What your clients want to seein your LinkedIn Profile

I’m Keren.

I run a digital marketing and design agency called Top Left Design. I love marketing and continuously watching and researching trends and experience first hand what works and doesn’t.

I wrote a blog post called “What social network should I focus on if I had to just choose one?” and though I am active on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Foursquare, and Google Plus, I would still say LinkedIn is the number one choice. If you have to choose just one.

What’s unique about LinkedIn?

Your network consists of your own connections, your connections’ connections (2nd degree connections), and your 2nd degree’s connections (your 3rd degree connections).

Whew!

So, as a bare minimum:

If you don’t use it for networking, at leastshowcase your profile.

Twist on a case studyHow are you seen?

Everything people see can influence their opinion

The first step is to do an audit and a clean up.

…………………………………Why don’t people use LinkedIn “properly”?

Who do you want to talk to?

What do people say about you? What do you want them to say?

• People are private and don’t want to give away too much about themselves.

• People are time poor, and keep meaning to do something about it but other priorities get in the way

• They fear that it’s too technical, and it gets grouped with all the other social networks they don’t use and don’t know what to prioritise on.

More powerful than you’d imagine

• Most professionals are on LinkedIn, at least with an account – and it’s taken the most seriously.

• Your network is the most valuable asset you have.

• It’s a valuable tool for follow up – and follow up is the key to successful networking

• You can use it to super-strategise your networking activities – to research who will be at an event, who the speakers will be, and to connect with people before and after.

• If you let it, it can easily spark your mind for learning, ideas, connections and opportunities.

…………………

So what do your clients want to see?

You need to be ok with allowing people to get to know, like and trust you.

(Any opportunity starts with a connection with another person. If the activity builds connection then it’s worthwhile activity.)

• The right profile picture, attention to detail, spelling and grammar, and a well written profile that’s interesting and stands out.

• Follow the 5 point rule for your profile

Be professional

Show personality• What a lot of people do on LinkedIn is they write

in the third person. Or they write in bullets. Instead, write in the first person, and in full sentences, then already you will sound more human.

• And then, as much as you can, show a bit more about what makes you YOU.

• Your client wants you to have expertise and experience in your niche.

• So highlight this – by describing the roles you have had in the past thoroughly, and including links to articles, your own publications.

Be niche

Be You.• Show personality

• Be clear about what you do

• Show your niche

• Show your expertise

The bare minimum:• Use a good professional headshot• Update your “Vanity URL”• Update your headshot• Complete your summary• Describe previous roles• Connect with people you know

And if you can:• Join Groups (and participate in Group

discussions)• Get Recommended• Recommend others • Network strategically • Add slideshare• Update company page

StrategyUpdate your status with what you are doing, working on, who you are meeting

Check out other people’s profiles and see who you know in common and what groups they are in

Ask to be introduced if you feel you can add value to the person

When you meet people at networking events, connect with them on LinkedIn

Participate in group discussions to be seen as an expert

There is so much more to LinkedIn, but follow these simple tips and you will be further ahead than 98.7% of the population.

Was that useful? Want to talk?

My details:

Text me: 07788590315Email me: keren@topleftdesign.comTweet me: @topleftdesign (use the hashtag #MySite2014 for a special prize)

Speak soon – hopefully in 2014!