Tuesday Tutorial: Strut Your Stuff on LinkedIn

Unfortunately, LinkedIn has discontinued this Amazon.com reading list feature.

LinkedIn gives you an opportunity to show off your books without ever saying a word. Yes, it’s true. And for those of you who whine “but these people don’t know I write and I don’t want to tell them” – you don’t have to. That’s the beauty of it all.

LinkedIn has an option called “Reading List by Amazon.” Sure, you can add whatever you’re reading to that list – but why do that? Add your own books, and they’ll show up every time someone looks at your profile. Genius, eh?

LinkedIn Profile ScreenSo, go to your profile. Click on “More” on the Nav Bar across the top, then click on “Reading List by Amazon.”

That will take you to a new screen, with books that other people in your networks are reading. There is also a big blank box where you can type in the name of your book. So go ahead and do that, then click “Search Books.” (See next image.)

LI Search Books

Once your book comes up, click on “select” and it will be automatically added to your reading list. Keep in mind that the book you search for/select first will be at the bottom of your reading list, so choose strategically. Once you click “select,” another screen will come up giving you the options to click “read, reading” etc., and it will also give you the opportunity to leave a comment, if you want. When you’re done with that entry, hit “save” and then go ahead and add your next book.

LinkedIn Book List on ProfileOnce you’ve added all your books, go ahead and check out your profile to see how spiffy that looks with all your books at the bottom. People will have to be logged in to see your reading list, but once they are, the most recent two additions will show up at the bottom of your profile, like so (see screen at left). People can “watch” or get updates on your list, or they can click on the link to the right to see ALL the books in your reading list. The best part about this is – right underneath the title of the book – people can click through to see the book on Amazon – and hopefully BUY it.

The other fantastic thing about this is that if you’re not yet a full-time writer, you can still keep your professional life and your authordom separate, while nonchalantly exposing your LinkedIn connections to your books. Pretty cool, eh? Now go ahead and get your Reading List populated because tomorrow we’re going to have a LinkedIn like-fest.

Author: K.S. Brooks

K.S. Brooks is an award-winning novelist, photographer, and photo-journalist, author of over 30 titles, and executive director and administrator of Indies Unlimited. Brooks is currently a photo-journalist and chief copy editor for two NE Washington newspapers.  She teaches self-publishing and writing topics for the Community Colleges of Spokane, and served on the Indie Author Day advisory board. For more about K.S. Brooks, visit her website and her Amazon author page.

33 thoughts on “Tuesday Tutorial: Strut Your Stuff on LinkedIn”

  1. Blimey – that was easy! Straightforward, informative, useful. Just like Indies Unlimited, in fact 🙂

  2. Totally cool. Hadn’t never seen this, but when I went on all of my books were there and all ready recommended. I wonder if there is an accidental way of doing this. Do you think Shelfarie connects to Linkedn? Gosh, you’re smart. Off to the Linked in Fest to find some people to watch.

  3. It’s no good! I’ve tried half a dozen times and each time I click on Select the welcome page pops up and asks me to sign in. I’m giving it away for the nonce and will try again tomorrow.

  4. I’ve just tried again and encountered the same problem. When I click the Select button for any book I’m thrown to the Home login page, although I’m already logged in. This time I’ve sent LinkedIn an email about it. Most annoying!

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