Before we get started on telling you how to use the fantastic search features in the free version of LinkedIn or the unique paid features like LinkedIn Sales Navigator, let's begin by sharing some practical reasons why everyone is raving about the platform and how you can use it to grow your career, network, or improve B2B lead generation.
“Active participation on LinkedIn is the best way to say, ‘Look at me!’ without saying ‘Look at me!” - Bobby Darnell
So allow me to answer a few questions first.
Why should you need to be on LinkedIn?
Like most people, you probably think of LinkedIn as a site for job-hunting or networking. And while it's true that LinkedIn can be a great way to find employment or connect with potential clients, there are many other reasons to use the site.
For example, LinkedIn is also a great place to keep up with industry news, learn about new products and services, and get insights into the latest trends.
In addition, LinkedIn can be a valuable resource for job seekers, providing access to a vast database of jobs and networking opportunities.
So whether you're looking for a new job, trying to expand your business, or simply hoping to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in your industry, LinkedIn is worth checking out.
How should you leverage LinkedIn?
Let's face it, LinkedIn can be a little dry. It's a business-oriented social networking site where people go to post their resumes and search for jobs. But that doesn't mean that LinkedIn can't be leveraged for some good old-fashioned networking.
LinkedIn can be a great way to connect with potential business contacts and customers. Here are some tips on how to leverage LinkedIn:
First, make sure that your profile is up-to-date and professional. This is your chance to make an excellent first impression, so take advantage of it. Include a clear headshot and a well-written summary of your skills and experience.
Next, start connecting with people in your industry. LinkedIn is a great place to find potential clients and business contacts. Follow companies and individuals you're interested in, and join relevant groups. This will help you expand your network and get your name out there.
Finally, don't be afraid to reach out and start conversations. LinkedIn provides an excellent platform for networking, so use it to your advantage.
If you see someone you want to connect with, send them a message or invitation to connect. Who knows where it might lead?
Who is LinkedIn best for?
LinkedIn is the perfect place for people who want to network with other business professionals. It's also great for people looking for a new job or trying to sell their professional services.
“Traditional selling channels of email and phone are tried and true, but LinkedIn and other social channels can greatly increase sales performance.” - Ken Krogue
However, LinkedIn is not so great for people looking to make new friends or find a date. So, if you're looking to expand your business contacts or build your professional brand, LinkedIn is the place for you.
How can you get your profile to show up in the search results?
The easiest way to get your profile to show up in the search results is to fill out your profile completely, including all of the information potential employers or clients might be looking for.
However, if you're not willing to do that, you can try a few other things. First, ensure you have a strong headline that accurately reflects your skills and experience.
Next, use keywords throughout your profile to ensure you're coming up with the right searches.
Finally, don't forget to add a few interesting facts or hobbies - after all, people are more likely to remember you if you're not just a list of bland job titles!
Why should you leverage all of the search options on LinkedIn?
Everyone knows LinkedIn is the place to go when looking for a job. But some people don't realize that LinkedIn can be a potent tool for finding a job - if you know how to use it.
One of the best ways to leverage LinkedIn's search options is to use Boolean search. Boolean search allows you to search for specific keywords and combinations of keywords, which can help you zero in on the jobs you're most interested in.
For example, if you're a marketing professional looking for a job in the food industry, you could search for "marketing AND food." This would give you results for all the marketing jobs available in the food industry.
Another way to use LinkedIn's search options is to look for companies that have recently hired someone with your skillset. For example, if you're a web developer, you could search for "web developer AND recently hired."
This would give you a list of companies that have recently hired web developers, which can be a great way to find potential employer matches.
So whether you're looking for your next great job or just trying to stay ahead of the competition, be sure to leverage all of the search options LinkedIn offers.
Now that we've covered why you should be leveraging the search features on LinkedIn let's jump into what you can do to maximize your search success on the platform.
12 Ways to Use LinkedIn Search to Connect Like a Boss
1. Use the search bar – The search bar is an essential tool for finding what you're looking for on the internet. It's easy to use and can be a great time-saver. But you should know a few things about the search bar before you start using it.
First, the search bar is case-sensitive, so make sure you enter your query in the correct case.
Second, the search bar will only return results for exact matches, so if you're looking for something specific, be sure to enter the precise term or phrase.
Finally, remember that the search bar is your friend - if you're ever feeling lost or confused, type in what you're looking for and hit enter.
2. Refine your search – Refining your search is essential if you want to find the best possible results. After all, there's no point in looking for a job in the wrong location or industry.
And if you're only interested in working for big companies, then you'll need to refine your search to reflect that. The good news is that refining your search is easy to do.
Use the filter options on the site to narrow down your results.
You can even save your filter settings so that you don't have to keep entering them every time you perform a search. So take a few minutes to refine your search, and you'll be sure to find the perfect job in no time.
3. Save your searches – If you're like me, you're always searching for the same things online: your favorite websites, the latest news stories, and of course, cat videos. But searching for the same thing repeatedly can be a pain, especially if you can't remember the exact keywords you used before.
That's why I highly recommend saving your searches if you are using Sales Navigator or Recruiter, as it can be time-consuming not to.
Not only will it save you time in the future, but it will also help you to find exactly what you're looking for, faster and more efficiently. So go ahead and save your searches - you'll be glad you did!
4. Connect with 2nd and 3rd-degree connections – LinkedIn is a great way to connect with people you know and people you don't know.
When you search for someone, LinkedIn will show you 2nd and 3rd-degree connections that you might know. But what if you don't know anyone? LinkedIn also allows you to connect with people who have no connection to you.
So add that random person from your high school freshman year English class. You never know when you might be able to make a business connection that turns into a new client or career change.
