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SlideShare is a platform for sharing presentations, documents, and videos online. Users can upload, share, and discover content on a wide range of topics. It is a way to showcase expertise, learn from others, and reach a global audience. Slideshows can be viewed and downloaded by others, making it a valuable resource for learning and collaboration.

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SlideShare is an online presentation service that launched in 2006 and was purchased by LinkedIn in 2012. The platform originally focused on digital slideshows, hence the name, but eventually added support for the uploading of files created in other programs and the embedding of LinkedIn videos to create more dynamic presentations.

What Is SlideShare?

SlideShare is kind of a combination between a social network and an online learning resource. Anyone can create a presentation on the SlideShare website, sometimes referred to as "SlideShare net", while those that make high quality and popular creations, such as comprehensive webinars, can often gain a large following.

Projects made on SlideShare can be posted privately or publicly on the platform. If a project is published on SlideShare publicly, SlideShare users can like or comment on it and share it on social media or by embedding it on a website. Presentations can also be downloaded for offline viewing on the official SlideShare iOS app and SlideShare Android app.

What You Can Use SlideShare For

SlideShare is mainly known for being an educational resource with a variety of webinars and training presentations on a large number of subjects. Despite this main focus, though, SlideShare is also used by many to promote brands or companies and some even use it as a blogging or newsletter service for their website.

Due to the added support for PDF files, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word documents, some users also use SlideShare to distribute files to friends, colleagues, or subscribers.

Here are some of the most-popular ways to use SlideShare:

Online webinars and training programs.

Website newsletters.

A visualization tool for presentations.

Promotional or marketing slideshows.

Travel guides and cookbooks.

Is SlideShare Free?

It's completely free to view presentations on the SlideShare website and apps. It's also free for all users to upload or create projects on the SlideShare website.

How SlideShare Login Works

While slideshows and presentations can be viewed without logging into SlideShare, an account is needed to leave comments, like slides, follow accounts, and download media.

SlideShare actually supports three different account options which can all be used via the Login link on the main SlideShare website.

Login with LinkedIn: This lets you log into SlideShare with your existing LinkedIn account.

Login with Facebook: This option allows you to use SlideShare with your Facebook account.

Login with your SlideShare account: This option is for those who still have an old SlideShare account from before LinkedIn purchased the brand back in 2012.

In general, logging into SlideShare with a LinkedIn account is recommended as the two services have become intermingled to the point that you'll often find yourself on the LinkedIn website while using SlideShare.

How to Create a SlideShare New Account

If you select Signup on the main page or Signup for a SlideShare account from the Login page, it will actually prompt you to create a LinkedIn account, not a separate SlideShare account. This is completely intentional, as the creation of new SlideShare accounts are no longer supported for the average user.

An option to create a SlideShare account for a company or university is available, however, but all individuals are recommended to use LinkedIn.

Is SlideShare Dead?

The SlideShare website and apps are technically all still active, but the service is no longer as popular as it used to be. Nowadays, it's rarely seen as a primary focus for either individuals or companies with the majority of SlideShare's most-popular presentations having been created several years ago and the website being used more to drive traffic to paid LinkedIn Learning courses rather than support user-created content.

The SlideShare apps also seem to be on their way out having only been updated once or twice a year since 2016.

One of the main reasons for SlideShare's decline is the success of numerous rival online educational platforms like Lynda, which powers LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy. Unlike SlideShare, which is mostly restricted to basic free slideshows, these other services feature more multimedia functionality and also allow creators to earn money from their webinars and courses.

The increase in usage of cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox, which provide easy solutions for file sharing and viewing, have also likely had an effect on SlideShare user numbers, as has the continued popularity of YouTube, which many educators now use for free education channels, video tutorials, and online marketing.

Thanks for letting us know!

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SlideShare Users Create and Watch Online Webinars

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SlideShare is a LinkedIn service for creating and watching free online webinars and courses and for sharing files such as PDF documents. Here are the benefits of using SlideShare.

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This article provides information on employee training solutions and online learning, focusing on how companies can leverage online platforms like LinkedIn Learning to upskill their workforce. It emphasizes the benefits of online training, such as flexibility and accessibility, and highlights the role of continuous learning in professional development and organizational success.

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How LinkedIn Learning supports employee training

As the hub of business on the internet, LinkedIn's social platform is already where today's top thinkers and innovators go to share their insights and exchange ideas. These same experts contribute to LinkedIn Learning's catalog of more than 16,000 (and growing) courses.

Powerful admin tools

LinkedIn Learning team account administrators have access to a data-rich dashboard and management features.

People management. This feature allows admins to add, remove, and manage users, including forming groups for team-learning opportunities.

Content management. Recommend and share content with your individual and group learners. You can search content, create custom learning paths, and even upload bespoke content that is visible only to members of your organization.

Powerful analytics. These analytics offer insight into how users are engaging with LinkedIn Learning content, including hours viewed, learning activity ratios, course completion, and more.

An online learning solution for high-demand training needs

The value of any online learning solution is in its ability to solve your most urgent and large-scale L&D needs. LinkedIn Learning offers courses that meet these requirements.

Software training

New technologies are being developed at an exponential rate. These solutions come hand-in-hand with a problem: training teams and organizations at scale in an efficient and effective way.

LinkedIn Learning offers a category in Business Software and Tools, with training on some of the most widely used products as well as the up-and-coming software trends.

Enhancing digital literacy

Being able to use software is just the beginning. Today's learners need to understand the digital ecosystem in ways that enable them to think creatively and identify opportunities or solutions that drive the business forward.

From the basics of good cybersecurity behaviors through certification exam prep courses, LinkedIn Learning offers a full range of learning opportunities to ensure your workforce is beyond digitally literate and prepared for whatever comes next in this fast-paced field.

Employee onboarding success

The task of increasing employee retention begins on day one. Within the first week on the job, 33% of employees know whether they want to stay with the company long-term.

By taking advantage of LinkedIn Learning's custom content and learning path features, your L&D team can create a guided onboarding experience that introduces your new hire to your company culture, gets them up to speed on specific processes they need to know, and offers software training they need to be productive right out of the gate.

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How to Use LinkedIn Learning as Employee Training Software

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The LinkedIn Learning platform offers employee training tools that help ensure your entire staff is adept and growing in their roles.

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This article talks about how social media can be helpful for learning. It mentions using platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with others in your field, share ideas, and stay updated on industry trends. The article gives tips on how to effectively use social media for learning, such as following relevant accounts and joining groups. Overall, it highlights the benefits of using social media as a tool for professional development and continuous learning.

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Is it possible to learn from other people via social media? - Endurance Learning

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It’s pretty easy to find thought leaders in our field by scrolling through Twitter or LinkedIn. Lately, it seems like people are increasingly wanting to be heard, and doing a lot less hearing. This week’s podcast guest, Lauren Hug, has some thoughts about this.

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This article discusses the importance of networking and building relationships within the learning and development industry. It features Bianca Woods sharing strategies for connecting with the learning community, including attending conferences and joining online forums. The podcast highlights the value of community and collaboration in professional growth.

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The Learning and Development community is not always easy to break into. Even in an office setting with a relatively large training team, finding one's connection into the community can be a herculean pursuit.

In this week's podcast, we talk to someone who works hard to solve this problem. Bianca Woods of the Learning Guild discusses how to leverage free tools like Twitter to connect with like-minded, or maybe like-questioned - groups of people who have regular discussions about topics in our industry.

Tune in this week, and every week to learn more about what other professionals are doing to push our industry forward!

Listen using the player below. Please leave us your thoughts in the comment section or on twitter @train_champion.

Transcript of the Conversation with Bianca Woods

Brian Washburn: Welcome, everyone, to the Train Like You Listen podcast, a weekly podcast of all things learning and development in bite-sized chunks. I'm Brian Washburn, co-founder and CEO of Endurance Learning. And today I am joined by Bianca Woods, who is the Senior Manager of Programming at The Learning Guild. Hello, Bianca.

Brian Washburn: I am doing excellent. How are you?

Brian Washburn: [LAUGHTER]

6-Word Introduction

Brian Washburn: Well, thank you for joining us. And as we always start out, we like to introduce our guests, or have our guests introduce themselves, in exactly six words. And today's topic, we're going to be talking about tweetchats- or specifically, #GuildChat, which you're involved with. But before we get started, why don't we introduce ourselves using exactly six words?

