For a long time I avoided LinkedIn’s mobile app (because it sucked.) But I just started investing some time in it – and I have to say, LinkedIn’s been doing a lot of work to make their app a more user-friendly experience. So if you haven’t used your iPhone (as seen in the images below), Android or Google App in a while (or at all), its time to check it out again.
The great thing about mobile apps is, of course, that they are perfect for those standing around times. And if you start making use of LinkedIn mobile, I believe you’ll find it working much more effectively for you.
The five ways I most utilize my LinkedIn App:
- Quick edits to my profile when on the move
- Instantly adjust privacy settings
- Stay updated on my industry and my connections
- Grow my network on the spot
- Better contact engagement
Let’s take a look at how you can use LinkedIn mobile when you’re in the liminal zone.
Quick profile editing
First of all– LinkedIn’s updated mobile app makes it much easier to customize your LinkedIn profile than ever before.
When you open the profile section of your LinkedIn mobile app, LinkedIn prompts you to update your information. It’s not a bad idea to keep it updated regularly. What else do you have to do while you stand in the returns line at Sam’s Club? I’m rarely sitting in front of my computer when I have the inspiration to add new content or skills to my profile – so it’s great that I can quickly update many of the sections on the move!
You can easily edit your:
- Profile photo
- Name
- Current position
- Education
- Zip code
- City
- Summary
- Skills
- Recommendations
- Accomplishments
- Contact info
This was much harder (and in some cases impossible) to do in the old app. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a brilliant idea about my profile when I’m not in front of my computer. The app means I can adjust my profile on the go.
Instantly adjust security settings
I was on a plane when I was notified of LinkedIn’s last security breach. Fortunately, the new mobile app allows you to adjust your security settings too. It’s a feature we probably don’t think about very much, but when you really need it, you really need it! I was able to pop into my security settings and quickly change my password in less than a minute. While I was there, I also noticed that I had some active sessions from unrecognizable IP addresses. I was able to shut those down too. All that in the time between sitting down in my seat and getting the dirty look from the flight attendant since I hadn’t powered down my phone.
In case you don’t have anything better to do, you can also now access the Help Center, Privacy Policy, User Agreements from settings as well.
Stay updated
LinkedIn’s timeline (previously known as Pulse) is a great place to get industry specific news – and then share that news with your network. Just find an article and then click on the “share” button, immediately curating helpful, useful content and positioning yourself as a thought leader in your community.
LinkedIn also bought and integrated Slideshare into its platform – so if you want even beefier content to share with your network, make sure to download that app as well.
Engaging with your network
It’s so darn easy to engage with your network on the new LinkedIn app. Once you do a quick search and pull up a profile, you can send a connection a message, check their activity, see who you have in common, read their posts and even quickly endorse their skills. If you scroll down to the bottom of a 1st level’s profile, you can even email, call, IM or tweet them right from your phone. Engaging with a contact’s activity a few times a week can build your top of mind awareness with them and that can easily lead to connections and conversations.
Additionally, the mobile inbox is much easier to use, since it’s based on Facebook’s messaging feature. I tend to use my mobile app more than my browser when private messaging my connections.
Better connecting
If you find someone in your network you haven’t connected with, it’s much easier to connect with them on the mobile app. Just hit the + sign, or if you are on their profile, the connect button. Of course it’s always better to customize an invite – no worries – you can do that too! Once you find a person you want to connect to, simply click on the three little dots (…) on the top right side of their profile. From there it’s easy to customize your invitation to connect.
Not only that, but if you have customized invitations from contacts on LinkedIn, it’s much easier to see, read, respond and accept those contacts on the mobile app.
Wrapping up
We’re a society in transport, no longer comfortable to stand and be still. And while it’s still very important to occasionally stop and smell the roses, there are sometimes more productive things you could be doing than people-watching at Walmart. So get on your LinkedIn mobile app and get to business! Hey, if you’re not going to engage by actually talking to people on the subway, you might as well be connecting with them on LinkedIn.
What do you think of LinkedIn’s mobile app? Join in on the conversation in the comment and on social media!