LinkedIn is a growing platform used for a lot more than just job searching. In the first article, Goldie Chan really helped us understand and learn more about leveraging video in order to grow on LinkedIn. She's not the only one killing it on the platform, there are so many great Influencers really taking advantage of LinkedIn.
Michaela Alexis, Millennial LinkedIn Strategist and Public Speaker, is one of those Influencers. She has been able to utilize the platform to help take her career to the next level and put her in the direction of some pretty great collaborations as well. Now, she is one of North America's most in-demand speakers on topics related to LinkedIn and Personal Branding. Dozens of her articles have reached millions of viewers, and Michaela has also been featured on CNBC, Success.com, Buzzfeed, Inc. and more! All thanks to LinkedIn.
So how exactly does Michaela use the platform to grow, both personally and professionally? Let's find out!
Michaela Alexis, Millennial LinkedIn Strategist
When people hear of LinkedIn, they largely think of a platform to upload a resume and look for jobs. Is that still the case?
Definitely not. It's shifted away from being strictly a rolodex and job searching platform to a content creation platform and highly active community. I like to think of LinkedIn as the world's largest networking event that's open 24/7! I just tell people not to take my word for it, hop onto the platform if you haven't been on in a while and see for yourself.
Why did you choose to focus your attentions on LinkedIn and not any other platform?
I love to write so I knew I wanted to create in a space that allowed me to write long form content. Once I started writing, I quickly fell in love with the community, which is so positive and uplifting. Quite simply, it's where my people are!
Would you encourage people to leverage LinkedIn as a way to grow personally and professionally? Or to even grow a business?
My life has changed dramatically since I started using LinkedIn. I feel like it's a bit of Cinderella story because when I first started posting, I had just been laid off and was totally lost in my career. Creating content and building a community has given me clarity that I wouldn't have found without the platform, as well as opportunities that I didn't think existed for somebody like me!
What's the best way to get started creating content and leveraging LinkedIn?
What if someone is unsure or afraid to start, what would you say to them?
I broke out in hives during my first ten videos. I'm more comfortable writing and staying behind my computer, but I knew I had to take the leap and get outside my comfort zone. Those videos weren't great. I was nervous and awkward, but you know what? It didn't matter. I was showing up for my community, and that was all that mattered. Perfection is boring. Just start where you are with what you have, and grow from there.
What is the best way to create content to get noticed and grow their influence?
Having the right intentions and starting with why. What are you trying to say? Why are you trying to say it? How do you want the person reading your post or watching your video to feel? You need to have the WHAT (your story) and the SO WHAT (why it matters to the person) in everything you post.
What's your best piece of advice for success, on LinkedIn or in general?
I live by the latin phrase “ex nihilo nihil fit”, which means “nothing comes from nothing”. Nothing will change unless you make the decision to change it. Publishing your first article, recording your first video, sharing an intimate detail of your career…none of it is easy. But nothing worthwhile comes from easy.
If you could give yourself one piece of advice when you first started, what would it be?
My advice for myself would be to keep going. I've gotten death threats, hurtful emails, inappropriate messages, weird phone calls, and I've failed publicly more times than I can count. There have been so many times over the past three years that I thought that I couldn't keep posting, that it was easier to live a small life and exist quietly. But, I wasn't born to just survive, I was made to thrive, and so were you!
Michaela does a great job of diversifying her content, between long-form posts and articles to videos and more. Just by interviewing two amazing content creators, you can get a good idea of how useful LinkedIn can be to get noticed and give your career/business an edge. If you still need some inspiration (or just for great content), check out Michaela and follow along her journey as she continues to grow!
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Taharah Saad is a TEDx Speaker, serves as the President of the Arab American Women's Business Council and also a full-time engineer in the automotive industry. She is the Producer/Creative Lead/Host for the “Her Path to Success” series. Taharah specializes in topics of professional development, diversity & inclusion, work/life balance, and many more; however, her favorite titles are wife and mom. She is also the founder of @glassceilingbreakers and @detroit_bloggers on Instagram. Everything she does furthers her personal mission of helping to inspire, motivate, and empower women to achieve their best selves and success!
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