So me- "I learned a lot on Twitter". How about you?

Brian Washburn: Which is exactly true. I think that anybody in the learning & development field, if they frame it that way, it will really behoove them.

Social Media as a Game-Changer

Brian Washburn: So a few weeks ago we had Mike Taylor on here, and he was talking about the importance of social media as a tool to connect L&D professionals. How about you? What have been some of the best ways you've leveraged social media to just be better at what you do?

Bianca Woo ds: Yeah. Social media- I'm going to be honest- has been huge for me. So I had trouble getting into Twitter initially. I'm going to say 2012, I was at the conference. I was there all by myself, very lonely. And I thought, all right, I'm going to try this Twitter thing again. I'll live-tweet some sessions, just like tweet up my key insights. And I'll share them with people at work. And maybe there will be some people at the conference I can meet through Twitter. I don't know. I really had no idea.

And it was this huge game-changer for me. Like a lot of conferences, DevLearn has a hashtag, which is something that you can use to identify your tweets so that people know you're talking about a specific thing, or in this case, an event. And through the hashtag- because you can follow the hashtag on Twitter- I was able to meet so many people that year, which was great, because like I said, I was there by myself. That can be kind of lonely at a conference.

So I had gone in with this intention of, I'll just share whatever I bump into and see what happens, and I ended up making a whole bunch of great industry friends out of it. And that group has just continued to grow.

Using Social Media in the Field of Learning & Development

I've bumped into great articles from following other people. I love it for getting to see other people's projects in learning & development. People are amazing at working out loud. Things like that. So you get to be exposed to other people in our industry in ways that you would almost like if you were working in the same office, only you might work in a completely different country.

Brian Washburn: You know, that's one of the coolest things I've found about it, too. And just listening to what you were talking about, I had the exact same experience two years later. So you're two years ahead of me. And I was also, Twitter, eh, 140 characters- what can you do with it?

Brian Washburn: Right, right, right.

Live Chat Sessions on Twitter

Brian Washburn: Right. So I was at DevLearn in 2014, and there was actually a live session. It was like one of those 7:30-in-the-morning sessions.

Brian Washburn: Yeah. And it was a live session with #GuildChat. And so it was a bunch of us sitting in a room. And you were there. I remember you there.

It was weird because we were all sitting in a room, and everybody's looking at their device and typing answers to questions. So we're all interacting with each other, but we're not talking to each other. But it was a really cool experience. And having the opportunity to do that with other people in the same room even though we weren't talking, that was kind of what got me into Twitter.

And exactly what you said- it's an opportunity to meet people who you otherwise wouldn't be able to meet- not just regular conference attendees, but also "thought leaders", which, you know, I never had exposure to or access to people like that before. So people who are writing books, people who run these organizations. And we've talked a little bit- we've started to talk a little about Twitter and #GuildChat, or #LearnChat. Can you talk a little bit more, just in general, about what a Twitter or a tweetchat is?

What is a Twitter chat or Tweetchat?

But basically, it's an opportunity to have a guided discussion, and usually in a set time period. More often than not, I see them kind of run in that 30-minute to 60-minute period. So you would be told, "be on Twitter for 2:00 PM", and you'd be there for an hour. And there's an account that you follow that will be tweeting out questions at a regular interval.

And they're usually preset questions around a theme. And you might know the theme going in, or you might not. And then you follow the account that's sharing the questions, and you follow the hashtag.

And when you want to answer a question, you put the question number in your tweet, you put the hashtag in the tweet so other people can see it, and you put your answer- sometimes it takes a few tweets to get through an answer. That's all cool. And then you can follow what other people are sharing about their own answers. And it's just a really excellent way to just come together with some other people who are as keen about some topic as you are.

Brian Washburn: Yeah. So when you talk about kind of nerding out over learning & development because -

Brian Washburn: -this is an opportunity to do it. And it's an opportunity to do it in a safe space where you can participate as much as you want, or really just kind of lurk, and just kind of watch what other people are sharing.

What is #GuildChat and the Learning Guild Community?

Now, you are involved specifically with something called Brian Washburn: # GuildChat . Can you tell us a little bit more about #GuildChat, and why someone may want to block off time on their Fridays to engage with the Learning Guild community?

So how do you tackle this challenge? How do you address this issue we commonly see in learning & development? Where people who show up are all pretty keen on practical, sharing their lived experience, not sharing, "well, theory says we should do this". Sharing things like, "well, here's how it worked at my company", or "here's how it didn't work when I tried this", or "here's some tools that I found that helped."

The people are lovely. They're really just nice people who like to share. it's a mix of some new people, some different people, some same people every week. And it's just a nice time to set aside on Fridays. It's 2:00 PM Eastern, 11:00 AM Pacific. Spend an hour chatting with some people who are like-minded, like you. They really care about doing a great job in learning and development, and really care about learning from other people.

Brian Washburn: And you can find it if you go into Twitter, in the search bar, and you type in .

When Your Boss Finds You Using Social Media in the Workplace

Brian Washburn: You can find the current chat, you can find previous chats and answers and things like that. Because I think that still this idea of, if you're not in a training room or if you're not on an LMS, you're not necessarily learning. So if you're on Twitter, you're kind of goofing around. Do you have any advice for somebody, and they're concerned that their boss might walk by their desk and see them spending an hour "playing around on Twitter"? What should they say?

Bianca Woo ds: Yeah. And I think this is one of those times where- know your boss. Like, because I could tell you- I'm going to give you some general advice, but you're going to need to tweet this for whoever your boss is. In a lot of cases, though, I'd say be upfront. This shouldn't be a surprise that your boss finds you doing this. You want your boss to know ahead of time you're going to be doing it. And frame it from a "this is helping you do professional development for free."

So it's not about having fun meeting people that are your industry friends, although that's absolutely a component of it. But your boss is probably going to care a little bit less about that, but being more keen about "I'm learning from other people in our industry, I'm getting exposed to new ideas that I can then bring into our organization. I'm using this network to help us find new ideas to solve the problems that we have."

If it's helpful, and you think it will be helpful for your boss, you can show your boss a previous #GuildChat just quickly when you have a one-on-one with them. And say, here's the kind of stuff that comes up here, the kinds of people that show up, if they're someone who is motivated by names.

I mean, you would hope not. I think there's lots of people in our field who have lots to share who don't have books. But no, sometimes that's going to be the thing that motivates a boss. Show them, oh, these people who come to #GuildChat are regular conference speakers, and I get to participate in this for free. Free is a nice motivator.

But yeah, I think it's really easy for someone to just walk by your desk and go, "oh, you're just goofing off", when they see a social network open. So just make sure that they know you're not.

Brian Washburn: Yeah. And I know that for me, when I used to work in an office, if I would see a topic, especially like an HR-related topic or something that was related to something they were talking about on the HR L&D team, I would pull a couple of coworkers aside, and we'd block off a conference room to actually sit there and participate in it. And I know that it was also something that I'd block off my calendar.

So Bianca, thank you so much for talking a little bit about the Twitter chats.

Get to Know Bianca Woods

Brian Washburn: Before we go, we always wind down our podcast with a few speed-round questions so that folks can get to know our guests a little bit more, and a little bit more about how they think and how they operate. And I know that you've done a lot of presentations.

Brian Washburn: When it comes to eating before you present, what is your go-to meal before you present?

Now, if I'm not running the event and I actually have some time, one thing I've really liked that I've gotten to eat at DevLearn a few times because of the location is they have a crepe spot, and they do a spinach and cheese crepe that I find is just like it's really perfect for giving you just enough fuel, good vitamins, it sits really nice. If you're someone who gets nervous before a presentation, having your food sit nicely is something you want to think about for a pre-event meal. Yeah, you don't want to fill up too much. But you don't want to get wobbly. So it's that middle spot.

Brian Washburn: OK. I haven't thought of that before. I'm usually kind of like just kind of fruit and berries and stuff, because I can't do it. But the idea of a crepe really sounds really good. How about training tech? What's something you can't live without?

Brian Washburn: How about a book or a podcast that people should be listening to or reading right now?

Bianca Woo ds: All right. So if I was teaching the instructional design course right now, the book that I would make required reading for everyone is called " Design for Real Life ". It's by and Sara Wachter-Boettcher . It is all about designing not for the ideal experience, but for stress points, and also sort of the ethics of how we design, and which I think is incredibly important for us to think about.

