LinkedIn is a great way to find a job, stay in touch with colleagues, and let everyone know what you’re up to in the business world. But more importantly, it’s one of the best ways to grow your professional network.
So today, we’re going to talk about how to make your profile stand out. These may be reminders for you, but they’re important tips.
You may think that I’m preaching to the choir, but I can’t believe what people post on LinkedIn. Please, get a professional headshot, don’t use one from a photo booth. When people get your connection request, the first thing they look at is your photo. A cropped picture from last year’s holiday party isn’t the best option. And that cut off hand at the shoulder? N-O.
Next on your list. Make a killer background for your LinkedIn cover page. You can do that on Canva or with other social media graphic tools. Plus, you can add your logo and brand colors. This is a free PR opportunity to showcase your brand, so either learn how to do it yourself or outsource the task. It makes a big difference.
Your headline is another important asset. It defaults to your current job, but that’s not who you are, right? You might own ABC Incorporated, but that doesn’t tell anyone what you do. Flaunt your expert status. My headline starts with “Marketing and PR expert, Consultant, Mentor,” you get the idea.
When you write content for your profile, consider SEO. You want to match strategic keywords on your website, with all of your social media profiles. It helps you rank higher and be more searchable on LinkedIn and the web.
I also like using the ‘bars’ as separators to get the most words on your profile. You can type a bar when you hit the shift and backslash key, near ‘enter’. LinkedIn counts letters, numbers, and spaces so you have about 200 – 250 characters to play with.
I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Let’s connect on LinkedIn and talk about how to make your profile more powerful. You can find me @RobinSamora. Just let me know you’re from the Fast Marketing Minute, so I know who you are. Talk tomorrow!
