Promoting your Research for Maximum Impact: LinkedIn

LinkedIn has unique capabilities for achieving research impact. Due to the professional focus, it is particularly effective for engaging with stakeholders. Once you have completed the stakeholder mapping exercise, use LinkedIn to target those most important in your area of research.

This might be done as part of a pre-publication process for collaboration/funding purposes or post-publication in order to disseminate your findings to those with influence.

Here we see the research impact efforts of Prof. Mark Reed. An excellent example of the effective use of LinkedIn as a professional identity tool. A comprehensive and carefully constructed profile provides legitimacy and an accurate sense of who you are as a researchers. Of particular note, the mini summary includes quantitative data which immediately draws attention to Mark's work to date. Also note, the personalised URL for simplicity. 

1. Strategically building and shaping your audience enables research dissemination to relevant people who have influence
2. Include a short note for each request
3. Tailor your profile URL to make it shorter
4. Include as many contact details and links to other accounts as possible
5. Sell yourself – list achievements, i.e. research funding, awards, projects
6. Begin to create specific updates and content related to your research
7. Don’t be afraid to send your contacts messages in private