LinkedIn Profile Top Tip

We’re big fans of LinkedIn for building business contacts with professionals we want to connect with. It’s a great research tool too. The search engine allows you to find contacts and be found, provided you complete your Profile with the right sort of information.  Here’s what we recommend:

For your Professional Profile

Add a recent, professional picture of yourself. This is an absolute ‘must’ if you are on LinkedIn. No picture says you aren’t interested or open to connecting with new people or reconnecting with former contacts who you may have lost touch with. A professional photo makes it much easier for interested parties to see who you are and start developing a relationship

Check your profile is visible to search engines. Go to ‘Edit your Public Profile’ in your LinkedIn Account Settings.

Use keyword search terms in your Profile headline, description and summary. LinkedIn offers a powerful search engine tool that means that people who are potentially interested in what you do and offer can find you.

Make sure you add a wide range of skills to your profile so that contacts can endorse you. Endorsements are a quick visual version of the recommendation, with the added benefit that you can manage them.

Build your list of Recommendations. Go to the Recommendations in the 'Edit Your Profile' section

Add all your interests as these can be conversation-starters or work as an ice-breaker with people who share the same interests as you and vice versa.  You are more likely to have an affinity with someone who shares the same values and interests as you.

Review your Groups and Companies on a regular basis. Who you choose to follow or be a member on reflects your LinkedIn brand. Groups that are inactive or are no longer relevant should be deleted or hidden.

 

For your Company Profile 

Add a cover image to your Company Profile. It helps to establish a brand image

Share an article, ask a question or post a special offer to LinkedIn members who are following your Company Profile. Depending how many followers your Company profile has, you are able to post any updates to ‘All Followers’ to a target list.

 

• Use links and images on your status updates
• Keep your updates short
• Tell your followers what action to take

Build your products/services pages. So many business complete the Company overview page, but fail to work on the products/services page. This does not mean reproducing your company website on LinkedIn, rather, you can get creative about what you offer by including images, descriptions, dedicated landing pages and video links to your YouTube account.

Build followers for your Company LinkedIn Page. The best starting point is to invite employees, suppliers and existing customers to ‘Like’ your page. Include an announcement and ‘call to action’ reminder on your regular communication and marketing material to connect via LinkedIn.

Use the LinkedIn Analytics feature to monitor and track visitors to your Company Page, so you can assess what is working and what you need to adjust.

If you’re still unsure, get in touch. We offer advice and training on how to get the most out of LinkedIn. You can access our Marketing Training Courses here.