Recently I noticed that a corporate recruiter I am friends with on LinkedIn had done something I had never seen before: she added her blog to her LinkedIn.
This made me ponder a question I hadn’t considered in the past: should you add your blog to LinkedIn?
For reasons that I will explain in this post, it had never crossed my mind that it may be a good idea to add my blog to my LinkedIn profile. But seeing a full-time corporate recruiter add their blog and showcase their photography and writing skills is really making me rethink it.
I’ve connected with many bloggers on LinkedIn, but most of them have a LinkedIn profile that is dedicated solely to their blog or their freelance writing career. I like this idea because it keeps your profile focused and doesn’t distract potential freelance writing contacts.
This has it’s own issues, though. Do you make two profiles? One for freelance writing and one for your career? Or just one that is focused on either your career OR your freelance writing? Or do you say hell with it and not even use LinkedIn?
Working in corporate finance I have found it important to have a LinkedIn focused on my career. I do not have my blog listed on it, though I think it wouldn’t be too hard for a Google-savvy individual to find my blog if they Googled my name and did some digging. For now, though I do not list it, and it comes down to perception of bloggers.
Perceptions of bloggers
For whatever reason it appears as though employers – and people who work 9-5 jobs in general – have some sort of negative perception of blogging.
For example, it is 100% acceptable to fill your free time with watching television, going to sporting events, and exercising. But when you start talking about doing something productive – like blogging – all of a sudden it becomes this taboo thing. Some even think you shouldn’t do it altogether.
Binge watching TV shows every night on Netflix is acceptable. Blogging a couple hours a night is not.
Why?
I think it boils down to a couple things:
- Jealousy and/or MisunderstandingDon’t get me wrong, there are tons and tons of people who have never desired to start a blog. With that being said, there are also millions upon millions of everyday people who have thought about starting the blog but never started one. Some have started a blog but quit within a few months for whatever reason.
In general, people don’t like the fact that there are people out there with blogs that get a lot of traffic or – God forbid – make a profit.
Taking it a step further, most people don’t like to see others succeed. Blogging just happens to be another example of that.
- Non-conformityIn most workplaces people are pretty similar. They may vary in their interests to a certain degree, but it’s nothing like the mixture of people you may find in other social settings. When someone has drastically different interests or does things that are outside the norm, it’s easy for others to judge or have a negative view of the individual.
I should say that sometimes these differences can be looked at favorably, but only to a degree. It may be “cool” for someone to be in a band that actually plays shows and make money, but it could quickly become jealousy if they find out that the individual makes similar money playing shows as they do at their 9-5 gig.
Blogging is just one example of people doing something different that doesn’t conform. It’s also the reason you don’t see people with dreadlocks working in corporate America.
These are just a couple of reasons I think blogging isn’t perceived in a positive light by non-bloggers, especially co-workers.
Blogging and LinkedIn
I got a bit side-tracked in this post, but I think it is all relevant to the original question: should you share your blog on LinkedIn?
As I thought about it more and more, I essentially talked myself out of the idea of adding my blog to LinkedIn. There isn’t enough upside (new readers, new freelance writing contracts, and potential positive perception as a hard-worker) to outweigh the potential downside (negative perceptions of blogging, perception that I’m not focused on my 9-5, etc.).
This has to be decided on a case-by-case basis. If you write a blog that shows your expertise in a field that you work in your 9-5, it can definitely help get potential jobs or consulting offers. Typically, though, I think it’s not a good idea to add your blog to LinkedIn.
What do you think? Do you think it’s a good or bad idea for bloggers to add their blog to LinkedIn?
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I hadn’t thought of creating a LinkedIn profile for Frugalwoods before. I think I’m with you, not enough pros to outweigh to cons. I feel like twitter and pinterest (which I still have yet to do a good job with) are more conducive to my style and my Frugal Hound photos :).
I think you have made a wise decision not to add your blog. I think your first reason is quite valid. It is sad, but the reality is that most people do not like others to succeed . Jealous often rears it’s ugly head. I also think Corporate America looks down on blogging. Until that perception changes for the better, l think it dilutes your professionalism. “Oh..he’s going to be goofing off on our time etc..etc..” Plus it might hamper your freedom of speech on the blog.
This is something I’ve been wondering about. I eventually came to the conclusion that linkedin is more for those wanting to develop their writing business. However, I think it might give some sort of “legitimacy” (dare I use that word) to the business of blogging if more blogs were added to linked in
Totally with you there. I don’t want my blog linked to my work, more than I don’t want it linked to me, that’s why I blog anonymously. Even though I’m a really conscientious employee and don’t blog on company time (which means it feels like I am always perpetually behind), I just don’t want any possibility of perception. Maybe I will change my mind eventually, but for now that’s how I feel. Once I am no longer working then it won’t be an issue to be anonymous for sure. I don’t really care about being anonymous because of my debt story.
