Tips for using LinkedIn for feed industry professionals

Victoria Broehm, senior director of communications for the American Feed Industry Association, said crafting a compelling and accurate profile is key to making valuable connections on LinkedIn at an IPPE Tech Talk in Atlanta on Jan. 25, 2023.

If your aim is to get noticed on LinkedIn, Broehm suggested adding the skills that are most commonly searched for in your industry to your profile. For example, feed industry professionals should consider using "agriculture," as it's a leading search term on the platform.

If you're job hunting, Broehm suggested adding specific skills to your profile to help prospective employers understand your individual skillset, even if they are not common search terms.

"I've sorted out the top skills and 'agriculture' is one you can see, but there are some terms that reveal more: cattle organic farming, agricultural production, sustainable livestock production," Broehm said. "Sustainable agriculture is one that continues to grow in popularity."

Other leading advice for those looking to take their LinkedIn profiles to the next level include:

• Add your current physical location. "Everyone is in this remote/hybrid environment with some people full-time in an office, but it's such a mixed bag. Let people know where you are, and if you're looking for a job, make sure that you're clear on where you're looking for that job to be located, or whether you can work remotely," Broehm said.

• Post your achievements and anything that you've published. "This doesn't only mean publications or scientific publications, but blogs, briefs and anything you've written about," Broehm said. "Additionally, add your personal and team accomplishments, continuing education credits or awards."

Once your profile is established, build your network is the the next step. Here are Broehm's tips for how to effectively connect with others on LinkedIn:

1. After collecting business cards at a conference or trade show, request to join their network.
2. Send a message with your request to personalize your previous encounter.
3. Follow influencers, other companies and groups relevant to your network.
4. Consider becoming a creator to drive people to your LinkedIn profile.
5. Stay engaged by reacting, commenting and sharing other posts and content

"For example, you take something that Beth Ford put out and you share it in your own profile and say this is a 'must read.' I especially liked when she talked about this and that made me think differently about that," Broehm said. "That's a very quick way to have new posts on LinkedIn all the time. But there's also a lot of great people outside of the industry that you can learn from another one you know I follow is like Harvard Business School that just has some information about the integrate employer work."

IPPE is the world's largest trade show for the poultry, feed and meat industries. IPPE Tech Talks offer short educational presentations by exhibitors regarding operations and technical issues critical to all aspects of the feed, meat and poultry industries.

— Elise Schafer