LinkedIn allows you to showcase your expertise and establish your professional brand by linking your other social media profiles like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. Linking your other social media accounts to your LinkedIn profile has several benefits:
- It gives viewers a more well-rounded perspective of who you are professionally.
- It enables you to showcase a larger body of your work and achievements across platforms.
- It helps drive more traffic to your LinkedIn profile and other social accounts.
- It makes you more discoverable online to prospective clients, employers, and connections.
However, you need to be strategic about which accounts you link and how you utilize the content across your channels. Not all social media content may be appropriate or optimized for a professional platform like LinkedIn.
Should I Link All My Social Media to LinkedIn?
The short answer is no. You don’t necessarily need to link every single one of your social media profiles to LinkedIn. As a guideline, focus on choosing channels where you share professional or industry-related updates, insights, content etc.
Here are some tips on deciding which social media accounts to link on your LinkedIn profile:
- Link professional Twitter handles where you tweet about your industry, career, business etc.
- Link YouTube channels containing professional portfolio videos, career-focused content etc.
- Link Instagram accounts showcasing your professional work, skills, job-related activities etc.
- Avoid linking Facebook profiles for personal use with family and friends.
- Be selective about which posts you auto-share from linked channels to LinkedIn.
The key is relevancy. Make sure the LinkedIn community viewing your profile can gain valuable professional insights from your other linked social accounts.
How to Link Social Media on LinkedIn
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to link your other social media accounts with your LinkedIn profile:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile.
- Click on the ‘View profile’ button to edit your profile.
- On the right rail, look for the ‘Media’ section and click ‘Add profile section’.
- Select the social media platform you want to link – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
- A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm authorization and enter the profile URL you want to link.
- Click ‘Apply Changes’.
Once done, your other social media profiles will appear under the Media section on your LinkedIn profile.
Tips for Linking Social Media on LinkedIn
Here are some additional tips to optimize this:
- Double check that the social media profile URL you’re entering on LinkedIn is accurate.
- Verify that your other social accounts are set to public viewing if you want LinkedIn connections to view the content.
- Be selective in auto-sharing posts from your other platforms to your LinkedIn feed. Make sure the content is relevant and professional.
- Customize or write unique posts for LinkedIn rather than just auto-sharing updates.
- Periodically review your other social media accounts to maintain a professional image across platforms.
Should I Link My Facebook Profile to LinkedIn?
When it comes to Facebook, proceed with caution. You generally want to avoid linking your personal Facebook profile as it contains content meant for friends and family.
However, if you have a professional public Facebook Page or Group related to your industry, you can consider linking it. Here are some best practices:
- Only link a professional, career-focused Facebook presence like an author page, freelancer page etc.
- Make sure your professional Page’s content aligns with your overall LinkedIn brand.
- Be highly selective in what you choose to cross-post from Facebook to LinkedIn.
- Determine if your target LinkedIn audience will find value in your Facebook content.
- Use Facebook to direct audiences to in-depth thought leadership on LinkedIn.
The same concept applies to groups or community pages on Facebook related to your profession which you manage or actively participate in. Ultimately avoid linking your personal profile used to connect with friends and family.
Should I Auto-Share My LinkedIn Posts to Social Media?
Most experts caution against auto-sharing your LinkedIn posts and articles directly to other social platforms without modification. Here’s why:
- Each platform has a different audience, tone and content expectations.
- Professional LinkedIn content may not resonate or align with more casual social platforms.
- You could dilute your brand voice by syndicating content verbatim across channels.
However, you can repurpose some of your thought leadership content with tailored messaging for each platform.
Here are some tips on sharing your LinkedIn posts to other social media:
- Share only selectively, not automatically.
- Modify your wording, visuals, etc. to fit the new platform.
- Link back to your original LinkedIn post for more details.
- Use social media to highlight or preview your LinkedIn content.
- Drive audiences back to your LinkedIn profile or featured articles.
The goal is to create synergy, not mirror your content across platforms. Promote your LinkedIn thought leadership while making content engaging for each channel’s community.
Showcasing Thought Leadership Across Social Media
One of the major benefits of linking and coordinating your social media presence is the ability to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Here are some tips:
- Publish your in-depth articles, long-form posts, and ebooks on LinkedIn.
- Share key takeaways, statistics, and excerpts through visual quotes on Twitter and Instagram.
- Post a preview summary with a call-to-action to read the full piece on LinkedIn.
- Repurpose articles as podcast episodes and video content where appropriate.
- Coordinate your content calendar across platforms to maximize reach.
This provides diverse formats of your expertise while driving audiences to your LinkedIn profile and writings.
Key Takeaways
Here are some of the key takeaways on linking your social media presence with your LinkedIn profile:
- Be selective – only link professional social media accounts.
- Ensure consistent brand representation across platforms.
- Modify content when cross-sharing to fit each platform’s expectations.
- Drive audiences to your LinkedIn profile and articles.
- Showcase diverse formats of thought leadership content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of linking my Instagram to LinkedIn?
Linking Instagram allows you to showcase professional photos of speaking events, tradeshows, portfolio samples, and industry networking. Visually demonstrate your expertise.
Can I link multiple Twitter accounts to LinkedIn?
Yes, you can link multiple Twitter accounts to your LinkedIn profile. For example, you may want to link both your professional brand handle and your company handle.
What types of YouTube content should I link on LinkedIn?
Link YouTube videos that provide value to your professional audience – conference talks, career advice, portfolio demos, brand stories etc. Avoid linking any personal videos.
Is it better to share my full blog posts on LinkedIn or other platforms?
Share your full posts on your professional blog or LinkedIn to provide maximum value. Share summaries, key insights, and quotes on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to generate interest.
Can I link to my LinkedIn profile from my other social accounts?
Absolutely – share your LinkedIn profile URL anywhere you have an online professional presence to drive visitors. Add LinkedIn links to your Twitter bio, Instagram profile, Facebook page, and more.
Conclusion
Linking your other social media accounts to your LinkedIn profile can be an excellent strategy to expand your professional reach online. But be selective about which accounts you link and thoughtful about repurposing content across platforms.
Focus on showcasing consistent thought leadership to position yourself as an industry expert and drive traffic between your social channels and LinkedIn profile. Used strategically, linking your social media with LinkedIn can take your personal brand to the next level.