“For example, it is 100% acceptable to fill your free time with watching television, going to sporting events, and exercising.”
I agree with this 100%! I just don’t think people “get” blogging very well unless they have tried it.
I have never thought about adding my blog to LinkedIn, but I have posted blog posts to LinkedIn that I felt were relevant. I actually think if you have a quality blog with quality writing and thoughts, then it is more of an asset for you personally than a liability. People like to work with people they like and the blog could be a good way to let people get to know you and perhaps want to hire you. Now I think I am talking myself into adding my blog to LinkedIn. :-)
My blog isn’t relevant to my job so I have no plans to add it to my LinkedIn profile. I also enjoy the anonymous side of blogging. I think having it out there attached to my name and my job would greatly limit what I was comfortable talking about.
I think it depends on the situation, like you’ve said. I have a history of producing written materials as projects in my day jobs, so I am more tempted to include my blog.
I think another reason that it is taboo is employers view it as competing with them for your brain. As in, your focus or passion is elsewhere. I don’t know if that’s true, but I think that is how some people think.
I agree, there’s definitely a blogging stigma (not really sure why). I put mine on linkedin but I also don’t have your typical career.
Since I don’t even have a LinkedIn profile, I probably won’t be adding a blog! If I did have one, I still probably wouldn’t because anyone looking for me there would probably be looking for an optometrist and I wouldn’t want to distract from that.
I have a blogging profile on linkedin but wouldn’t add it to my personal page because my blogs are personal and I wouldn’t want a recruiter to learn all about my life before an interview. If I had a neutral blog about knitting I would add it if it were popular.
I’m still on the fence myself with linkedin. Just seems weird but if it helps others maybe I will lean towards doing so.
I don’t think its a bad idea for bloggers to add their blog to LinkedIn. I have had my blog on mt profile for the past year and actually received an interview because someone checked it out. I agree 100% that there are a lot of people out there who don’t want you to succeed. I’m seeing that first hand.
RetiredBy40 This is an interesting viewpoint and hopefully proves to be true! I added my blog to my linkedin before I read this post and I can say that up to this point have received zero negative feedback.
I’ve actually mentioned my “blog/website” on my LinkedIn profile, which may be considered slightly risky however I feel it has become an extension of me and my career and provided I can explain it’s purpose never been too concerned about people percieving it negatively :)
You make some good points. I haven’t held a traditional job and blogged at the same time, so I can’t say I’ve experienced coworkers looking down upon my blogging. I do agree, however, that some people don’t understand blogging and have strange perceptions of it. I did connect my blog with my LinkedIn because I felt some may find it useful for writing samples.
My LinkedIn profile makes no mention of blogging at all. My background, and almost all of my previous work experience is in the field of architecture. Frankly, my blog feels like a step down compared to my work experience, and I’ve been afraid that others might see it the same way. I’ve considered creating a new profile just for blogging related stuff, because a lot of fellow bloggers and PR reps want to connect on LinkedIn.
Since I blog semi-anonymously, I wouldn’t put it on my linked in profile. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone except my sister and my significant other(my blog, that is). What I blog about, personal finance, doesn’t relate to what my career goals are or what my line of work is, so I feel it’s almost irrelevant.
I can’t understand why people would look down on blogging, even the president of my organization does it, but it’s work related. I think it’s becoming more popular, do I go as far to say perhaps it’s even trendy?
Mrs. Frugalwoods Yeah there isn’t much point in making one just for your brand imo. But I’m more thinking along the lines of opportunities that would only come your way if people knew you were a writer. But yes, I need to focus on Pinterest!
Kemkem All great points! I think being a good writer/blogger is a HUGE asset and shows a ton of characteristics that employers would want in an employee, but for whatever reason there is still a stigma around it.
tesolifestyle RetiredBy40 I’m glad you have received no negative feedback, but I don’t necessarily think a professional would receive direct negative feedback. It would be more the indirect negative feedback that I described in the post that I would think they would get. Plus, it really REALLY depends what your career is in, what type/size of company you work for, etc.
debt debs I know that others are aware of my blog, but I’m with you: no blogging on company time. I do sometimes stop on the site to see how things are going for the day, but I do all the work in the evenings and weekends. Used to be the early mornings too but I sleep too late now ;)
Holly at ClubThrifty Exactly! I don’t really understand why people are a little “suspicious” of bloggers either. It’s like they think we are all working on some grand secret scheme. It’s odd!
blonde_finance I think you did just talk yourself into adding your blog on LinkedIn! If anything it creates something to talk to future employer/clients about. That’s assuming you don’t get any of the negative stigma that is attached to blogging.
