With nearly 690+ million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, LinkedIn has made a name for itself as the largest professional network in the world and the platform continues to reinvent itself to enhance the user’s experience. Last month, it rolled out a new its latest tool for users to interact with their online professional network: polls.

Howie Fung from LinkedIn’s product team said the company had seen members regularly using LinkedIn to get opinions from their professional networks since networks consist of people whose opinions users trust and value. So the company rolled out the feature to make it easy for members to get opinions on topics that are important to them.

Many are excited about this new feature. Since most avid social media users already leverage Facebook for polling a broader network of friends, family, and professional connections, professional networkers will certainly see the value of being able to get the opinions of just their professional network. Plus, aren’t we all craving a little more connectivity these days? Here are 3 other practical and easy ways to keep your network engaged and make the most of your LinkedIn Experience:

Like what you see in your LinkedIn News Feed

Read your news feed and like what you see. Maybe somebody is celebrating a new job or promotion. Maybe somebody shared an article they wrote or read — and you learned something from it too. Post a comment or “like” it. Note: LinkedIn has expanded its “like” emoticons to include more than just the blue thumbs-up. You can use the green clapping hands (a favorite of mine) to celebrate, the red heart to “love” something, the yellow light bulb to indicate something is “insightful,” and the purple thinking guy to say “curious.”

Share your own status update

Let your connections know what’s on your mind and on your professional plate by posting a status update now and then. Maybe it’s company news or an article you found interesting — or an article you wrote or was quoted in. Maybe you have a message or wisdom for this year’s high school and college grads. Maybe your company is doing something great in your community. Maybe you took an online course that you recommend. Maybe you caught up with a new connection recently. Share, share, share.

Don’t neglect your LinkedIn Messages

If you’re going to be on LinkedIn, you really need to read your messages. You don’t need to respond to every single one, as there will no doubt be the random “cold calls.” But you should at least know if the people you know are reaching out to catch up, share news, offer to help, or ask for help. Staying on top of your messages is like LinkedIn table stakes.