How to effectively use LinkedIn for networking opportunities as an architect
LinkedIn can on the face of it, seem like a dry and uninspiring place. Once simply a place to upload a digital version of your CV and recent work experience only to be hounded by recruiters, the platform has significantly evolved in recent years.
Delve deeper into its layers and it is now a powerful tool for networking and a great place for thought leadership and importantly, a place to make meaningful connections.
Why is LinkedIn important?
LinkedIn is the top professional platform, with over 875 million members from 200 countries and regions worldwide. For architects and designers, that’s an international ‘black book’ of opportunities, waiting to be tapped into. In fact, 3 members join LinkedIn every second as of Q2 FY23.
At a very basic level, there are two sides to the platform. The first is the one most are more familiar with – recruitment. 9 job applications are submitted every second, 44% of hirers on LinkedIn explicitly use skills data to fill their roles and 8 people are hired every minute on the platform.
The second side of the platform is where we really see its benefits. It’s somewhere you can expand your professional network, engage with a thought leader in the industry and of course, become an expert in the industry yourself.
Before you begin your networking
Be honest…how long is it since you last refreshed that profile and gave some love to your LinkedIn account? Like many, you probably only updated your page the last time you were considering a change in your role or career path.
Your LinkedIn profile is, however, an important representation of your personal brand and if you are a business leader, your company too. Before you start firing off connection requests, make sure you review some key areas of your profile that may need dusting off:
Profile photo
Header image
Additional information including your About section and experience
We won’t list out every aspect of your profile that needs updating but do have a good review and make sure all elements are filled in.
If you have a robust content marketing plan in place on your company page, consider adding some of these posts and articles to your profile too to showcase your work.
And finally, consider joining some LinkedIn Groups too. They are great ways to find and discover advice, and expertise and of course, share your own too.
If you need more bespoke support, then why not get in touch with our Digital Director who can either help with a team training session or some one-to-one support? We can also help with your wider content marketing plans for the company too with strategic insights and recommendations.
Networking and recruitment
As an architect, hiring the best and brightest talent is always paramount and in a crowded market, finding, hiring, and of course, retaining that talent is vital to the success and longevity of your business. If you don’t use a recruiter or a hiring manager, often the first port of call is something like Dezeen Jobs or The Dots to try and find the right candidates.
However, LinkedIn has an excellent search facility, even without using its paid-for Sales Navigator service, to find people in your wider network that may be considering a career change or may have a unique skill or specialism that you are specifically looking for.
As a starting point, take a look at your network page to see if there are any potential connections to make there.
Then simply type the role into the search box that you are looking for e.g. Part 1 Architect and filter by People. This will show you all those who have this title listed as their job title.
Top tip: Make sure you use the singular for LinkedIn searches as people don’t describe themselves as “architects”, they are “Architect” in their title.
You can also further filter by connections on LinkedIn. So, for example, you could filter by 1st or 2nd-degree connection to see people who have a shared contact with you.
Networking and business development
Here is where the platform really comes into its own and where when we have done LinkedIn training with teams, it really surprises people how effective it can be.
Start by creating personas of the types of new business connections you’d want to make. What are their pain points and how can you help? This is a fundamental part of the strategy work we do with our clients and is helpful to get you thinking about who you are trying to reach and what they might be interested in.
And what about your business objectives? Do you want to expand your client base by working with more developers for example?
Then the search tool can be used really effectively to start finding the right people.
We run workshops to help companies and their teams use these effectively so get in touch to discuss options.
You don’t need to be aggressively ‘salesy’ in your request for a connection. Start by adding a note to a connection request explaining who you are, what you do (high-level) and that you thought it might be good to connect.
This is the start of your awareness-building and engagement with your new connection. The green shoots in what could blossom into an important relationship. All thanks to a little bit of housekeeping and some time spent using the search function.
How much time do I need to spend on LinkedIn each week?
Importantly, this doesn’t need to be a huge drain on your time. Set 5-10 minutes a day to make a connection, engage with people’s content, add your own thoughts and share your ideas. It can be on a train, whilst you’re waiting for someone to arrive for a meeting. Wherever you can, check-in and start to build those networks. It could be the difference between you and your competition.
If this all feels a bit daunting, then we’re here to help! Do get in touch and let’s chat about how we can help you make the most of the tool. We’d love to support you.
