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5 Tips For A Killer LinkedIn Profile

By March 19, 2012June 26th, 2015Social Marketing
5 Tips For A Killer LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is quietly turning into a lead generating powerhouse… with over 135,000,000 professionals and counting.  The majority of users still have no idea what this amazing tool is capable of. Of the hundreds of people that attend my local workshops, not one could say they knew 1/10th of the capabilities of this power packed tool.

However, before you can take advantage of the marketing capabilities, you must start with a good foundation. Your profile has to be created in such a way that people searching for your type of business will find you, and once they do, your profile must be attractive enough for them to want to connect and engage with  you.

Here Are 5 Tips For A Killer Profile

1. Use Keywords Effectively. If someone was searching for you, what 3 or 4 keywords/phrases would they use? Go to the search area of LinkedIn and type in those keywords. Do you show up on the first page of results? If not, your first job is to modify your profile to include those keywords in your:

Headline

  • Use all 120 Characters.
  • Don’t use “Owner” or “VP”. Save that for Job Description.
  • Use keywords that describe your expertise like “Small Business Marketing Specialist”.

Current/Past Jobs

  • Add a summary. My mentor Lewis Howes recommends 3 focused paragraphs:  Who you are, who you help and how you help them.
  • Always end with a call to action  (call me, etc.).
  • Include all your contact information to make it easy for someone to find you.
  • Use “I” statements.  (i.e.  I have 25 years experience).

Specialties

  • Make this a list, not a paragraph.
  • Capitalizing all words makes it look more professional.

Work Experience

  • Make sure you fill this in completely to give the best picture you can of where you started and how you’ve progressed through your career.

Websites

  • When you edit your website, there is a pull down menu.  Choose “other”.  A third column comes up allowing for a description for your website. Include keywords and calls to action:  (i.e. “Click for eBook on Business X-Factor”. You can use this to send someone to your website for email capture).
  • Use all three websites: Direct people to your Facebook page, YouTube channel, blog etc.

2. Keep Your Recommendations Current. Once someone finds you in a search and they see your profile is full and complete, it’s important to have some good recommendations.  If they look at 3 profiles and yours is the only one with recommendations, who do you think they will call first?

  • Ask good clients to recommend you and say specifically how you were of benefit to them.
  • Give detailed recommendations to people you’ve done mutual business with.  They might give you a recommendation in return without even asking for it.

3. Make Connections. Connect with as many people as possible. The more connections, the better chance for others to see your profile.

  • Import your email lists to connect with people you already communicate with.
  • Expand your pool by searching for people you may know from college, work, etc.

4. Take Advantage Of The Power Of Groups. Groups are important because they allow you to connect directly with other members of the group even if you don’t know the members.

  • You can join 50 groups and start up to 10.
  • Join groups in your industry to keep abreast of the latest trends and to find out what your competition is doing.
  • Join groups where you will find your target prospects/clients.
  • Be active. Belonging to a group is only one step. You must also connect with people there. Post helpful news and articles, and answer questions to show your professional expertise.

5. Use Applications. They can help you build a more dynamic picture of yourself and show people who you really are.

  • Add apps like your blog, apps that give you the ability to attach documents to your profile, reading lists and more.
  • It is under the “More” tab > “Get more applications”.

Congratulations, you have just created a Killer Profile, so get ready for the perfect storm… storm of leads that is! You have keywords, calls-to-action and contact information spread throughout your profile. Your recommendations are building and you are set to promote yourself with connections and groups and also to set yourself up as an expert in your field.

You are welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn and view my profile as a template. You will need my email address to connect so stop by and send me an invitation!  [email protected].

Whew!!!!  Keep an eye out for my next LinkedIn Update where I’ll show you how to starting building your brand, gain exposure and find great leads.

Join the discussion 15 Comments

  • Allen Levine says:

    Cindy,

    Thanks for this GREAT INFO! We can all use immediately. It will really Help me.