Like, who are our end users? What are they going through when they're encountering whatever it is we've created for them? What are the worst-case scenarios in which they might be going through what we've created for them, and how would that impact how they use it? And are there ways that what we create gets in their way? And I think this book is amazing for helping people think through that. It's also a pretty quick read.

Brian Washburn: Yeah. And I like this idea- I love this idea, actually, of designing for how people learn when they need it, and making it useful. Before we go, do you have any shameless plugs for us?

Bianca Woo ds: The Learning Guild , because we were talking about conference speaking and fueling up for it- we've actually got a call for proposals out right now for Learning Solutions 2021 conference in March. If you are interested in speaking, if you are pondering speaking and not sure if you want to, really, throw in a proposal and reach out to me.

One of the best parts of my job is I get to set aside time to talk to people who are either working on a proposal and want some tips or aren't sure if they're ready to do a conference session and want to have a sense of, am I ready? Does my topic seem like a fit?

I can't tell you if your proposal is going to make it in or not, because I don't know what other people have submitted. But I can do a lot to help you polish up what you're going to submit and make sure that it's a great fit for the event.

Brian Washburn: And that's one of the things that I've always been impressed with the Learning Guild, is that they want to get new, fresh faces in front of the crowd, which I think is really neat. Is there a close date for that, for those who may be tuning in a little bit later?

Brian Washburn: And are you planning on that in-person, or virtual, or what are you planning for 2021?

Brian Washburn: Bianca, thank you so much for spending some time with us. Bianca Woods, senior manager of programming at The Learning Guild. And thank you, everyone, for listening to this episode of Train Like You Listen . If you want to subscribe, you can subscribe on , on , on iHeart Radio , or wherever you hear your podcasts. Until next week, this is Brian Washburn signing off for Train Like You Listen .
This week's podcast is sponsored by Soapbox. Sign up today for a free demo at soapboxify.com.

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Connecting With the Learning Community - Bianca Woods - Endurance Learning

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The Learning and Development community is not always easy to break into. Even in an office setting with a relatively large training team, finding one's

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This article discusses emerging trends in learning and development, highlighting the importance of virtual and interactive learning experiences. It explores the impact of technology and innovation on training programs, emphasizing the need for adaptability and flexibility in the ever-evolving field of learning.

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5 Places to Stay on Top of L&D Trends - Endurance Learning

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As learning professionals, we're often helping others do things new or differently or better, but how do we stay on top of trends to make sure we're doing things new or differently or better?

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This article provides tips on using LinkedIn effectively, including optimizing your profile, engaging with connections, joining relevant groups, and sharing valuable content. It emphasizes the importance of being active on the platform and building meaningful connections to leverage its networking potential for professional growth.

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Success on LinkedIn begins with a compelling and effective profile. Your LinkedIn profile is like your online resume. At the same time, it goes way beyond just showing your work experience, educational background, and training. It adds social proof and so much more.

LinkedIn is always adding new features to help you leverage the platform for your professional goals. Get our top advice on how to make a great LinkedIn profile:

Also, keep these tips in mind:

When you click the I'm Intrested button you're letting the company know that you want to work for them.

Do you know how to use LinkedIn to show a company that you're interested in working for them?

LinkedIn has a new feature where you can privately show interest in working for a particular company. All you need to do is go to a company you're interested in working for and click the I'm interested button on their profile under the About tab.

You can also use LinkedIn to research a company before you apply. LinkedIn will help you learn more about a company and its culture, which can help you in your application and interview.

2. Collaborative Articles

Another tip on how to use LinkedIn to find a job is to use collaborative articles to promote your visibility.

These collaborative articles are a new LinkedIn feature that begins with AI-powered conversation starters developed by the LinkedIn editorial team where members can react to the article.

To find collaborative articles, look at this list or search for skill-related keywords or specific how-to questions in the LinkedIn search bar.

You can also find a list of skills on this page. After you click on the skill, you'll be taken to a profile page and click on the articles section. In this section, you'll see all the articles for that skill. Follow the page to stay updated on the collaborative articles.

3. Celebrate an Occasion

You can make use of LinkedIn's celebrating an occasion feature. When you celebrate an occasion, it's shown on your feed and profile.

If your connections react or comment on your celebration, it will also appear in your connection's home feed. You can celebrate anything from a new job to completing a certificate to a work anniversary.

Commenting on people's celebrations is considered light networking and can deepen professional relationships.

Your goal guides everything you do on LinkedIn; from what you include on your profile to the posts you publish. So, before you do anything get clear on exactly what you want to achieve on LinkedIn. Here are some questions to consider:

Is it to find a job?

Attract potential clients?

Get more speaking gigs?

Whatever your goal is, choose one-just one-and use it as your North Star moving forward.

5. Fill in All the Fields

LinkedIn gives you a wealth of features you can and should use to showcase your expertise. Your LinkedIn profile can be so robust that it can serve as your online resume and portfolio. Leverage all the functionalities available to you by completing all the fields and sections in your profile.

Consider all the different parts of your LinkedIn profile:

profile picture

cover image

headline

intro

contact info

featured (Creator mode only)

activity

about

experience

education

licenses & certifications

skills & endorsements

recommendations

accomplishments

interests

causes

6. Turn on Creator Mode

Switch on Creator mode to get access to even more tools and features that'll help you reach your goal. These include:

Topics. You'll be able to display the main topics you usually post about as hashtags in your profile introduction. This makes you more discoverable to other LinkedIn members. It also attracts members who are interested in those topics. These topics can overlap with your content themes (more on that below).

Featured section. This section, where you showcase your original content, is highlighted and displayed higher up on your profile. You can use this to display your resume, video resume, and samples of your work, including a LinkedIn article, posts published on other sites, videos, documents, presentations, and images.

LinkedIn Live Video and LinkedIn Newsletter. With Creator mode on, you'll be able to stream live videos from your account. You can also publish and promote a newsletter to show your expertise and build a bigger following.

7. Know Your Keywords

People discover you on LinkedIn by using the platform's search engine. Put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. What words and phrases are they most likely to use when they look for someone like you?

Choose a primary keyword you want to rank for. Use this primary keyword on your headline and About section. Use secondary keywords in your About section. Also sprinkle keywords through the Experience section, either as job titles or descriptions.

Learn more about finding the right keywords for your LinkedIn profile and resume:

8. Create a Page for Your Freelancing or Consulting Business

If you're self-employed as a freelancer or consultant, make a page for your business on LinkedIn. Then, when you list your freelancing or consulting under the Experience section, link to that page. This way, if someone clicks on your business name from the Experience section, they'll see your company page. This gives you the ability to provide more information about your services. A LinkedIn company page also has features that aren't available on your profile. For example, you can create events, list products, and see analytics.

Remember that your LinkedIn profile will always be a work in progress. You'll think of ways to optimize and improve it as you get more responses and engagement on the platform.

Strategic Posting on LinkedIn

Now that your profile is complete, your next concern is what to post on your account. As I'm writing this, you've got several options:

Photo. If you want to stand out on any social media platform, every post you publish must have a visual. A photo or other type of image is the most common type of visual you can share. Always include one with a text post. The recommended size is at least 400 (width) x 400 (height) pixels, with a maximum file size of 8 MB.

Video. Online, video has become the most popular type of content, typically garnering the highest number of engagements. Video also helps your audience connect with you faster, because they can see more of your personality. LinkedIn limits the duration of the video you can upload: 15 minutes when uploading from desktop and 10 minutes from the mobile app.

Job. If you're on LinkedIn to attract talent, then a job posting is a terrific way to reach the most suitable candidates on this professional platform.

Poll. A poll or multiple-choice survey is another type of content you can post on LinkedIn. Aside from getting feedback from your connections, a poll is also an excellent way of reaching a wider audience. That's because every time someone in your network responds to your poll, their own connections get notified.

Document. This is a little-used feature, but you can share documents on your LinkedIn posts. As of this writing, the supported file types are DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, and PPTX. You can upload a document from your computer, Dropbox, or OneDrive. It's a good way to share a checklist, special report, presentation, or even your resume to LinkedIn members.

Articles. LinkedIn allows you to use the platform as your very own blog through articles. Articles are longer than posts and won't get lost in the platform's busy home feed. They're searchable both within LinkedIn and by search engines (if you've set the visibility to public). Every time you publish an article, your connections and followers see it on their news feeds. It may also appear on their notifications.

