Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Jan 2026 Open Access

LinkedIn in Business and Technical Communication: A Textbook Analysis Grounded in Digital Literacy

Sarah Moore The University of Texas at Dallas ; Kathryn Lookadoo The University of Texas at Dallas

Abstract

The study highlights the crucial role of professional social media and LinkedIn instruction for students seeking employment. An analysis of 20 business and technical communication textbooks identifies significant gaps between textbook guidance and real-world expectations. Some textbooks in both fields fall short in offering actionable strategies for creating and maintaining a professional social media presence. While many textbooks emphasize the importance of social media or LinkedIn, most fail to provide concrete examples or best practices, such as keyword optimization for AI, effective networking strategies, and best practices for posting content. Grounded in digital literacy theory and professional identity formation, the study provides teaching recommendations, including the identification and adoption of supplemental materials to teach professional social media usage.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2026-01-16
DOI
10.1177/23294906251405411
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Topics
modern rhetorical theory teacher development technical communication digital rhetoric social media literacy studies
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