5. Use Boolean search – As anyone who has tried to find something on the internet knows, there is a lot of information out there. And if you're not careful, it can be very easy to get overwhelmed. That's where Boolean search comes in.
Boolean search is a way to narrow down your results using operators such as AND, OR, and NOT. For example, if you wanted to find information on cats, you could use the following search: "cats AND kittens" This would give you results that include both cats and kittens.
Alternatively, you could use "cats OR kittens" This would give you results that include either cats or kittens (or both). Finally, if you wanted to exclude results that have dogs, you could use "cats NOT dogs" This would give you results that include cats but not dogs.
So next time you're overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information on LinkedIn, remember that Boolean search can help you narrow things down and find exactly what you're looking for. Especially if you're trying to narrow down your feline options.
6. Try an advanced search with Sales Navigator – LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can help you find your dream job, client, or maybe a new best friend. But sometimes, the search function can be a little bit finicky.
If you're having trouble finding what you're looking for, try an advanced search. This allows you to search for specific keywords, companies, locations, and more.
So if you're struggling to find that perfect position, don't forget to give LinkedIn's advanced search feature a try.
7. Use the "People also viewed" feature – LinkedIn offers a feature that is often overlooked: the "People Who Viewed This Also Viewed" feature.
This feature can be found on the right-hand side of the search results page, showing you a list of profiles similar to the one you're viewing.
While this feature helps find new contacts, it can also be used for entertainment purposes.
For example, if you're viewing a profile of someone in a particular field, you can use this feature to find other LinkedIn users who are also in that field.
Or, if you're looking at the profile of someone who has an interesting job title, you can use this feature to find other people with similar titles.
So, whether you're using LinkedIn for business or pleasure, check out the "People Who Viewed This Also Viewed" feature.
8. Join relevant groups – The site allows you to join groups relevant to your industry and participate in discussion forums with other professionals.
LinkedIn also allows you to connect with other professionals in your field and learn about new job opportunities. However, LinkedIn can also be a great way to procrastinate.
The site is full of distractions, and it's too easy to spend hours browsing through profiles and reading articles. To make the most of LinkedIn, you need to be disciplined about how you use the site.
Set aside a specific time to check LinkedIn daily, and stick to it. That way, you'll be able to focus on networking, and you won't waste hours of your day wallowing in LinkedIn procrastination.
9. Connect with people you know – LinkedIn is great for keeping track of your professional connections, but it can also help you find old friends and colleagues.
When you search for someone on LinkedIn, the site will show you whether or not you have any mutual connections. If you see that you have a mutual connection, LinkedIn makes it easy to reach out and connect with that person.
Another way you can quickly find people you know is to add your email contacts with a quick and simple import from your email provider or a CSV upload.
LinkedIn can also be useful for networking, as it can help you find potential contacts you might not otherwise be able to see. So if you're looking to reconnect with someone from your past or expand your professional network, LinkedIn is a great resource to use.
10. Check out the "Jobs You May Be Interested In" feature – The platform is always trying to be helpful, and one way it does this is by showing you a list of job openings that it thinks you might be interested in.
The feature is called "Jobs You May Be Interested In," and it's based on your profile and search history. LinkedIn is usually pretty good at guessing what you're interested in, but sometimes it gets it wrong.
So, don't be alarmed if you see something unexpected in the "Jobs You May Be Interested In" feature. LinkedIn is just trying to help.
11. Use keywords – It's also important to remember that LinkedIn is a search engine. This means that keywords are essential when it comes to LinkedIn search.
Use them throughout your profile, including in your profile headline, summary, and skills section. And don't forget to use keywords in your LinkedIn articles and posts! By doing this, you'll make it easier for LinkedIn users to find and connect with you (with their searches).
12. Connect with alumni – Not that everyone went to Harvard, but if you did, you should absolutely connect with other alumni and network your heart out. And guess what? LinkedIn is a great way to stay connected with your alumni network. The "Alumni" search option allows you to search for people who attended the same school as you.
LinkedIn also lets you see where people work, their current job titles, and their skills. This is a great way to stay in touch with your former classmates and colleagues and is also a great way to find job opportunities.
Many companies use LinkedIn to post job openings and find potential candidates, and associations like colleges are always a great way to open the dialogue.
How does LinkedIn's Free Plan Differ From Sales Navigator When it Comes to Searching?
There are a few key ways in which LinkedIn's free plan differs from Sales Navigator when it comes to searching.
The most notable difference is that Sales Navigator allows you to search for companies, while the free plan does not. Sales Navigator also allows you to search for specific job titles and skills, while the free plan only allows you to search for people.
Lastly, Sales Navigator gives you access to more search filters than the free plan, which can be helpful if looking for particular results.
Overall, Sales Navigator is a more powerful tool than the free plan when searching, but it's important to note that it's also a lot more expensive.
If you're on a budget, the free plan may be a better option.
Summary
LinkedIn search can be a great way to find new contacts, research companies, and stay connected with your alumni network.
LinkedIn's free plan also differs from Sales Navigator in a few key ways, most notably in the ability to search for companies, specific job titles, activities, and so much more.
Choose wisely...
By following these simple tips, you can increase your chances of kicking butt on LinkedIn and improving your search game significantly. Who knows, maybe you'll even land the job or client of your dreams. We are rooting for you!
Also, we would love to know which search features you find most useful?
Let us know in the comments!
About grobot
Our team and grobot understands the importance of generating leads for any b2b company. That's why we offer a comprehensive suite our services designed help your business grow from LinkedIn marketing and content management to SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or outbound lead generation--we have experience with all this as well!
You can also rest assured knowing that if you work closely together, grobot will create a customized strategy which is optimized to maximize your B2B outreach and effectiveness when leveraging LinkedIn - meaning more potential customers ready to say yes.