What to Post About on LinkedIn

What about the actual content of your posts?

One helpful tip I've come across is to keep one question in mind:

What do you want to be known for?

For example, if your goal on LinkedIn is to get a job as an editor, then you'll want to be known for being an experienced and skilled editor. This means your posts should be about topics related to editing. These could include writing, common writing mistakes, editing as a job, how to become an editor, life as an editor, and so on.

If you're a freelance graphic designer and your goal is to attract potential clients, then you'll want to be known as a great visual communicator. Your LinkedIn posts should then be about graphic design trends, examples of effective visuals, relevant tools, and resources ... you get the idea.

In short, identify a handful of content themes that are consistent with what you want to be known for.

After you've published several posts on LinkedIn, scroll through your posts. Can people tell who you are and what you do just based on your posts?

Let's take a peek at my posts. Can you tell what my content themes are? ( Hint: Look at the red ovals.)

As you can see, I relate even a lifestyle-type post about drinking coffee back to being a marketer-one of my content themes.

Having content themes can help you figure out tough questions like,

"Should I post personal stuff on LinkedIn?"

I've seen many debates about this. Some people have even gotten hateful comments after posting personal topics.

I say you can post personal stuff-as long as you make sure it supports your goal and is aligned with what you want to be known for. Relate it to one of your content themes. Again, my post about drinking coffee is an example of how you can do this.

The Best Day and Time to Post on LinkedIn (and How Often)

Is there an ideal day and time to post on LinkedIn to get maximum views and engagement?

Some experts seem to think so. The consensus from most, like the Influence Marketing Hub, is that weekdays between 8-10 am and between 1-3 pm, possibly also around 12 noon are the best times to post. This makes sense if you consider that LinkedIn members are professionals. Those would be the times they're commuting to or from work or taking a lunch break.

With that said, one of my most successful posts was published on a Saturday.

Many factors go into a successful LinkedIn post. The day and time of posting is just one of them, so I say don't stress out about it. Post when it makes sense for you to do so.

When it comes to the optimum frequency of posting most experts, like the online media monitoring company Meltwater, agree that a cadence of three to five times a week seems to get the best results.

And that's great news because that publishing schedule is doable even for the busiest professional! (Unlike other social media platforms that require daily or even multiple posts a day.)

LinkedIn posts tend to have a longer shelf life than other social media posts. That is, I've noticed that a post can get views, comments, and shares for several days and then they begin to peter out.

You may be thinking:

"But Lexi, I keep posting on LinkedIn and nobody seems to be paying attention!"

Here's the thing. Even though it seems like your posts are going into a black hole and nobody sees them, that's not actually the case. Even though your posts have few views and little or no reactions and comments, some of your connections and followers are seeing them.

To prove it to you, here's a direct message I received from a long-time connection.

The post he's referring to had fewer than 100 views and zero engagement. Jim himself didn't react or comment on that post. And yet, he did see it and it compelled him to revisit my profile.

Moral of the story: Don't stress over so-called vanity metrics like views, reactions, and comments. They've got little to do with your actual results.

How to Schedule Posts

Are you looking into how to use LinkedIn for business? Scheduling posts is a new feature that can benefit your business.

To schedule a post, click on Start a post. Then click the clock icon in the lower right corner to schedule your post.

Benefits of scheduling posts

There are several benefits to scheduling posts. Consider the following:

1. Maintaining a constant presence. If you've got a continuous presence, you'll show up on people's feeds, and they will be constantly reminded of your business. If you schedule posts for weeks ahead, you can avoid gaps in content.

2. Minimizes mistakes or unexpected errors. Accidents happen, and your team can get caught up with a task and forget to post or post late. Maybe your internet or power goes out, and you can't post. If you have a post published, you can ensure that you always post no matter what.

Maximize the team's productivity. If you schedule a batch of posts and set them up, you'll be free to work on other things throughout the week. This can help people who post through multiple social networks.

Now that you've got a great profile and are publishing strategic posts, your work is far from done. In this section, we go over other activities you need to do regularly to achieve your LinkedIn goal.

LinkedIn is a social platform, so engaging others is an essential part of LinkedIn marketing. The easiest way to do this is by reacting to other people's posts.

LinkedIn lets you react in one of six ways:

Pick the one that's closest to how you are feeling about the post. But don't stop at reacting.

An even better-and more appreciated-way of engaging a LinkedIn member is by commenting on a post. Make it brief and relevant and, as much as possible, end with a question. That sparks a conversation with the member and the other people who see the post.

Reacting and commenting on posts are just two ways to be social. There are more ways to be social:

Adding Connections

Start by connecting with people you know in real life:

schoolmates

current and previous co-workers

family members

friends

When you meet someone new, such as in a networking event, make sure to follow up by making a connection request on LinkedIn. Send a message to remind them how you met.

As you get more active on LinkedIn, you'll receive connection requests from people you may not know. Should you accept? That's entirely up to you. Keep reading to find out how you can expand your network without necessarily connecting with total strangers.

Giving and Getting Recommendations

Recommendations on your LinkedIn profile are like testimonials given by former employers, clients, and co-workers. You can start getting recommendations by asking for them. It's like asking clients for a testimonial you can add to your website and other marketing materials.

Every time you get a testimonial outside LinkedIn, ask your client if they can paste the exact testimonial on your LinkedIn profile as a recommendation. Most people would be happy to do this.

Another way to get recommendations is by giving them first. Post unsolicited recommendations on other people's profiles without expectations of getting one in return. Most folks will reciprocate by giving you a recommendation.

Joining Groups

Many LinkedIn members don't connect willy-nilly with others unless they're somehow connected. But what if you're total strangers? How do you connect? By joining the same group!

With your goal in mind, think of which groups make sense for you to join. If your goal is to find a marketing job, for example, where would marketing hiring managers be hanging out? Use LinkedIn's search tool to find appropriate groups. Join the ones that not only have a significant number of members but also has a fair level of activity. If people aren't having conversations in the group, then it might be a stale one and not worth joining.

When you request to connect with someone you haven't met, you can say that you're both in the same group. This makes them more likely to accept your request.

Messaging People

Messaging on LinkedIn is quite powerful. That's because most members receive both an in-app notification and an email notification when someone messages them on LinkedIn. This means your message is more likely to get read and receive a response.

Use it wisely, though. Don't start a conversation by hard pitching your product or service. Seek first to listen and understand the other person's needs. If there seems to be a good fit between what they're looking for and what you offer, then you can segue to a sales pitch.

Sometimes, you'll find that a convo that began in a post's comments just naturally migrates over to messaging. That's another reason why commenting on posts is important!

You don't need much to get results from LinkedIn. Depending on the types of content you want to share, you'll need:

Graphics Creator and Editor

As mentioned earlier, visuals are essential to make your posts pop on a person's feed. Use a simple graphics creator and editor to create images for your LinkedIn posts. Go to Elements to grab eye-catching photos, fonts, and icons.

LinkedIn allows you to pre-schedule posts. Some tools make it easier to plan across multiple social media accounts. Examples include:

Video Editing Tool

If you want to post a video, you can take a video from within the LinkedIn mobile app. But this isn't ideal. You'll want to do some post-production work on your video to add your logo, titles, and other elements. That's where a video editing tool comes in. Your computer may already have a video editor, and that may be the easiest one for you to use. Windows comes bundled with the Windows Movie Maker, and Macs come with iMovie.

Other options include:

...and many more.

You can want to spice up your LinkedIn videos with B-roll (supplemental video), music, and special sound effects. You can find an extensive library of video assets at Envato Elements.

Live Streaming Tool

Video live streaming is a terrific way to stand out and reach a wider audience on LinkedIn. But you can't live stream natively through the LinkedIn platform. You'll need to use third-party software that connects with your LinkedIn account.

Examples of apps you can use to stream live on LinkedIn include:

What about tools for automatically messaging and requesting connections with people? Some people swear by these tools. I find them to be sketchy at best. At worst, using them can get your LinkedIn account suspended. For those reasons, my recommendation is to just say no!

Create Impressive LinkedIn Posts

Posting on your LinkedIn profile is a major part of your LinkedIn success. Make sure your posts get attention and make an impact.

