LinkedIn

You can approach LinkedIn as a professional hub for different purposeswhether hunting for a jobhiring talentor just wanting to build out your work-related network. With ityou can create a comprehensive professional profile listing your educationany certificates you haveside projectsand work experience. There are also ways to make your profile more interestingsuch as adding imagesa profile photovideosor presentations. This wayyou will get a portfolio in the form of a social media profile. Most LinkedIn features are available for freebut there's also a subscription model that grants you access to more advanced tools within existing LinkedIn options. 

Many people download LinkedIn and use it because of its networking featureswhich include connecting with past and current colleaguesfinding your classmatesand connecting with new individuals from your industry. The more connections you have (the equivalent of friends on other platforms)the more visible your profile becomesand you're more likely to be found by others. There's also a recommendation system where you can leave or request written references from people you've worked with or simply endorse each other's skills. Those actions add credibility to your profile and make you more interesting when applying for a job. 

LinkedIn has various tools for jobseekers besides your profilewhich can act as a resume on its own. You can browse thousands of job offers that match your profile or search criteriasuch as locationindustryexperienceetc. There's a unique functionality called "Easy Apply," where you can submit a job application based on the data you have shared on LinkedIn. You can also set up job alertsand you'll get a notification when new job offers that match your preference appear. 

LinkedIn can also serve as a talent acquisition platform for recruiters and companies looking to hire someone. Apart from just posting a job offeryou can actively search for candidates that match your criteria and reach out to them in direct messages. You can also check your candidates' profiles for more information or context. Businesses often use LinkedIn for employee branding activitiesshowing the company culturevarious achievementsor events to acquaint prospective candidates with their brand. 

Like business professionals or companiesindividual users use LinkedIn to build their brandreach potential partners or clientsand create a reputation for themselves. You can become a thought leader by engaging with the LinkedIn community through publishing posts on your feedwriting articles with industry insights or best practicesor simply engaging with other people's posts. You can also run LinkedIn ads to boost your visibility and reach. 

There are also multiple groups and communities on LinkedIn that you can join to have discussions or stay informed on various topicswhich don't have to be directly connected to your workbut often are. They are a great place to share your knowledgeexchange ideasor simply network online with other professionals more privately than on the news feed. LinkedIn Learning is another feature that works as a huge library of contenttutorialsand training on various topics so that you can grow your career and learn new skills.

The majority of this professional social network platform is available for freeso you can access features like profile creationapplying for jobsmessagingand networking with others through news feeds or groups. 

Howeverthere are also four versions of the LinkedIn Premium subscription. Career is dedicated to anyone looking for a job so that you can message recruiters directlycheck who has viewed your profileand get additional data on a job posting. Business is more directed towards brand building with dedicated tools. It also gives you access to enhanced analyticsand you can browse the network without limits. 

Sales Navigator and Recruiter Lite are pretty similar but with a different focus. The first one is great for making cold calls and introductions when looking for a client or a partner. At the same timethe version for hiring managers focuses less on lead generation than on extended search options to find the perfect candidate for your job listing.

While no other social media platform matches LinkedIn's business and professional capabilitiesthere are other popular options for your brand or services. 

While mainly serving personal usersFacebook allows you to create a Facebook Page for your business and connect with your clientsoffer supportpromote your services through ads and postsand share updates that will land on the Facebook Feed. Facebook Groups are also widely popular choices where you can connect with like-minded people on various topicsincluding jobs or career support. The reason it's worth using Facebook is that you can count on its vast user basewhich is great for generating engagement and raising brand awareness among everyday usersnot just people from the same industry as yours.

X.compreviously known as Twitterallows you to have your own microblog where you can post short updates and opinions or engage with other users in public threads. Some brands use X to share business updates or product updates and releasesbut you can also use it to follow industry leaders or become one yourself.

While known mainly as a social media for sharing photosvideosand reelsyou can use Instagram to create a personal portfolio or promote your brand. This platform works best if you use it for artistic services like photographymarketingdesigninterior decorationfashionor other visual fields.  It's also a great way to build your social following and establish a personal brand as an influencer. With Instagramyou can get into paid sponsorships to showcase different products or attract clients to your business in this way.