LinkedIn is more than just a
place to look for a job. Today, people in every industry, at every stage in
their career, are on LinkedIn.
This social media platform is
a great place to meet clients, network with people in your industry and share
what you’re doing professionally.
What is LinkedIn?
In case you’re new to
LinkedIn, it’s a social media network for professionals. It’s the third most
popular social media network in the world.
You can market yourself and
your business on LinkedIn. Here are some tips to help you rock this social
media platform.
Create a profile with a goal in mind
The foundation of every
LinkedIn account is the personal profile. This is where people look first to
find out about you. Most times, the profile reads like a resume….where you’ve
worked, where you went to school.
When creating a LinkedIn
profile for yourself as a business owner, think about what your goals are and
who you are writing your profile for. Do you want to network with people in your
field? Are you looking for speaking engagements? Do you want to attract new
hires to your company? Do you want to gain new clients?
Based on this, tailor your
profile to your target audience and include information that they will find
relevant. If you’re looking for speaking opportunities, then list where you’ve
presented recently along with the title of your presentation.
Use your proper name
This may sound basic but use
your proper name. Don’t use a nickname. This is a professional social media site,
not Facebook.
If you’ve earned any degrees,
this is the place to brag, so put that Ph.D. or J.D. after your name!
Use a professional photo
Again, this is a professional
networking site, so use a professional headshot.
The photo you use should allow
you to project a professional and likable image.
Write a killer headline
You have 120 characters in
which to make an impression and be found in searches. Your headline is also
displayed when you come up in a search so make it relevant.
A friend of mine is a speaker.
She’s won an award as a speaker. And she’s spoken in Canada, so that makes her
an award winning, international speaker. That’s what her headline says. She’s
looking for speaking opportunities so wouldn’t you seriously consider asking her
to speak at your conference? That’s what a good headline can do for you.
Remember your goals for your
profile. They should carry over into your headline.
Have a great summary
The summary is an overview of
your profile. It should cover who you are, what you do, and what skills you
offer and have a clear call to action. What do you wat the person reading your
profile to do?
Write your summary in the
first person so you come across as friendly and approachable.
Include a link to your website
LinkedIn is a great place to
find new clients, so include a link to your website in your profile. This way
people can learn more about what you do.
Create a business page
Showcase your business on
LinkedIn with a free business page. You can post about your products and
services and, again, add another link to your website.
Post your blogs
If you’ve read a few of my
other blog posts, you know I’m a big proponent of blogging. LinkedIn is another
great social media platform you can use to post your blogs. Show off your
expertise to other professionals.
LinkedIn is a great tool to
network with other people in your field and potential clients so make sure your
profile shines to attract attention.
