Readers!
Did you roll your eyes at the subject line of this newsletter? That’s fine. LinkedIn is a hot mess most days, but it is part of my marketing strategy, even if it’s a passive one. And it might be getting less sloppy: they are rolling out a “seems like AI” button. THANK CHRIST. I can’t wait until I get it and start hammering away like that lizard up there (shout out to my older brother Jim, who is very funny on Bluesky, for that one).
So how do I use LinkedIn? I’m so glad you asked, because I needed something to write about this week!
- Check on sources and potential sources. Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first: LinkedIn is a great place to scope out people I’m going to talk to, or considering about talking to. At a minimum, it gives me a bit of background about them. But also: if they are slamming out posts of AI slop, I’m going to pass. No thank you.
- Keep track of client job changes. Editors and clients change jobs all the time, and of course I don’t always hear about those moves. I often see posts about people starting in new roles, but also, whenever I wonder “hey what happened to that person I liked working with?” LinkedIn will usually have an answer.
- Find the right person to email. OK now to the marketing stuff. When I send letters of introduction (LOI) I’m usually trying to find out who the right person might be, especially if it’s to university and marketing communications people. And while it won’t give me their email address, LinkedIn can be part of the search. People tend to keep their profiles fresh too, so it might have the right name in the right position before the website for their company does.
- Connect with potential clients. If I get a positive response to an LOI or pitch, I’ll usually request to connect with that person on LinkedIn, even if they didn’t assign me anything. If they were interested enough to respond to my email, they’re probably interested enough in linking up there.
- Post my articles. Not every article, but ones I’m particularly proud of and/or I think will hit with a more business oriented crowd. I sometimes post this newsletter there as well — I will be posting this one! And when things are light, I’ll post that I’m looking for new clients, or will be around to cover someone’s vacation because yes I work right through August. It’s just another avenue through which to share my work and qualifications.
- Remind potential clients I exist. This is really the result of numbers four and five. I have no insight into how LinkedIn’s feed works, but if I post, someone’s going to see it. Just last week, I heard from an editor who said “oh yeah I saw something you posted in LinkedIn and I’ve been meaning to assign you something.” And another former editor of mine reposted my call out for possible work, and I got an assignment from someone I’d never have connected to otherwise.
So a lot of slop? Yes. Worth a little bit of my time? Sure is.
Recent Bylines
“How to make sure front line managers are heard,” HR Dive
What I’m Reading
- Scandal by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso. The book opens with a woman covered in blood stumbling into a bar, which is dramatic enough. But then we found out that this woman was supposed to be dead. Intrigue! It’s an over the top “who done it” set in the world of professional soccer in the UK, but it’s not meant to be staid. Please, this is the land of Jackie Collins and Jilly Cooper. If all of this interests you, you have to wait! It comes out in the U.S. on September 8 (their publicist sent me a UK copy).
What I’m Watching
- A Toxic Love Story. This is a documentary about what appears to be a vindictive ex-girlfriend stalking and harassing her ex and his new girlfriend. Or is it? It twisted in a way I didn’t expect, which is unusual for someone who has watched too much Dateline. I realized while watching this that body cam footage has really changed what these kinds of documentaries can look like. Also, I bought myself a month of Netflix, so if you’re wondering why my viewing habits have changed, that’s why (I realized I did this in August of last year too. Must be something about my brain in the end of summer).
- Worst Neighbor Ever. I have written before that I was, at my last house, subject to my neighbor’s psychosis, but at least I can say she didn’t try to kill me that I’m aware of. Yikes the four stories that make up this series are horrible.
- The Crash. Another documentary, this time about a horrific car crash that killed two teenagers and seriously injured a third, who was the driver. She just sped up and didn’t stop, but did she mean to? It reminded me of an accident I saw early one morning on the Atlantic City Expressway when a driver went onto the shoulder and hit the gas to crash right into the woods. It was really unnerving because it seemed like he did it on purpose. Cars are weapons! (I stopped along with a lot of other people – the driver and passenger were both talking at least).
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day. I generally liked this. He’s a great Spider-Man and probably the best Spider-Man. But there was WAY too much Punisher in this one. I get that they’re trying to do an odd couple thing, but he just drags the whole thing down.
Nail Polish of the Week
Cole by Zoya. A true orange creamsicle and also a rare time I have the same color on both my fingers and toes. I match — sometimes!
Until next time!
Jen A. Miller (she/her)
Notes from a Hired Pen ebook series
Like this post? Buy Jen a Coffee!
Book links are affiliate links.
Leave a Reply