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Recently, LinkedIn added "Applications" to Profiles, allowing you to show all kinds of different information on your Profile.
Applications can be tempting to round out your personality and brand.
I added two Applications to my Profile, one that pulls in my most recent blog posts right to my LinkedIn Profile, and one that brings in my SlideShare presentations to my LinkedIn Profile.
These constitute two critical parts of my message, and I wanted to test out Applications, so I didn't have a problem deciding whether I should add them or not.
As I've thought about Applications in your LinkedIn Profile, I've thought of a few pros and a few cons. Ultimately you'll have to figure out if YOUR Profile should have Applications or not (if you choose to NOT add Applications, read this post, and you might change your mind).
Pros of Adding Applications:
- Applications add sizzle to your Profile.
If you feel your Profile is too boring, or you aren't conveying what you want to with text, find some Applications to spice it up.
- Applications show more of your expertise.
I specifically added my blog posts and my slideshows because they show more of my professional expertise, and are usually more current than what I put in my Summary.
- Applications share more of your personality and lifestyle.
The TripIt Application shows how much you travel. Don't add it if you don't travel much, but if you are a road warrior, brag a little on your Profile!
Cons of Adding Applications:
- Applications take up space.
If you are going to spend time fleshing out your Profile, it might be better for you to create a full Summary, which is up to 2,000 characters, and working on getting recommendations. My Profile prints off on more than nine pages right now... adding more stuff would just add to Profile which already seems too long.
- Applications can be noisy.
If I spend 30 seconds on your Profile, trying to determine if I want to hire you, do you want to distract me with where you've been, personal blog posts, etc.?
If the Application you add is not 110% complementary to your brand and the message you want to convey to me, then DO NOT add it!
- Applications might not always work.
In general, I'm not a fan of widgets. If you go to my blogs you won't see the normal widgets people put up, mostly because I don't want to give them any real estate on my blog AND because I don't want their problems to hang my blog.
I've been to blogs that don't load because a widget is hanging things up. I'm not sure how LinkedIn is handling this, but wouldn't it be a bummer if an Application didn't work well and it caused problems for those who want to view your Profile. I'm guessing LinkedIn is handling this well, but I don't know, and would hate to miss an opportunity.
Have you added Applications to your Profile? Which ones and why? Leave your comments about Applications here.
© Copyright Jason Alba, 2008. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Jason Alba is the CEO and creator of JibberJobber.com, and author of I’m on LinkedIn – Now What??? After a corporate downsizing impacted Jason in 2006, he experienced firsthand the difficulties of conducting a job search. Drawing on his extensive computer software and IT experience, Jason analyzed the job search process and developed JibberJobber.com, the gold standard in career management technology. Jason specializes in social media, with an emphasis on getting professional or business value out of various social tools. Jason maintains four blogs, including JibberJobber.com/blog, and is co-author of I’m on Facebook – Now What???
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