Writing your first article on LinkedIn

When you open the LinkedIn application on your phone, you are welcomed by a series of articles on different career topics, written by people within your professional network. But, there is you who has never put up an article because of reasons best known to you which may include time constraints, content quality concerns, or even a personal choice. Sometimes, it could even be that you don’t think you would write a good article. It is not exactly bad to feel that way but there is something you need to know, which is that anyone can write an interesting and engaging article on LinkedIn. You only need to start with a first. 

Why do I have to write articles on Linkedin? 

While writing articles on LinkedIn is not an obligation, it is an effort you make to reach your professional goals. However, let’s look at it this way, imagine logging in to LinkedIn one day to an empty feed, with no content or articles in sight. If everyone refrained from sharing articles online, this would defeat the essence of the platform. The purpose of posting articles on LinkedIn is to share knowledge, insights, and experiences among people you refer to as your followers. The idea is not just to take every day without sharing anything. Articles spring valuable discussions, solidify networking, and improve personal branding. Professionals within your network may belong to similar industries as yours or other industries; this makes it easy to share expertise on various topics, enrich the platform, build better connections, and explore different perspectives. 

What does a first LinkedIn Article Look like? 

Contrary to what you think, your first article on LinkedIn doesn’t have to ooze “Novice”, whether you have been there for long without sharing an article or you are new to the platform. Whatever you have imagined it to be, know that it is an opportunity to make a strong and professional impression. If you don’t know, a lot of people are watching and you cannot measure this by how many likes, and comments for reposts you get on your article. 

Normally, your first article on LinkedIn should officially introduce you to your network and this could mean that you have to talk about your passion, interests, professional background, and your purpose on LinkedIn. While you are trying as much as possible to keep it formal, remember that you are addressing a group of people and you don’t want to bore them as they read, so you want to leverage storytelling too. 

At the same time, you can choose to twist the narrative, and not go down the usual lane of “I am……., a business developer and……” Instead, you can tell an inspirational story, share your passion, pose a question, and urge people to connect with you. 

Read also: How LinkedIn Can Help Your Job Search

Get right into it!  

Now that you know what your first LinkedIn article should look like, here are a few tips to help write it. 

Decide what type of story you want to tell

What method or route are you taking to launch yourself into the professional platform? Are you just introducing yourself to your network or sharing professional insight alongside? What structure are you adopting? Do you intend to do a bit of storytelling? Decide if you are adopting a blend of traditional professionalism and engaging storytelling. Also, be sure if you want to include personal experiences. Having a clear direction about all of these helps you to have an idea of what your first article should look like. 

Have a Title

Many people just get to writing their articles on LinkedIn without a title. The title of your article is the first thing readers see and decide if they want to read or not. This is even more reason your title should be a catchy one. Something interesting like “Say Hello to the LinkedIn Newbie”, “We just got here!”, or any other engaging title. However, your title must give the right sneak peek into your content. Avoid clickbait topics that can mislead your audience and be sure to deliver the promise of your title within the content. 

Be intentional about adding photos

Pictures make your articles more relatable and interesting to engage. So, don’t think of sharing an article without picture(s). You may want to consider using relevant photos(s) or graphics. If you will be introducing yourself, you can use your picture. Make sure it is one with very good quality as these pictures also have a way of capturing your audience’s attention and creating a more engaging reading experience. 

Avoid overly lengthy content

While it is important to share every valuable information, you must also try to be concise and considerate of your reader’s time. They probably have other articles to read, so if they are sparing some time to read yours, make it quick. Be succinct and focus on key points only, don’t digress from what your title says. Also, research has shown that people love short, brief, and informative articles. If you write out your first article and it seems too long, look through it to expunge unnecessary points that do not contribute to your main idea. 

Read also: Red Flags that make recruiters ignore your LinkedIn Profile 

Use Bullet points

If you want your article to be readable, it is advisable to use bullet points. They have a way of breaking up the texts to make the article more appealing and less overwhelming for the readers. Also, for people who do not want to spend too much time reading, bullets make it easy to scan and quickly grasp the points without reading every single word in the content. Furthermore, bullet points organize your content into neat paragraphs, ensuring that your main points stand out and readers can comprehend. 

Be Transparent with your content

There is no need to impress anyone with your article. Be genuine and honest, and let your content reflect this. Don’t include information that is not true or scenarios that never happened. Transparency leads to more meaningful discussions and engagement. Share your real stories if you want to and be sure that you are not projecting a false image. Don’t appear pretentious or too polished. Remember that it is your first article and the first impression lasts longer. 

Respond to every engagement on your first post

It is not just about writing your first article and posting it on LinkedIn. Your connections will engage and it is just right to react to every engagement, especially the comments and reposts. This means that you are taking time to appreciate their contributions and before you know it, a simple response can yield very good conversation. Also, these comments can help you evaluate how well you have done with your first post. They provide feedback and additional perspectives that can refine your future articles and help you grow in your professional journey.    

Why have you not made your first post on LinkedIn? If you have been waiting for directions, there you have it. Write something today, post it tomorrow. We are rooting for you! 

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