LinkedIn is an essential part of any professional's toolbox these days, yet so many people fail to make an impact by posting a strong profile.
If you look at your profile on LinkedIn and feel uninspired, how much do you think other people will want to meet you? Here are five ways you can sharpen that profile and attract the right business contacts.
ONE: A Welcoming Smile When people land on your LinkedIn profile, what's the first thing that greets them? Is it a cold, humourless passport photo that has seen all of your character drained from the image? Perhaps it's a holiday snap in front of the pyramids, a picture of you with your family or on a recent stag night? Or do you have an image of you in better days when you had more hair and fewer chins?
Forget the vanity! LinkedIn is a professional network and your photo is a key part of the professional image you want to convey. It should be professional yet warm, recognisable and up to date. You should aim for a full head and shoulders shot and, unlike passport pictures, you are allowed to smile! TWO: Making Headlines What used to be tagged as 'job title' in the LinkedIn profile is now known as 'professional headline'. This is the one liner underneath your name. Following the crowd by posting your company name and job title could be a waste of time...in most cases it is featured underneath as your current occupation.
Unless you have a job title or employer who will attract the right people to you, play with something different. Tell people what you do for them or their network, rather than for your employer.
Have a look at how other people use their professional headline, both those in your industry as well as other people you respect. Which ones appeal to you and stand out from the crowd?
THREE: Tell Me About Yourself... At the top of the best LinkedIn profiles, before the user's CV, you'll find a Summary. Many people miss this but it's your chance to talk to the person viewing your profile.
Write this in the first person as if you are having a conversation. Don't make it too formal, you're trying to engage with the reader. Tell them about your role and your previous positions, but also share why you do what you do and what makes you passionate about it.
Also share a little bit of your personal life to give your network a sense of the individual rather than just the job title.
FOUR: In Other People's Words Whatever you say about yourself, having strong testimonials from third parties can carry much more weight. And I'm talking about testimonials here....not LinkedIn endorsements where people have just clicked a button to endorse you for a subject you may not even specialise in.
Aim to have at least six or seven different testimonials, from people who have a story to tell. Most people will not pay much attention to testimonials from your work colleagues, people who you have given a testimonial in return to or from people just saying how nice you are.
Who have you worked with or for, who can share the real value of what you offered? Think about what a future client or employer would want to read and request testimonials from people who can share that impression of you.
FIVE: Demonstrate your Expertise You can position yourself as an expert in your area of work using your LinkedIn profile. There are a range of apps, such as Slideshare, blog links or Publications to allow you to automatically post links to your external work to your profile.*
Determine what you want people to say about you having read your LinkedIn profile and then use apps to share presentations, articles, blogs and books to your network.
You can also share other blogs, videos and articles of interest by updating the status on your Home Page on a regular basis.
*Stop Press - LinkedIn announced yesterday that you can now add media such as portfolio pieces, presentations and video direct to your profile. So you will no longer need to use apps to do so.
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