Did you know that there are over 500 million active monthly users on LinkedIn? It's super easy to get lost in the shuffle out here. By setting yourself apart on LinkedIn, you'll leap to the #1 spot in your industry. Take your LinkedIn game to that next level, by using the 12 LinkedIn imperatives for your own profile.
- Update your photo – high res, centered, smiling and a good head-shot
Ninja Tip: Hire a craigslist photographer for under $100 to capture photos
2. Give out 5-10 different “Recommendations” to people you trust, respect and would like to help – this ranks you higher into LinkedIn and Google's SEO algorithm as your name creates a "back-link" back to your profile. Instant good karma!
3. Completely summarize you who you are, what you do, how you can help others and provide specific SEO “rich” keywords. “I’m a baker who loves to bake cookies” isn’t as strong as “I have over 10 years of experience baking croissants, raisin walnut cookies, and my specialty is carrot cakes using all natural ingredients pulled from my garden daily”
4. Get in on conversations that are going on every day on LinkedIn. Join groups relevant to your niche or interesting to you. Begin adding value offering tips/tricks and suggestions to make their life easier. They may want to connect with you and eventually need your product or services.
5. If you aren’t using LinkedIn to solve other people’s problems, you’re missing out on an opportunity to showcase your experience. By giving quality advice and suggestions, you can quickly stand out inside of LinkedIn groups and your posts.
6. Pay to Play on LinkedIn – Organic is good, but paid is better. It’s always great when your audience finds you with Sponsored content, we get to choose our audience. We can target folks who would be most qualified and interested versus a blanket style post that hits everyone.
· Sponsored Content – delivers your content directly to your news feed to target audiences.
· Sponsored InMail – This is a game changer as it allows you to target qualified customers adding a level of personalization to it
· LinkedIn Display Ads – Ads are presented in the banner, and side columns to get your product out more often.
7. Search companies and harvest new leads – Create a list of your top 50 company prospects, and then search for each company name in the company’s section of LinkedIn search engine. Once you find the company name, you’ll also see the people who work there and some of the decision makers.
8. Respond to everyone who communicates with you. Relationships can be formed and turned into business for you over a life time. But you must be timely in your responses. This is human relations 101.
9. Rich Media: Add video to your profile – Articles, Video, Photos. Upload a PowerPoint Presentation into LinkedIn and convert it to a SlideShare. This is a great differentiator to separate yourself from others in your industry on LinkedIn
10) Change your Status Regularly - What are you working on today? What can you add to help others?
11) Rearrange your Sections – Relocate your Summary and Skills and Endorsements before your work experience and education. At the top right of each section you’ll see a small up and down arrow that you can click on and drag.
12) Browse the Networks of your 1st Degree Connections – Visit someone’s profile and click on their connections on the right-hand side. If you see someone interesting, invite the person to connect. Write a small personalized note to them. i.e. “We are both connected to John Huffman, and I’m looking to connect and network with other leaders in the Chattanooga, TN community.”
