On LinkedIn, your personal profile is the core element of an effective LinkedIn strategy. You cannot be successful selling on LinkedIn if your profile is sub-par. This article gives some key pointers on how to do it right, so read on...
No matter how successful you are at getting the right people's attention, they inevitably show up on your profile where they make a yes or no decision... is this person worth having in my network?
The following profile sections, if completed correctly will convert more of your profile visitors into discovery calls:
Background banner image: We live in a visual world so take advantage of it by putting up a high quality and unique banner image. It can look similar to your website branding, or represent some core concept of value you provide to your customers. Visual branding should be part of your LinkedIn strategy, and the banner is where you do it.
The banner image at the top of your profile is a great place to brand yourself. LinkedIn's stock photos are pretty well-worn, so I recommend getting one from a stock photo service. Contrast and color matching with your headshot photo is important. For example, if you are wearing a black suit, a lighter color banner image can work well and make your photo pop out. Or you might want to go with a dark banner to emphasize the serious nature of your work, such as law or Internet security. I recommend against adding logos, avatars or anything like that.
The Summary is your place to shine. It's where you tell your value story. What differentiates you from your competitors? What types of customers do you work with? What disqualifies a potential candidate from working with you? Is there a quote you particularly like that represents what you're all about? This is your chance to make a great impression, so state things clearly and use up as much room as you need and the keywords that people search for to find you.
Don't forget your headline. Most people leave it at the default job title. But this isn't a good LinkedIn strategy -- it should be changed to what you do and what value you offer. Try to write a 3-5 word elevator pitch somebody can clearly understand at a glance. Your headline and photo is what people see at a glance all over LinkedIn, so a good headline will really increase your incoming connection invites.
Projects are important. This is a place you can put case studies, successful projects, etc. This adds credibility to your pitch. It also gives sales prospects an idea of how you can help them with our solution.
Getting solid recommendations is an essential part of a strong LinkedIn strategy. Ideally these should be in the words of your clients. Three to five recommendations is a good range.
If you have published online or offline, the publications section is the place to list these. Publishing is important in many circles (law or science, for example), and it is good to list papers, articles, films, interviews and other content you've originated or co-authored.
For an effective LinkedIn strategy aimed at selling to ideal customers, you need to have a strong profile. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you optimize your profile and generate more business.
No matter how successful you are at getting the right people's attention, they inevitably show up on your profile where they make a yes or no decision... is this person worth having in my network?
The following profile sections, if completed correctly will convert more of your profile visitors into discovery calls:
Background banner image: We live in a visual world so take advantage of it by putting up a high quality and unique banner image. It can look similar to your website branding, or represent some core concept of value you provide to your customers. Visual branding should be part of your LinkedIn strategy, and the banner is where you do it.
The banner image at the top of your profile is a great place to brand yourself. LinkedIn's stock photos are pretty well-worn, so I recommend getting one from a stock photo service. Contrast and color matching with your headshot photo is important. For example, if you are wearing a black suit, a lighter color banner image can work well and make your photo pop out. Or you might want to go with a dark banner to emphasize the serious nature of your work, such as law or Internet security. I recommend against adding logos, avatars or anything like that.
The Summary is your place to shine. It's where you tell your value story. What differentiates you from your competitors? What types of customers do you work with? What disqualifies a potential candidate from working with you? Is there a quote you particularly like that represents what you're all about? This is your chance to make a great impression, so state things clearly and use up as much room as you need and the keywords that people search for to find you.
Don't forget your headline. Most people leave it at the default job title. But this isn't a good LinkedIn strategy -- it should be changed to what you do and what value you offer. Try to write a 3-5 word elevator pitch somebody can clearly understand at a glance. Your headline and photo is what people see at a glance all over LinkedIn, so a good headline will really increase your incoming connection invites.
Projects are important. This is a place you can put case studies, successful projects, etc. This adds credibility to your pitch. It also gives sales prospects an idea of how you can help them with our solution.
Getting solid recommendations is an essential part of a strong LinkedIn strategy. Ideally these should be in the words of your clients. Three to five recommendations is a good range.
If you have published online or offline, the publications section is the place to list these. Publishing is important in many circles (law or science, for example), and it is good to list papers, articles, films, interviews and other content you've originated or co-authored.
For an effective LinkedIn strategy aimed at selling to ideal customers, you need to have a strong profile. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you optimize your profile and generate more business.
About the Author:
To implement your LinkedIn strategy as a cohesive system you need to utilize at least one professional LinkedIn strategy (SEE HERE)