Go to Envato Elements for unlimited downloads of photos, fonts, videos, graphics -everything you need to create an impressive LinkedIn presence. You'll get plenty of use from the unlimited downloads as you create three to five LinkedIn posts per week.

And if you're applying for jobs on LinkedIn, you'll want to upload an impressive resume. Elements has thousands of resume templates for Microsoft Word and other apps you may be using.

By using professional creative elements, your LinkedIn profile and posts will stand out. On the other hand, cheap stock photos can hurt your brand. And relying on free visuals can limit your ability to show diversity.

Another benefit of sourcing assets from Elements is that you can use them to promote your business. One license covers both personal and commercial use, so you can use all your Elements downloads without worrying about copyright infringement.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool you can use to achieve personal, professional, or business goals. In this tutorial you learned the answer to the question: what is LinkedIn? You also discovered how to use LinkedIn effectively:

Start by creating or improving your LinkedIn profile.

Create and publish strategic content.

Be social and engage other members.

Observe the results you get and iterate as you go along.

Remember to get your content assets from Envato Elements, so you can project a professional image that attracts potential employers and clients.
Editorial Note: This content was originally published in February 2022. The post has been comprehensively updated for accuracy and relevancy by Sarah Joy.

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How to Use LinkedIn Effectively (Beginner Quickstart Guide) | Envato Tuts+

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Whether you're looking to get a job, find clients, or generate leads, it pays to know how to use LinkedIn effectively. Here's how to make the most of LinkedIn.

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This resource offers guidance on effectively utilizing LinkedIn, such as optimizing your profile, expanding your network, using the platform for job searches, and increasing your visibility through content sharing. It stresses the importance of presenting a professional image and engaging with others to maximize the benefits of using LinkedIn for career advancement.

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LinkedIn is the top online site for professional, social, and career networking. The site functions as an online directory of individual professionals and organizations, and facilitates the process of professional networking without having to leave your office.

As of 2021, LinkedIn had more than 740 million members in more than 200 countries, including executives from all of the Fortune 500 companies.

While individuals use LinkedIn for professional networking, connecting, and job searching, companies use it for recruiting and for sharing company information with prospective employees.

Note

Below you will find some quick tips on how to use LinkedIn effectively, along with links to more in-depth articles on each topic to help you make the most of all the resources and tools LinkedIn has to offer.

Why Use LinkedIn?

LinkedIn offers useful resources for job seekers, providing information, acting as a billboard to highlight your unique value proposition, and making your information public for recruiters who may be looking for what you have to offer.

Sign Up for LinkedIn

Ready to get started? It's simple. Visit LinkedIn.com, enter your first and last name and email address in the indicated area, and create a password.

Get Started on LinkedIn

You'll find it quick and easy to get started using LinkedIn. Start by signing up for an account, create your online profile and add a profile photo. The site offers two main tiers of membership: Basic and Premium.﻿﻿

The Basic account offers features such as messaging, profile creation, and ways to apply to job postings, while the Premium accounts have added features and resources to expand your online presence and let you get more out of the service.

As soon as you log in, you can start using LinkedIn to connect, network, and search for jobs.

Choose a Professional Photo

You'll want to make a good first impression on anyone who views your profile, and a big part of that is the picture you choose. You should opt for a professional-looking photo rather than a casual shot.

You don't necessarily have to pay for an expensive headshot, but care should be taken when choosing the right clothes, background, lighting, etc., for your LinkedIn profile picture.

Write a Good Profile Summary

Your LinkedIn profile summary is a chance to put your best foot forward, especially if you are interested in new job opportunities. LinkedIn has a character limit for this section, and you want to make the most of it.

The company recommends writing three to five short paragraphs and leaving plenty of white space, so readers' eyes don't glaze over when they land on your page.

Note

Don't be afraid to inject some of your personality into your profile summary to make it memorable, but steer clear of anything that seems too unprofessional or could be controversial. Finally, make sure you proofread this section carefully, as you would a cover letter for a job application. Typos and sloppy writing will send the wrong signal.

Improve and Tweak Your Profile

In addition to a summary, your LinkedIn profile can contain your work experience, education, skills, endorsements, and recommendations from others in your network.

Note

Your profile benefits from including relevant keywords that search engines and hiring managers look for. Including these buzzwords in your summary, interests, former job titles, and skills can help you stand out.

Request LinkedIn Recommendations

Recommendations are another great way to make your LinkedIn profile stand out. Positive recommendations written by previous employers, clients, or colleagues can show a hiring manager what kind of employee you are and what your strengths are. You have the ability to request recommendations from your LinkedIn connections.

Use LinkedIn Endorsements

Endorsements are a quick and easy way for your professional contacts to help show other users where your expertise lies.

Include Your LinkedIn Profile Address on Your Resume

Including your LinkedIn URL on your resume makes it easy for prospective employers to visit LinkedIn to learn more about you and your skills and qualifications. LinkedIn will assign you a URL unless you create a custom one.

To create a custom URL:

Click the "Me" icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select "View profile" from the drop-down menu.

On the right-hand side of the page, click "Edit public profile & URL."

Click "Edit your custom URL."

If possible, try using your first and last name. If that is taken, try a middle initial or your full middle name.

Note

Sending Messages and Invitations

Once you sign up for LinkedIn and create a profile, you can start to build a network of contacts, including people with whom you connect on a professional basis, an educational basis, or based on another common interest.

Send contact invitations to people who meet one or more of these objectives. When you message people within or outside of your network, keep it professional. You'll increase your response rate if you keep your messages on point.

How Big Should Your Network Be?

How many people do you need in your LinkedIn network to make it an effective tool for job searching and career networking? The short answer is, it depends. The right connections are more important than the actual number of connections you have. Ideally, you want connections that are relevant to your line of work, that can potentially lead you to a job opportunity, or can provide valuable advice.

Applying for Jobs on LinkedIn

Job seekers can search and apply for jobs directly on LinkedIn. In addition, you can view and contact your LinkedIn connections who may be able to refer you for a job.

Targeted searches such as the advanced people or company finders can sharpen your scope and help you find exactly what you are looking for. You can filter the advanced search by location, industry, alumni status, or number of employees to get more concise, specific search results.

Searching Company Profiles

LinkedIn company profiles are a good way to find more information on companies in which you have an interest. You'll be able to see if you have any connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics.

Get a LinkedIn Badge

LinkedIn offers a "Public Profile Badge Builder" that allows you to create links with an eye-catching custom badge for your LinkedIn profile. This badge provides a quick, easy way for users to move directly from your website, social media accounts, or electronic resume to your LinkedIn profile.

These badges include your profile photo, job title, and the company you work for. Use these badges on your website, blog, portfolio, or online resume.

1. Log in to LinkedIn and click the "Edit public profile and URL" underneath your profile picture.

2. On the right side of the screen, there are options to edit your profile settings.

3. Underneath that section is "Public Profile Badge." Click the link to create your custom badge.

4. Follow the directions in the "Public Profile Badge Builder" to copy and paste the HTML codes into your blog, online resume, or website.

5. There are two badge styles to choose from, and the code will include a link to your LinkedIn public profile.

6. Preview your changes, if possible, before making any permanent changes that are made public.

More Tips for Using LinkedIn

After reading this article and the related links, hopefully you have a solid grasp on how to use LinkedIn effectively. Below are a few more tips for using the site.

Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Up to Date

The more complete your LinkedIn profile is, the better your chances to be found and contacted. Use your LinkedIn profile like a resume and provide prospective employers with detailed information on your skills and experience. And be sure to customize your profile's unique URL to make it easier to find and increase its visibility.

How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile When You're Unemployed

Updating your LinkedIn profile to reflect that you're unemployed can create an issue. Even though you might be unemployed, you must still present yourself in a positive light to prospective employers and to networking contacts.

Using the LinkedIn Mobile App

The LinkedIn Mobile App features include searching and viewing profiles, inviting new connections, accessing LinkedIn answers, and actionable network updates. You can send and receive messages, look up user or company profiles, and even upload your resume to apply for job openings. Use the app to keep your job search moving forward when you're on the road.

Avoid Being Scammed

LinkedIn has the same challenges as other sites, so watch out for scammers.

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How to use LinkedIn effectively, including how to create a profile, write a summary, build a network, create a badge, get a custom URL, and search for jobs.