    Allen
    “The Pittsburgh Gaming Guru”

  • Adrienne says:

    Hi Cindy,

    These are great tips and some I’ve followed while others I haven’t.  Only because I’m using LinkedIn for my online business and I really don’t want to put all my past work history there because it doesn’t relate to what I’m involved in right now.  Make sense?I have joined some groups but I need to keep searching because I get spammed a lot.  You would think these people would be a little more professional but maybe it’s still a learning process for them too.  

    This has just been my experience but the few connections I’ve made have been good ones so it’s a great site.  That I have no doubt.

    Thank you for all these juicy tips, really appreciate that.

    ~Adrienne

    • Adrienne, I have a similar situation, where my past work is pretty unrelated to what I do now (kindergarten teacher to web developer and marketer??) But I find it makes for a good story and people’s eyebrows always go up a little which also makes for some interesting conversation. It’s all about story these days, right? And we certainly all have our own!

  • Sonia says:

    These are excellent tips. I have an old linked in profile and deleted the other. I might create one again someday, but these tips were outstanding. There are so many people on Linkedin and when I was looking for work, I had many hits to my profile. It does work providing you market yourself well. With these tips, you can’t go wrong. Cindy, stellar post!

  • Hello Cindy, 

    It’s my first time to read from you, but I’m a regular reader of Carol Lynn’s. I can see why she chose you for this guest blog, you truly shine here!

    These are some fantastic tips on LinkedIn. I think that it’s important to make these profiles POP so that people can easily skim them and catch the quick and most powerful gist of us as possible. 

    Fantastic share, thank you!

    Cat Alexandra

  • Pamela Jacob says:

    Excellent article! 

  • Amy Do says:

    Excellent tips! Time for me to refresh my profile. Speaking of which, making sure your profile is fresh and relevant is important, therefore, I recommend frequent spring cleaning.

  • Amy Do says:

    Excellent tips! Time for me to refresh my profile. Speaking of which, making sure your profile is fresh and relevant is important, therefore, I recommend frequent spring cleaning.

  • I’m still trying to figure out how to get my LinkedIN connections visiting my blog or other sites! 🙁 I’ve been a member of LinkedIN for years and I just don’t see the point. 🙁

    • LinkedIn is like any other social network: you really have to get involved before anything will “happen”. Here are 2 things you can try:

      1. Make sure you have a LinkedIn “share” button on your blog. That way people who visit can share your posts on LinkedIn and potentially drive traffic. Also, YOU should be using your own share button! Post your articles there in your stream so people can see them.

      2. Join some groups. There are tons and tons of groups and it takes a little filtering because they can be spammy at times, but if you find a couple of good groups in your niche and participate in the conversations, you’ll start to be noticed as part of that group. And you can post links to your blog in the groups, as well.

      Give it a shot!

    • LinkedIn is like any other social network: you really have to get involved before anything will “happen”. Here are 2 things you can try:

      1. Make sure you have a LinkedIn “share” button on your blog. That way people who visit can share your posts on LinkedIn and potentially drive traffic. Also, YOU should be using your own share button! Post your articles there in your stream so people can see them.

      2. Join some groups. There are tons and tons of groups and it takes a little filtering because they can be spammy at times, but if you find a couple of good groups in your niche and participate in the conversations, you’ll start to be noticed as part of that group. And you can post links to your blog in the groups, as well.

      Give it a shot!

  • Pattama says:

    What a useful article and great tips here. For me, I found linked help me to reduced time or open me to more colleague to see more of my profile, widen also it has provided. But to make it good to read and touching or fascinating the ability of person to someone. I think it has some trick or some magnificent of how to killed it. Thanks so much.
    Patt

  • Pattama says:

    What a useful article and great tips here. For me, I found linked help me to reduced time or open me to more colleague to see more of my profile, widen also it has provided. But to make it good to read and touching or fascinating the ability of person to someone. I think it has some trick or some magnificent of how to killed it. Thanks so much.
    Patt