Dustin McKissen: LinkedIn an Active Value Creation Mechanism - a podcast by Jason Thomas

How do some get so much more from LinkedIn than others?

About Dustin
Writer on LinkedIn. 20K+ followers
2MM views of blogs
Columnist



Most salient points for professionals
The way you think about LinkedIn is important.
You can use it as a passive platform or active. Active is much better.

A good profile...
Have a photo, a professional one. For some, that means a suit and tie, others it's at your desk
Position descriptions are complete. Don't treat them like a chance to recite everything you did. Treat it like a chance describe how you bring value.
Ask for recommendations. Easiest to give them first.
Complete the profile and give people a nice way to understand who you are and what you do.
Order of content areas. Highlight what's most valuable first.

Using the bloging platform, Pulse, on LinkedIn.
Good distribution
Wrote first post in July 2014 about second employee in a startup. Received 900 views.
Second article 4-5 days later about getting an MBA was written for an audience of people who need the MBA as a career qualification. that post went viral and got 22k views.
Later wrote a post that received 500k views.
Has now written 185 posts for LinkedIn.
LinkedIn has an algorithm that identifies what posts to feature.
Is now manually featured by certain editors

What have your learned and can systematize about writing for Pulse?
There are probably 10 people who have written for Pulse who have built a similar sized platform as him.
Only 2 of them had any writing background before starting
If you're interested in writing, start by writing about things you care about. Do something compelling, not appetizing.
Something with 'fire in the belly' gets more attention than technically well written material.
It's all about interacting with people.

Groups
Are they really active?
Most are short-lived if ever lived.
Most are too big or too small to be a community.
You need to evaluate each group one at a time and be willing to abandon them.

Interacting with people...
Look at who is engaging with the post then go to their profile.
Look at their post, be curious and proactive in helping them. Look for ways, find ways, to help the people who look at your profile.
Use this as a basis to build a dialog.
Look for Pulse content that resonates with you and is in your area of interest / expertise.
Comment on the article, comment on the comments.
Engage more deeply with individuals.
Most people generally operate with some sense of kindness and of the golden rule, online people don't necessarily have the same level of care / reciprocity. Being decent, kind and caring to people who do share of their time and efforts.

Your favorite business book?
Michael Lewis: Money Ball & The Big Short
Fiction books will make you a better writer: The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint

What one piece of actionable advice?
Career growth is not only about the credentials you get
Look at what investments you can make into other people
He could go out an get another degree, which may look good on your resume
You could also give great advice to a potential client or employerer

Further episodes of Hard Way MBA

Further podcasts by Jason Thomas

Website of Jason Thomas