GoodnightDebt I feel limited as far as what I say on the blog because I’m not anonymous, but I also feel like I have benefited to a greater extent by not being anonymous. I’ve met a lot of people who I have connected with in-person, on Facebook, and on Twitter. It also gave me a boost when I first started from all my friends and family who visited it when I first started.
I mostly used my LinkedIn account to make connections for my blog, so the answer is obvious for me, but if I had it for other reasons, I can see not adding it. People do have a stigma about us bloggers. Usually something to the effect of “oh, you have a blog…that’s cute.”
moneypropeller Good point about competing for your brain. With that being said, it’s amazing the variety of hobbies/interests/etc. that are not taboo at all but can easily take up an enormous amount of brainpower and passion/energy.
brokeandbeau Yeah I think it is a bit different for you as your work is more freelance than anything. With a 9-5 desk job it’s a whole different world.
Eyesonthedollar Haha good point Kim! Also good point on the branding aspect. One thing I find interesting though is that people seem more open to hearing about what “else” people are up to. It gives you a bit more of a personality. Overall, though, probably better to not distract (as you said).
RFIndependence Yeah you do put a lot of your life on your blog, but you are going through an interesting project right now with the whole real estate development project.
Fuggingdebt It does seem a bit odd, but let’s be honest: LinkedIn is pretty boring. And maybe it’s supposed to be that way.
Jason @ The Butler Journal I think it depends what career/field you are in. For whatever reason there seems to be a stigma. If you own a rental property there isn’t nearly as much stigma than if you own, say, a rental house.
mycareercrusade I admire your confidence! I think one thing is that if people see your little hobby turning into something profitable it becomes threatening to them, if not just because people hate to see others make money outside of their 9-5.
BudgetAndTheBees I think it’s totally different if you don’t have a “traditional” office job, though I’m sure others have run into the problem of trying to explain why they blog.
jenspends I’ve connected with many bloggers on LinkedIn, but haven’t mentioned my blog. I hear you about it being a “step down” because it may not be as impressive as the work you’ve accomplished in the past and has the potential to not show you in the best light.
MakintheBacon I have to applaud you for not telling many people about your blog. It takes up a lot of my time so I definitely tell people I’m close to about it. I do think that it’s catching on more in the workplace and I hope people continue to see the value in it.
MoneyMiniBlog You summed it up perfectly in that last sentence! It really is interesting how some people view blogging in a bad light. I think it shows many different qualities that employers would want in an employee. Hopefully the perception changes over time.
Since I blogged anonymously and didn’t want my company finding out about it, I never considered it. I think you’re right – if it helps to present you as more of an expert in your actual field, you should use it, but if it’s more of a hobby/unrelated gig, maybe it’s best to keep it separate. That said, I really need to work on my LinkedIn profile for my freelancing. I didn’t realize so many other bloggers were connecting on there.
JourneytoSaving I’ve connected with a bunch of bloggers on there and I don’t even mention my blog on it! Haha, but seriously if I was a freelancer I would be all about tailoring my LinkedIn page for future gigs. It could definitely land you some jobs.
DC @ Young Adult Money tesolifestyle RetiredBy40 Definitely food for thought!
DC, interesting post! I totally agree about the negative perception so many people have about bloggers, but then again, linking to your blog would be a terrific way to showcase great writing skills. I have a linkedin acct under The Frugal Farmer name, but not a personal one yet. If I did, I’d link to my blog, but I think it’s different since I no longer work in traditional corporate America.
Laurie WellKeptWallet The decision of whether to link or not does change depending on the type of job you have and the type of company you work at. I think that I have developed many skills through my blog that are transferable to my job, but I’m not sure everyone else will see it that way. So for now, not enough upside to justify it.
I do not add mine to LinkedIn… I was anonymous for a long time, but with the web, nothing stays hidden for long.
I do not add mine to LinkedIn… I was anonymous for a long time, but with the web, nothing stays hidden for long.
Interesting points you make there, if I were to start making money and others become jealous as a result, I’d be happy to show them how :).. I appreciate though that not many are like me (not saying that I’m a saint but I appreciate that the more you help others the more great things that come back)
This is interesting and I have never thought about this before. I mostly use Linked in for my blog so I feel that if someone like me adds Blog to Linked in it can be beneficial in many ways, but if Linked in profile is related to Job then at times it can not be a good Idea, but it depends and changes from person to person and situation to situation. We can not say anything for sure.