LinkedIn User Personas – which one are you?
If you were to classify yourself as a LinkedIn user, what would it be? Are you more of a passive observer or an active contributor? Do you prefer searching for and sharing knowledge or are you more focused on networking and building connections?
Inspired by Jean-Luc Scherer’s post from a few years back (click here!), we have created a model that could help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your LinkedIn experience, and set a goal for the type of user you’d like to be. Which user persona speaks to you the most?
Knowledge Miners are one of the most pragmatic users of LinkedIn. They use the platform as a tool for obtaining and sharing knowledge. They frequently post on their own, and comment under other people’s posts, sharing insights.
Our comment
Knowledge mining and sharing is highly favored by the platform. LinkedIn rewards engagement by boosting your content’s reach, which may lead to unique job opportunities. In the age of misinformation, our only concern is that you might go for quantity rather than quality. Make sure you use only trusted sources, practice fact-checking, and emphasize transparency in your content.
Facebook Immigrants come to LinkedIn with little grasp of its intended purpose. They treat LinkedIn as any other social media, posting mostly visual content with little text. They happily engage with every new LinkedIn feature.
Our comment
Graphics and videos do bring attention to your posts. But only if they are relevant and well-designed. Too often does the Facebook Immigrant’s content seem too irrelevant or personal for the platform. Don’t make the same mistake yourself! In the spirit of LinkedIn, posts should still be kept informative.
Remember: LinkedIn is not your personal diary or a meme page – it’s your professional business card!
Motivators are among the most engaged users of LinkedIn. Their contributions are usually limited to sharing motivational quotes (hopefully quoting the correct person), and commenting under other people’s posts with selected fixed phrases.
Our comment
Too many inspirational quotes may clutter your activity feed. If you’d like to post something motivational once in a while, make sure you also post informative content regularly to balance it out.
We also like to call this user persona the “Cheerleader” as they often publicly cheer everyone with the same limited number of fixed phrases. Instead of a forgettable comment, reach out to that person privately with a personalized message. It will be much more meaningful and make them remember you.
Hyper-connected Networkers request connections with as many people as possible, often by any means necessary. Their goal is to generate leads and solidify their online presence.
Our comment
LinkedIn is a great tool for developing your online presence, but there is a thin line between respectful networking and flooding people with messages.
If you are not doing it right (in a personalized manner & privately), you’ll be perceived as a “Spammer”. Or worse – a “Scammer”. Connect only with the people you know or value. Don’t send out hundreds of random invitations – personalize them!
Self-Promoters come to LinkedIn with one purpose only – to sell their personal brand. You can see them on LinkedIn all the time, promoting their own business and their own contributions.
Our comment
In the process of self-promotion, some users fall into the trap of presenting themselves in an unfavorable, narcissistic light. Posting mostly pictures of themselves (sometimes with their own quotes!) and constantly trying to elevate themselves works only to push people away.
Remember: LinkedIn is a personal branding tool, but personal branding ≠ strictly self-promoting. A little humility goes a long way.
Guardians of Truth look for every opportunity to show their know-how and virtue. They fact-check other users on minute details, and start fights in defense of issues that are close to their hearts. All of that with (mostly) good intentions.
Our comment
While it’s important to call out attempts at disinformation and speak out against injustice, Guardians of Truth always seem to take it a step further than necessary. And picking fights on the Internet is just never a good idea, especially on LinkedIn. Save yourself the frustration and ignore that urge. You will do your personal brand a favor.
Desperate Job Hunters are on LinkedIn to find a job, first and foremost. Networking, applying for job ads and sending out countless CVs are their main activity. In the process, they tend to disregard their personal brand.
Our comment
LinkedIn is known as THE platform for job hunting. But it’s much more than that, and using it solely in that way may lead to few results. A blank profile applying for hundreds of jobs is still a blank profile. Why should a recruiter flooded with hundreds of CVs even open your file?
In order for your job hunting process to be effective, you need to present yourself professionally. Additionally, don’t forget to manage your activity on the platform.
Quiet Listeners comprise the majority of LinkedIn population. The most you’ll see from them is an odd like here and there. They don’t contribute, they only read and listen.
Our comment
Tale as old as the Internet… Jakob Nielsen introduced the term “participation inequality” (click here!) to comment on the 90-9-1 principle, which states that 90% of all Internet users only lurk on the web, 9% contribute a little, while 1% make regular contributions and create the majority of content for others to consume. LinkedIn is no different.
Being a Quiet Listener is comfortable, but it is generally more effective to be an active user of the platform, at least if you’re doing it right. Join the 9% of “intermittent contributors” to improve your personal branding.
LinkedIn Gurus are the platform’s Jedi Masters. They teach others how to make the most out of what LinkedIn has to offer. They also contribute valuable and informative content to the platform, including well-researched and well-sourced data.
Our comment
These few individuals know the platform like the back of their hand, and they are eager to share their know-how with the community. If you’re interested in learning the ins-and-outs of LinkedIn, we highly recommend looking for such a person and following them. So far, our biggest recommendation for a LinkedIn Guru to follow has remained the same: John Espirian.
Trolls are a staple of each community on the Internet. They enjoy challenging other users, poking the bear whenever they get the chance, and posting nonsensical and triggering content. You’ll find them in any discussion, no matter the topic. They tend to be very sarcastic and impolite.
Our comment
Not much to say but that we hope this is not your user persona. Instead, let’s focus on how to deal with a troll in your comment section. Having encountered enough of them, you’ll know which signs to look for.
Once you know it’s most likely an Internet Troll, make sure not to engage in a conversation with them. Your attention is exactly what they want from you. Instead, ignore and report them. If you’re lucky, they’ll get banned and out of your hair.
Rockstars are aptly named because they are the life of the party on LinkedIn. They create the most engaging content on the platform and they market themselves well. But above all, their contributions are always genuine and original.
Our comment
We also call this user persona the “Power User” because they really took the time to understand how LinkedIn works and applied that knowledge into their LinkedIn experience. We often look to them for inspiration. The best way to achieve at least some level of this star quality is to follow successful LinkedIn Rockstars for tips, and monitor your own content for what drives engagement and what shuts it out (for specific tips: click here!).
LinkedIn Newbies are quite self-explanatory. These are the users that are (relatively) new to the platform. They are aiming to become Power Users one day.
Our comment
We’ve all been new to LinkedIn once. It may seem impossible to stand out among its 1 billion users, but there are many opportunities to leave your mark on the platform and improve your personal brand in the process.
We have written many articles that you might find useful in your journey:
- How to create a solid LinkedIn profile – step by step
- LinkedIn for Job Seekers
- #OPENTOWORK on LinkedIn for Execs: YES or NO?
- Are you a needle in a haystack on LinkedIn?
- When (if at all) should I connect with my potential boss on LinkedIn?
- LinkedIn Activity Guidelines: 4 steps
Which user persona defines you the most? Let us know!
If you believe that you or your team / board could use dedicated LinkedIn training or support in preparing their profiles and establishing their online presence, our experts at Career Angels would be happy to help!
- Contact us via this link for a free Career Consultation or send an e-mail directly to Contact@CareerAngels.eu to discuss potential support for your team | Subject: LinkedIn Support