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This blog post discusses the process of getting published, offering tips and insights on how to navigate the journey of becoming a published author. It covers strategies for approaching publishers, writing query letters, and finding opportunities to showcase your work. The post aims to guide aspiring authors through the path to getting their writing published successfully.

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Becoming a published writer can be tricky to navigate. Now that many of us are working from home and have a bit more free time, stretch goals like writing an article or even a book may feel a bit more realistic. In this podcast, we chat with Eliza Blanchard who is the Learning & Development content manager at the Association for Talent Development - ATD - to discuss what it takes to get published. She has several recommendations including how to get started, what writers should focus on, and how to get past imposter syndrome as a new writer.

Listen using the player below. Please leave us your thoughts in the comment section or on twitter @train_champion.

Transcription of the Conversation with Eliza Blanchard

Brian Washburn: Welcome, everybody, to the Train Like You Listen podcast, a weekly podcast about L&D stuff. And we try to be real quick. Today here we are sitting with Eliza Blanchard from and TD Magazine , somebody who I've worked closely with when it comes to getting some things written.

Publishing 6-Word Introduction

Brian Washburn: And, Eliza, as we get started here as we normally do, we oftentimes start by just having our guests introduce themselves with a six-word memoir. My life can be summed up in the following six words: "I want to write a book". What's six words that summarize who you are?

Eliza Blanchard: " Grateful to be a professional learner."

Brian Washburn: Nice, nice. And that is good, because you work for ATD, the Association for Talent Development. So that seems like it is a good fit when it comes to your life mission in six words and your organization.

I wanted to talk with you. I've had a chance to write a number of different articles for TD Magazine, I've had a chance to write in an issue of TD at Work. I'd love to hear from you in terms of what you think is the best thing about having the opportunity to work with so many different writers.

Working With a Wide Variety of Writers

Eliza Blanchard: Yeah, so I work in content acquisition. So I'm usually working with authors at the beginning stage of the process, helping them develop their article idea, giving them an overview of what the process of writing for ATD entails. And I love working with talent development professionals, because people in the field almost always love what they do.

And I'm always so amazed when I ask people to write for us that they're not just willing but really eager to share lessons they've learned. And they really want to contribute to the talent development community. And particularly with people who are newer to the field, and people who maybe have used TD Magazine as a resource in the past, and they're familiar with it as a resource, they're often very excited to contribute. And the role I play is often validating that they themselves are experts, and they have really good ideas that are worth publishing. And that's really rewarding and a lot of fun.

What Motivates Writers to Share Their Expertise?

Brian Washburn: Yeah. And so it sounds like you talk with a lot of people who, A, have a lot of passion and, B, have some things to share. What do you think are some of the other motivations for people to volunteer their time and their expertise and writing an article? And when you think about this- so this is a two-part question. When you think about this, how do people get past this whole idea of imposter syndrome, right? I have something to share, but is it really going to be good enough for people to read?

Eliza Blanchard: Yeah. So, I think, when looking at motivations, there's two primary kinds of motivators for two different categories of authors. And so for people who have been in the field a while, writing for TD Magazine is often a way of giving back to newer professionals, sharing the lessons they've learned along the way. So they really see it as a way of giving back to a field that really helped them in their career.

For people who are newer to the field, an article can help credentialize them, show their expertise on the topic, maybe even help them clarify their own thinking around the topic. And, I think, that's the audience where you sometimes see that imposter syndrome. People who have not been in the field as long, and maybe have a lot of familiarity with some of the big names, and are wondering, does my article belong in an issue of TD Magazine alongside theirs?

And, I think, what I try to tell people in that setting is it's so valuable for us to have content not just from subject matter experts and thought leaders- of course, it's great to hear what they're working on- but it's also incredibly valuable to have content from people who are in the role as practitioners and as practitioners at all different stages. So big and large companies, people who have been doing it for 20 years, and people who have been doing it for a short period of time, because we at ATD want to make sure that the resources we're putting out are helpful for all of those different audiences and relevant to them. And the best way to make sure we have relevant resources for all different kinds of talent development professionals is to have people from all different levels of career write for us.

Does a Writer Need More Than a Great Idea?

Brian Washburn: So when people are thinking, "hey, I have an idea and, I think, this would be a great article", what else should they be thinking about or considering? Is just having a great idea enough? Or, is there something else that people should be thinking?

Eliza Blanchard: Having a great idea is definitely the best place to start, but there are some specific questions that prospective authors can ask themselves to help focus their idea. And some of those questions might be, what's your talent development function doing that's interesting, and unique, and that others may want to learn about? What processes or improvements have you implemented that have been successful? Are there any tips or best practices you can share about designing training and developing employees? How did you approach a talent development challenge and successfully overcome it?

So, basically, we look for articles that offer unique specific and practical insight into talent development. So thinking through some of those questions can definitely help get you there. And then the other thing I would say is that the first thing we'll need from prospective authors is an article outline with the major ideas you plan to address in the article, and then some supporting points for each of those ideas. And, I think, drafting an outline before you approach us with your idea first of all allows us to more quickly review your idea and provide feedback. But, I also think it helps the authors figure out the direction they want to take and whether their original idea does, in fact, work well as an article.

What Opportunities are Available for Getting Published?

Brian Washburn: All of that sounds really familiar. The other thing that I've heard from some of the editors that I've worked with is also, what are the results that you have? It's great you have this idea, but what results came of it, which is also something that I've always been told to think about. When it comes to just getting published, is TD Magazine the best place to start for someone? Are there other getting-published opportunities out there that people might want to be thinking about?

Eliza Blanchard: I think it always depends, and the magazine can be a good place to start for some people. But it is a print magazine, which means we have a longer production schedule. And so for people who are newer writers, they're not going to get immediate feedback right away. And they might find it valuable to get feedback a little more quickly and test out their idea in a shorter lifecycle than is the case for a print magazine. And so if you're interested in that, I think, writing blogs or LinkedIn posts is a really great way to test out an idea and get more immediate feedback.

If you're an ATD member, you can post blogs on our website or other user-generated content . And I also work with contributors on posting "insights" which are shorter blog-style articles that also run on our site. And, I think, those can all be potentially easier points of entry for newer writers.

Top Tips for Someone Starting to Write an Article

Brian Washburn: How about for those who are just looking to get started? Do you have like three tips, your top three tips, for somebody who's just looking to get started writing an article?

Eliza Blanchard: First of all, if you have a good idea, don't be overly concerned about being the perfect writer. That's what our editorial team is here for and will help you along the way. And building on that is the idea of sitting down and writing a formal article is intimidating. Imagine you're writing an email to a colleague about a cool new idea you have or a successful project you've just wrapped up, and, I think, sometimes beginning the process framing it as an email can take some of the pressure off, and allow you to write more freely, and concentrate on the ideas. And then, finally, keep in mind that for ATD's audience, our articles are really practical and action-oriented rather than academic in tone, and you can check out our full rating and submission guidelines at .

Brian Washburn: I loved this conversation, because, I think that getting published is something that a lot of people want to do. So thank you so much, Eliza, for just sharing some thoughts and ideas in terms of how to actually make that happen.

Get to Know Eliza Blanchard

Brian Washburn: Before we go, we'd love to just do a little bit of a speed round. So we have three quick questions that could be answered very quickly. So the first question here is, what is your go-to brain food before you sit down to write something?

Eliza Blanchard: Chobani coffee-flavored Greek yogurt.

Brian Washburn: That's very specific. I like it. Is there a book that you think that people should be reading?

by Eliza Blanchard: Yeah. So I was a history major, and I now work in talent development. So I recommend the book Leadership in Turbulent Times Doris Kearns Goodwin. It really bridges those two interests of mine.

Brian Washburn: I love that. And I love her writing. The last one I have here is, what's one piece of writing tech that you can't live without?

Eliza Blanchard: So for a millennial, I'm actually pretty low tech. But a lot of the writing I do is collaborative. So any kind of shared doc, I find really helpful.

Brian Washburn: That's interesting. Do you use a lot of Google Docs or other things when you're working on projects?

Eliza Blanchard: I often do. I think in the work that I'm doing, I know that there's going to be at least one other set of eyes on it and, oftentimes, a lot more both within ATD and, sometimes, externally as well. So I do find Google Docs to be really helpful for that.

Brian Washburn: Thank you so much, Eliza.

