LinkedIn is a great platform for networking and promoting your professional brand. One way to do that is by indicating that you’re attending various events on your LinkedIn profile. This shows your connections that you’re active in your industry and gives visibility to the events themselves. Here are some tips on how to show you’re attending events on LinkedIn.
Add the Event to Your LinkedIn Profile
The easiest way is to add the event directly to your LinkedIn profile. Simply go to your profile and click on the “+” icon near the experience section. Choose “Add profile section” and then select “Events”.
You’ll be able to enter details like:
- The event name
- Location
- Date
- Your role (e.g. attendee, speaker, organizer)
- Description
Adding the event this way will showcase it prominently on your profile. Anyone visiting your profile will immediately see that you’re participating in that event.
Share a Post About the Event
Another option is to create a LinkedIn post that mentions you’re attending or speaking at the event. You can create the post directly in the LinkedIn publishing tool. Some things to include:
- The event name and date
- Location and a link to the event website
- A description of what you’ll be doing at the event (attending, speaking, etc)
- What you hope to get out of the event
- An invite for your connections to also attend
This allows you to provide more context than just adding the event to your profile. You can explain why you’re excited to attend and what value it will bring to your career or industry.
Engage With Event Content
If the organizers or other attendees are posting event-related updates on LinkedIn, engage with that content. Like, comment on, and share relevant posts. Some ways to engage include:
- Commenting “See you there!” or “Looking forward to this!”
- Tagging connections who may also be interested in the event updates
- Congratulating speakers and organizers
- Sharing insightful posts about the event to your own network
Staying active with event posts shows others that you’re plugged into the event and community.
Post Live at the Event
Posting live updates while you’re at the event is a great way to document what’s happening and share a glimpse into the experience. Post photos, videos, quotes, insights, and observations from sessions, speakers, and attendees.
You can also go live on LinkedIn to stream video. Use hashtags related to the event name and topic so your content is easily discoverable. Interact with other attendees posting about the event.
Follow Up After the Event
Staying engaged after the event is over is key. Here are some ideas for following up:
- Write a post summarizing your key takeaways
- Share photos and videos from the event
- Tag and thank speakers/organizers you connected with
- Leave feedback for the event hosts on their LinkedIn page
- Connect with new people you met at the event
- Join LinkedIn groups related to the event
Following up expands the value of the event beyond just the day itself. It shows you’re committed to continuing conversations and relationships formed.
Metrics to Track
To understand the impact of showing you attended an event on LinkedIn, track these metrics:
| Metric | How to Track |
|---|---|
| Profile views | See who’s viewed your profile in the analytics section |
| Connections gained | Note your connections number before and after the event |
| Post reach | Check the post analytics to see how many saw it |
| Post engagement | See the likes, comments, shares on your posts |
| Mentions | Track event-related posts where others tag or mention you |
These metrics reveal how your event attendance contributes to growing your LinkedIn presence and network.
Keys to Success
Here are some best practices for showing event attendance on LinkedIn:
- Provide value: Don’t just announce you’re attending – share insights from the event and how they relate to your industry.
- Engage before, during and after: Maximize the conversation around the event across all stages.
- Make connections: Use the event as a relationship building opportunity on LinkedIn and offline.
- Use multimedia: Photos, videos, livestreams, etc. help bring the event to life.
- Express gratitude: Thank event staff, speakers, sponsors, and new connections.
Common Questions
Should you update your LinkedIn profile picture at an event?
It’s a great idea! Snap a professional profile picture while you’re dressed up and ready for the event. Just make sure to get consent from anyone else who may be in the photo. Update your profile pic to your event photo to complement adding the event on your profile.
What’s the best time to post event updates on LinkedIn?
Aim to post updates during the event or shortly after while it’s still fresh. Posting recaps, insights, and follow ups in the hours and 1-2 days following the event can continue driving momentum.
How long should you keep the event on your LinkedIn profile?
It’s up to you based on your activity level! Typically keeping events on your profile for 1-3 months is sufficient. You can continue mentioning past events periodically in posts even after removing them from your profile.
Can you download a list of attendees to connect with on LinkedIn?
This depends on the event. Some have attendee lists available to download. You may also be able to search by event name and location to find attendees. Reach out thoughtfully explaining you met them at the event and would like to connect.
Conclusion
Promoting your event attendance on LinkedIn requires being proactive before, during, and after the event. Use all the tools available – profile updates, posts, live video, images, engagement, and more – to maximize the experience. Done consistently over time, this can significantly expand your professional network and boost your personal brand.