosen profession.

• Link to your Digg profile at LinkedIn.

How do you find the right articles?

• From class assignments.

• Read through other popular articles at Digg, and follow profiles that you like.

• Set up Google Alerts on industry terms that you are interested in following.– news.google.com

3. Shelve your books at LibraryThing.

• Create a profile at LibraryThing.com.

• List there the books that you’ve read that you feel are important to your profession.

4. Star in your own YouTube video.

• Have a friend videotape you as you demo a task you know and do well.

• Walk and talk your resume. Demonstrate your speaking skills as well as your knowledge and talents.

• Upload the video to YouTube and link to it from LinkedIn.

5. A picture is worth a 1,000 (resume) words.• Have friends take your photo in work-

related settings:– Classroom / Lab– Internship / co-op / practicum / other work– Industry field trip– Or, of your handiwork (art, packaging, etc.)

• Upload to Flickr, or create an online side show using Slideroll or Slideshare.

• Link to your story at LinkedIn.

6. Make your portfolio portable…online.

• Some industries require a portfolio of work, i.e., art, design, education, others

• Create an online portfolio that you can link to from your LinkedIn profile.

• Let your work be your calling card.

7. Be a news maker.

• Let communications@uwstout.edu know what you are doing:– Class activities– Volunteer and community activities– Interesting jobs, internships, co-ops, etc.

• We can put your story online (http://www2.uwstout.edu/news/) and possibly in the media.

8. Become a published author.

• Write an article for – Stoutonia– Journal of Student Research– Hometown newspaper– Volume One– Industry trade journal

• If you get a byline, link to it.• If it’s not online, you publish it online, i.e.,

your blog, online portfolio.

9. Woo hoo, do you Squidoo?

• This social networking site is billed as the place for experts. And we’re all experts at something.

• You build and maintain one page about one topic…and you might earn $.

• Here’s a link to 49 possible topics:– http://www.squidoo.com/lensbrainstorm

10. Become a UW-Stout expert.

• Join the student and alumni experts list at http://www.uwstoutalumni.blogspot.com/

• Submit pearls of wisdom, expert advice and numbered lists.

• We will link to your Web site, blog, YouTube videos, online portfolio, book information, etc.

• Just link back to us at LinkedIn.

Cheat Sheet: Top 10 ideas

• Blog

• Digg

• LibraryThing

• YouTube

• Flickr / Slideroll / Slideshare

• Online portfolio

• Article in which you are featured

• Article you wrote

• Squidoo

• Stout Experts List

Which 3 do you choose?

• Read job ads for inspiration. How do these ideas fit in with what your potential employers want?

• What are you most comfortable doing? What are you doing already?

• You can choose more than 3; but only 3 will be clickable. Save your best for your clickable moments.

LinkedIn: Bonus Tips

• Choose the personalized URL option.• Fill out all sections as completely as possible

and keep it up to date.• Write recommendations for others where

appropriate. Request others to write recommendations for you.

• Post and answer Q’s in the Answers section to position you as an expert.

• See the Extreme LinkedIn Profile Makeover at http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html

Featured Links• http://www.linkedin.com • http://www.blogger.com • http://www.wordpress.com • http://digg.com • http://news.google.com• http://www.librarything.com• http://www.youtube.com • http://www.flickr.com• http://www.slideroll.com• http://www.slideshare.net• communications@uwstout.edu• http://www2.uwstout.edu/news/• http://www.squidoo.com• http://www.squidoo.com/lensbrainstorm • http://www.uwstoutalumni.blogspot.com• http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html

LinkedIn: 10 Things You Can Do to Brand Yourself as an Expert

(Choose 3)

Presented byLaura Short

Communications Specialistshortl@uwstout.edu

(715) 232-2384