Eliza Blanchard from ATD is our guest today. For those of you who are looking to subscribe to Train Like You Listen, you can subscribe on any of your podcasting platforms, whether it's , or , or anything like that. If you have any comments, please go ahead and drop it down below in our comment section. And stay tuned for our next podcast for next week. Thank you, everyone, for listening.
This week's podcast is sponsored by Soapbox. Sign up today for a free demo at soapboxify.com.

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The Path to Getting Published - Endurance Learning

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Becoming a published writer can be tricky to navigate. Now that many of us are working from home and have a bit more free time, stretch goals like writing an

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This blog post lists ten learning and development resources for professionals in the training industry. It provides recommendations for books, blogs, websites, and podcasts that offer valuable insights and information on topics related to learning and development. The post aims to help individuals expand their knowledge and stay updated on industry trends and best practices.

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Ten Learning and Development Resources - Endurance Learning

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As the decade closes, I would be remiss not to reflect on how my career has evolved over the last 10 years. I have been an instructional designer for the

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This blog post offers tips and advice on preparing conference presentations. It includes guidance on creating engaging content, designing effective slides, and delivering a successful presentation to make a lasting impact on the audience. The post aims to help presenters enhance their skills and confidence when speaking at conferences.

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Staying On Track With Conference Presentations - Endurance Learning

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I view conferences as an important part of professional development and networking. I come home from conferences excited to try the new things I learned about

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This explores the benefits of incorporating YouTube videos into training programs, such as accessibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. The article also provides tips and best practices for leveraging YouTube effectively for employee learning and development. It encourages organizations to consider using YouTube as a tool for delivering engaging and impactful training content to their employees.

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Is Using YouTube For Employee Training A Good Idea?

The success of any business is dependent in large part on how well the company's employees understand and are able to perform their jobs. Training is the process we use to help workers acquire the knowledge and skills to be proficient. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010) reports that employers indicate training is necessary for 3 primary reasons:

1. To provide skills specific to their organization

2. To keep up with changes in technology or production methods, and

3. To retain valuable employees.

Furthermore, the human reality of forgetfulness makes it necessary for employees to have on-going access to training.

Training a staff of any size can be a challenge. During 2016 the average small business spent $1,052 per employee for training (Training Magazine, 2016). Decisions to invest in training are difficult when a reasonable ROI is difficult to show. Furthermore, many businesses struggle to find adequate time to provide and manage a consistent training program. The average employee received 43.8 hours of training in 2016 (Training Magazine, 2016). And according to Mimeo (2016), the average Learning and Development professional has three different roles to fulfill within their company, which can divert their expertise into non-training areas.

Budget constraints, vague ROI, and scheduling difficulties have caused many businesses to explore easier and less costly ways to train their employees. Some companies have simply given up on training in hopes that employees will gain sufficient on-the-job experience as quickly as possible, and not need formal training to learn to perform their jobs. Other companies have begun taking advantage of free video hosting services like YouTube, Vimeo, Lynda, MediaPlatform, Viostream, and others. Consider the following YouTube statistics reported by Fortunelords (2017).

1,300,000,000 people use YouTube.

30 million people visit YouTube each day.

5 billion YouTube videos are watched each day.

3.25 billion hours of video are watched on YouTube each month.

300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube each minute.

YouTube is free, it's easily accessible on most mobile devices, and is utilized by approximately 180 million Americans (Statista). Who of us hasn't used YouTube as a quick and easy way to learn how to do something? It is a phenomenal resource. So it's not much of a stretch to consider that free video-based services might offer a 'quick and easy' alternative for employers to train employees. The purpose of this paper is to address the strengths and limitations of YouTube and other video-based services as an effective means for employee training.

Elements Of Effective Training

Effective training design includes the following elements:

1. Explain

2. Demonstrate

3. Practice with Feedback

4. Assessment

1. Explain

The first and most basic element of training is an explanation of the new knowledge or skill to be learned. Explanations should include (1) important supporting knowledge, (2) why the skill is important, (3) the context for applying the skill, and (4) detailed descriptions of the steps to take to perform the skill.

Example: To teach a Sales person the skill of responding appropriately to a customer who says "I'm just looking" the trainer would explain several things about the skill. The trainer would explain that "I'm just looking" is a very common customer response and should not be taken personally. The trainer would explain that helping these customers in a positive way can increase their sales. Finally, the trainer would name and describe in detail each of the steps for responding appropriately to this type of customer.

2. Demonstrate

After explaining, effective training shows a demonstration of the skill being performed. Merrill (2013) reminds us that this element is referred to as demonstration because it connotes the idea of showing learners application of the information. In other words, after we Tell about the skill, we then need to Show the skill.

Example: After explaining the skill, including the steps of the process, the trainer would demonstrate application of the skill. The demonstration should be a realistic encounter during which the trainer would perform each step of the process with an "I'm just looking" customer. The trainer would present multiple demonstrations to show the skill in a variety of different situations.

3. Practice With Feedback

Practice is the opportunity for learners to apply the skill in a realistic situation. They should practice the skill that has just been demonstrated to them. A variety of practice scenarios is best. It has been shown that practicing a skill in routine, or common problems enables learners to also use the skill in new and non-routine problem situations (Mayer, 1998). After each practice, the trainer should give corrective feedback. Trainers should explain which portions of the learner's performance were correct and which portions were not, and why. Receiving feedback during the practice of a new skill results in improved performance (Mayer 2008).

Example: The trainer could place the student in multiple role-play scenarios that mimic real-life situations. The learner would practice responding to role-playing customers who say "I'm just looking." This will require the learner to recall and apply each of the steps in the process that was described and demonstrated. Either during or at the end of each role-play scenario the trainer should offer corrective feedback by explaining what parts of the process were done correctly and which need improvement. It's during these practice-feedback activities that the skill is really learned.

4. Assessment

One purpose of assessment is for the trainer to ascertain whether or not the learner is proficient in the skill. In addition, and equally as important for learning, the assessment informs the learner about their ability in regards to the new skill. That understanding can either emphasize a need for additional training, or instill confidence that one is prepared to successfully perform their job. Since assessment is the opportunity for the learner to demonstrate their ability, feedback is typically not included in an assessment. The best training includes assessments that are similar in format to the practice scenarios, but without the corrective feedback provided during practice. Feedback may be given after the assessment is completed.

Example: The trainer could place the student in multiple role-play scenarios that mimic real-life situations. The learner would practice responding to role-playing customers who say "I'm just looking." This will require the learner to recall and apply each of the steps in the process. The trainer observes and notes how well the learner followed each of the steps.

Comparing YouTube To Effective Training

As mentioned previously, YouTube and other video-based resources are being considered by more and more employers as a training medium. Let's look at YouTube and how it stacks up against the standards of effective training.

1. Explain

Explaining, or telling about something is the most common element across all kind of training, and YouTube is no exception. A bird's eye survey of education and training videos found on YouTube reveals that most videos include some type of an explanation of the steps of the process they intend to teach.
Score: 5 out of 5
2. Demonstrate

Much training is heavy on the tell and light on show. For example, textbooks typically lack a demonstration of the skill to be learned. Video, on the other hand, is an ideal medium for showing how to perform new skills. Many YouTube videos are exactly this - showing how to do something. Others do well at explaining but do not include needed demonstrations.
Score: 4 out of 5
3. Practice With Feedback

As previously described, practice is essential for effective training. In fact, it's during these practice-feedback cycles that the most learning happens. The use of video as a non-interactive medium means that practice in any form is typically excluded in YouTube-based training. Individualized feedback on a learner's performance is impossible using YouTube or any other video-only training.
Score: 0 out of 5
4. Assessment

Assessments provide trainers and learners with important information about whether or not the learners have acquired the new skill. Since assessments are similar to practice, YouTube videos are equally poor at providing assessment information as they are at practice with feedback.
Score: 0 out of 5 Overall Score: 2.25 out of 5
Summary

Video-based training providers publicize several benefits of using their platforms including; 1) reduced costs, 2) ability to accommodate different learning styles, 3) high engagement factor, 4) reduced travel budgets, and 5) accessibility. Unfortunately, these most commonly touted benefits do not necessarily equate to effective training.

