While search engines may still be the primary way to find whatever it is you are looking for, social media search is definitely gaining momentum. Not to be outdone by Facebook and Graph Search, LinkedIn has now upgraded its own search feature. 
The potential value of LinkedIn search is clear. Whereas Facebook is about social connections and "friends," LinkedIn focuses on business and employment connections. It bills itself not as a social network, but as the "world's largest professional network." So when someone searches for you on LinkedIn, it is much more likely to result in a business opportunity.
What's New
So what has changed with the new version of LinkedIn search?
The biggest difference is that all types of search are now unified into a single tool. Previously, you would have to search through the database of individuals, companies, jobs and groups separately. Now when you type in a keyword, any page on the network that contains that word will be included in the results. You can then filter the search if you want to list only specific types of results.
Other changes include:
- The search tool's ability to learn about your preferences and what you are looking for over time. The more you use it, the more it will customize your results.
- Queries related to your search are listed as alternative suggestions.
- The option to receive automatic alerts whenever there is a change in the results of one of your saved searches.
- More advanced search options, such as the ability to filter results by location, company, company size, years of experience, seniority level, etc.
Optimizing for LinkedIn Search
You want to appear in as many relevant LinkedIn search results pages as possible. To do so, you need to optimize your LinkedIn profile for search.
To improve your LinkedIn search ranking, you should:
- Fully complete your LinkedIn profile. Because the searches can be filtered on so many variables, it is important that you have such information included in your profile. Otherwise, you might get needlessly filtered out of the results.
- Make connections. The more people you are linked to, the better. As with Graph Search, LinkedIn search rankings are customized for each user based on the connections and recommendations of their personal social network. The more shared connections you have, the higher you will appear on the list.
- Join groups. Remember that groups appear in search results along with individuals. By joining groups, you increase your odds of appearing in the results (or appearing more than once).
- Use keywords. You won't show up in the search results unless your profile includes the keywords being searched for. As with any web page, make sure you include the most relevant keyword in your headline.
- Get recommendations. One of the options for sorting LinkedIn search results is by "relationship + recommendations." The more recommendations you have, the higher you will appear in such searches.
LinkedIn refers to its new search tool as its "smarter" search. Because of the potential for getting new clients or jobs through the network, it is definitely "smarter" to take advantage of the feature by correctly setting up and optimizing your LinkedIn presence.
* Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