For training to be effective it should include each of these four elements: 1) Explain, 2) Demonstrate, 3) Practice with Feedback, and 4) Assessment. The combination of these 4 elements helps ensure an effective, and therefore cost-effective program. YouTube and other video sources can be an excellent medium for the first two elements - Explain and Demonstrate. However, they do not provide the other two critical elements - Practice with Feedback and Assessment. Including each of the 4 elements in training results in a valuable learning experience with an ROI that can be demonstrated. The exclusion of one or more elements in a training program wastes both time and money. Managers should use these 4 elements as a guide as they consider the value of any training their employees receive, including video-based training. They may be surprised to discover they may not be as good as advertised.
References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Employer-Provided Training (2010).

Edgar Dale, Audio-Visual Methods in Teaching (3rd Edition). Holt, Rinehart, and Winston (1969)

eMarketer © Statista 2017. Number of YouTube users in the United States from 2014 to 2019 (in millions).

Fortunelords. 37 Mind Blowing YouTube Facts, Figures and Statistics - 2018 (https://fortunelords.com/youtube-statistics/).

Mayer, R.E., (2008). Learning and Instruction. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Mayer, R. E., (1998). Cognitive, Metacognitive, and Motivational Aspects of Problem Solving. Instructional Science, 26, 49-63.

Merrill, M. D., (2013). First Principles of Instruction: Identifying and Designing Effective, Efficient and Engaging Instruction. Pfeiffer.

Mimeo (2016) Report: The State of Learning and Development in 2016.

2016, November/December. 2016 Training Industry Report, Training Magazine, 28-41.

Teaching Practice, The State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training).

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Should I Use YouTube For Employee Training? - eLearning Industry

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The success of any business is dependent in large part on how well the company's employees understand and are able to perform their jobs. Training is the process we use to help workers acquire the knowledge and skills to be proficient. The U.S.

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This blog post explores creative ways to use YouTube videos in online training. It provides innovative ideas and best practices for leveraging YouTube as a tool for enhancing online training courses. The post highlights the benefits of using YouTube videos, such as improving engagement, accessibility, and interactivity in training programs. It offers practical tips and examples to help e-learning professionals effectively incorporate YouTube videos into their online training modules.

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Video sharing sites aren't just for vlogs, product reviews, and game walkthroughs any longer. In this article, we'll share 7 creative ways to incorporate YouTube videos into your online training courses.

How to use YouTube videos in online training courses

Whether you plan on producing your own videos or curating online training content, YouTube is a top-notch online training platform. It gives organizations the power to enhance their online training courses by boosting visual engagement and interactivity. Not to mention, take social learning to a whole new level.

But how can you use YouTube for employee training? Here are 7 innovative ways to integrate YouTube videos into your online training courses.

1. 360 virtual tours

Many YouTube content creators are now using modern tech to give viewers a 360 glance at historic landmarks and other notable destinations. However, you can use this approach to give your employees a virtual tour of the workplace. It can even be their specific workstation, such as the sales floor or customer service desk.

This allows employees to familiarize themselves with on-the-job tools and resources they'll use on a regular basis. In some cases, you may even be able to find ready-made 360 videos that are ideally suited for your online training course.

For example, an unobstructed view of the interior of a new sports car for your auto sales team. If you plan on producing your own 360 presentations, bear in mind that the recording equipment can be quite costly. Plus, you'll have to master the fine art of filming full-circle.

2. Compliance tips & tricks

There are a variety of YouTube videos regarding compliance tips. For example, advice on how to handle a compliance audit, or proper safety procedures to reduce work-related injuries. You can also produce your own compliance online training videos using a rapid eLearning authoring tool.

The key is to look for software with templates, themes, and a rich online asset library, such as cut-out characters and audio elements that can help you create an engaging online presentation. Simply change the video settings to "unlisted" and provide employees with the link if you prefer to keep it in-house.

Embed YouTube videos and create engaging courses with TalentLMS
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3. New product knowledge video demos

YouTube is also a great place to find video demos for your product knowledge online training course. One of the job requirements for your sales staff is knowing your product lines inside and out. This allows them to highlight the selling points during the negotiation process.

Video demos are great for effective sales training: they give them the product features, specs, and benefits they need to land the sale. To create a product demo or tutorial, it's best to opt for a voice-over eLearning video where the presenter can explain how the product works while also showing how it looks.

Also, many manufacturers post promo videos for new items on the market. But you can also find consumer review videos that showcase the pros and cons. For example, vloggers may receive promotional materials to review and then share their honest feedback with viewers.

4. Upskilling series

YouTube also gives you the opportunity to provide personalized playlists. As such, you can compile skill-based online training videos, and then create categorized lists. For instance, 10 videos that all center on customer service or negotiation skills.

Employees are able to quickly find the skill-building online training resources they need to land that next big promotion, or just simply improve performance in their current position.

In addition, you should encourage employees to create their own playlists based on their individual goals and gaps. For example, a member of your IT can compile a software troubleshooting playlist to improve on-the-job proficiency.

5. Interactive task tutorials

Produce task tutorials for employees, and then integrate links to online training resources as annotations. You can also include relevant hyperlinks in the description box for those who are unable to access embedded resources.

Alternatively, you can seek out online training video tutorials already posted on YouTube and develop a companion guide. For example, ask your employees to watch the presentation, then complete tie-in activities and modules to enhance comprehension.

If you want to take it to the next level, you can even combine 360 tech with interactive links. Employees get the chance to orient themselves in the work environment as they walk through every step of the task.

6. Customized microlearning online training libraries

Playlists are also ideally suited for moment-of-need training. Look for bite-sized YouTube videos or create your own and then compile a microlearning online training library. Make sure that every playlist is targeted so that employees can quickly bridge the gaps. For instance, one microlearning playlist concentrates on the sales process, while another gives HR staff the resources they need to uphold company policy and conduct effective interviews.

YouTube also leaves room for a brief description of each playlist. As such, you are able to include a summary of the topics featured and the real-world benefits in addition to the target audience. For example, a microlearning repository may be intended for new hires or managers.

7. Employee spotlight

This YouTube online training approach involves active audience participation. Invite your employees to record a brief video showcasing a training topic, task, or tip. This can be as simple as a talking head video. You can even encourage them to produce an introduction video to break the ice. Then, ask for their permission to post it to your private YouTube channel.

This is a great way to not just use YouTube for employee training, but also build a thriving social learning community and facilitate peer-based feedback. Every employee gets the chance to share their expertise for the betterment of their coworkers. They might even be inspired to create their own online YouTube training channel that peers can subscribe to.

Conclusion

YouTube videos may not be the all-in-one solution for your online training needs. As you still need to frame them with solid online training, complete with relevant resources and activities.

However, you can still use this video-sharing platform to increase employee engagement and improve knowledge retention. Visual examples, demos, and online training tutorials are a great addition to your corporate eLearning course. You might even consider a dedicated channel that features weekly video series and employee-generated content to improve participation.

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7 creative ways to use YouTube videos in your online training courses

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Wondering how to integrate YouTube videos into your online training courses? Check the 7 most creative ways to integrate YouTube videos into online training

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This blog post discusses the ethical and legal considerations of using YouTube videos in academic courses. It addresses concerns such as copyright infringement, accessibility, and quality control when utilizing externally sourced content in educational settings. The post offers guidelines and recommendations for instructors to ensure compliance and best practices when incorporating YouTube videos into their course materials. It encourages educators to thoughtfully evaluate the appropriateness and credibility of YouTube videos before integrating them into their curriculum.

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Is it okay to use YouTube videos in your course? « Ecampus Course Development and Training

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Is it okay to use YouTube videos in your course? What about copyright? I get inquiries like this often. Here I’ll share the most common questions from instructors and the answers I provide.

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Creating a training presentation involves keeping it simple, engaging, and interactive. Start with a clear objective and outline the key points you want to cover. Use visuals, graphics, and videos to enhance understanding. Keep text to a minimum and focus on delivering the information in a clear and concise manner. Encourage audience participation and engagement through quizzes, polls, and interactive activities. End the presentation with a summary of key takeaways and provide resources for further learning.

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Ximena PortocarreroDec 30, 202110 mins readShare this article

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10 Tips for Creating An Effective Training Presentation

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Creating a training presentation is not a simple task. Learn how to deliver an unforgettable learning experience with these top training presentations tips.

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SlideShare is a platform for sharing presentations and documents online. It is used for showcasing expertise, generating leads, and reaching a wider audience. Users can upload, share, and discover content on various topics, making it a valuable tool for content marketing and thought leadership.