6 Things You Never Want to Do on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a very different social media site than most and there are plenty of practices used on Facebook and Twitter that don’t come across so well on a professional site like LinkedIn. Here’s six tips on what not to do on LinkedIn and how you can take the extra step to stand out on the site:

1. Don’t send the standard connection request, always personalize. When you’re on LinkedIn on your desktop, you’re given the option to send a personalized connection request when you add  a connection. Utilize that feature! If you’re connecting to someone that you maybe saw speak at a conference or even someone you went to highschool with, let them know how you know who they are.

2. Don’t spam your groups. Make sure you’re providing value, commenting on other people’s posts, engaging in discussions. It’s a great way to share the different blogs and sales you have but you’ll get way more of a response from people if you have also been commenting on their posts. Then, when you post about your business or the different things that you do, people will see your name, remember it, and be way more interested in what you have to say. About 70% of the time you spend in those groups should be adding value to others’ posts, not just about you!

3. Don’t selfie. Your LinkedIn profile picture has such a different standard than any other social media site holds. Set aside your selfies, pictures of your cat or your kids, and nature photos for Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. LinkedIn is about your business and you as a professional, so you really want to come across that way. Maybe it’s time to get together with a group of your friends and have a headshot party! They can be SO much fun and you will acquire a photo much more suitable for your LinkedIn! This is your personal brand that you’re selling, make it count 🙂

[Tweet “There are plenty of practices used on Facebook and Twitter that don’t come across so well on a professional site like LinkedIn”]

4. Don’t skip over the summary! This is where you can tell your story, where you can intrigue your followers, where you can share a call to action. All these words you use in your summary are searchable by google. Make sure you are throwing in some keywords that really summarize you and your business so that when people search it, you’re the first to come up! This is a way for your LinkedIn to work for you while you’re sleeping, it’s way too simple to skip over it. Keep it clean, relatively short, and feel free to keep a lot of white space in your summary so it’s easily read and skimmed.

5. Don’t forget to check your privacy settings! This is such a simple fix that can easily slip by you. If your profile is private, that is not helping you be seen by the masses. Make sure you set your profile to public. Go right now and just double check, this is another incredibly simple way to increase the traffic on your page!

6. Don’t ignore recommendations! Of course it’s great to write a review for your hairdresser or your personal trainer, but don’t be afraid to write recommendations for people who can write one back for you! So if you collaborated with someone and you think that partnership went really well, write them a LinkedIn recommendation and more than likely they will write one back for you. Recommendations are gold on LinkedIn and they really make you stand out from your competition. Customers are much more likely to trust a professional that has been recommended by plenty of people that they have worked for or with. If I speak at an event and someone running it comes up and says “Hey, thank you so much you really did a great job and everyone seemed to love it!” I’ll come right back and say “Of course! Thank you and would you mind writing me a recommendation on LinkedIn?” and 9 out of 10 times it I come out with not only another speaking gig under my belt but a glowing LinkedIn recommendation as well.

And that’s about it! Six easy tips that I swear by that can totally turn around your LinkedIn game. Do you have any other LinkedIn tips you swear by? Let us know! I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

Want more tips? Join my LinkedIn group!

What’s “All That Other Stuff” on LinkedIn? Find Out if You Need it!

 

If you have been a follower of mine you already know the absolute 3 must-haves your LinkedIn profile must…well… have! And because you are smart, like all my readers are, you have those filled out, primed and ready to go.

Do you know what those 3 must-haves are?

  1. Your Headline: maxed out using all characters available that describes who you are and what you do. But describes it in a way that says more than you are just a Partner, CEO, or Business Owner.
  2. Your summary section: yep maxed out here too, use every character that you can here, along with skills/expertise while you tell a story to your ideal client or boss.
  3. Your experience section: all headlines filled out fully in a similar manner to your main headline. But here yes you can be a bit more generic using the labels ‘partner’, ‘business owner,’ ‘CEO’.

And most of all your summary and experience sections are fully fleshed out with specifics, links, media uploaded, resume and more.

Why are those 3 things the most important? Because they are all searchable, each word. And also because they showcase the main components of your business why, which is very important to your ideal client or boss or future partner.

But after dialing in this trifecta there is so much more you can do to create a full and well rounded profile that will bring you more online rewards.

[Tweet “Great tips on creating a full and well rounded LinkedIn profile.”]

Here’s more you can do to create a full and well-rounded profile

First – If you are pressed for time or unsure where to start LinkedIn gives you suggestions.
Suggestions about which of these additional features to add. Just click Edit Profile on the home page and voila LinkedIn tells me I should add a language to my profile. Take a moment each day or each week and tackle one section at a time. Skip the ones that have little or no significance, but try as hard as you can to think of items to add before you decide to skip it.

As for adding a language to my profile, I’ve always wanted to learn! But sadly never had the time (starting a new business and all) so for authenticity sake I must leave that blank until I am taking classes or until I book that Italy immersion trip I’ve always wanted to try! But if you have even a minor proficiency – add it – you never know what type of connection you could make.

Second – Pick the section where you feel you might have more bang for your buck.
For example if you are in the education realm, honors and awards, courses and certifications, and publications sections are probably key for your niche. If you are in the non-profit sector, projects and volunteer sections lend a great depth to a career devoted to doing good. If you are in a science field, projects and patents and interests just might be the best way to connect. And finally one more idea if you are in a marketing or advertising niche, personal details, interests and advice for contacting are quite possibly key to getting noticed in a field dominated by personalities.

 

Third – If you only fill out more sections develop these three:

  • Publications: Even if you don’t have a “I can hold it in my hand or see it in an online article” type of publication use your own blog posts here! That in itself is a publication online that will serve to add value to your profile and bring visitors to your website if they like what they read.
  • Projects: As a business owner and entrepreneur I know you have a few (or few dozen) side projects up your sleeve. Talk about them here! Stop worrying about people stealing your idea and start looking for partnerships that will help you achieve these side dreams of yours. If you don’t talk about them you will never accomplish them and you never know who will be connected to your profile that may be able to help.
  • Education: The network of Alumni is not to be understated. In the business world we all hear over and over again, “It’s who you know”, and yes that is still true to this day. Sometimes the only thing you know about them is the fact they attended your school, or if someone is looking to hire you that you attended This instantly gives credibility, trustworthiness (whether warranted or not) and a wealth of things to talk about which ultimately leads to connections and jobs. So please do not leave this space blank if you can help it. Also be sure to fill it out enough listing any clubs you belonged to and activities you engaged in. You never know what fellow sorority member is now CEO of the company you would absolutely love to work for.

 

You may be thinking, “Well if these sections aren’t fully searchable then why bother?”

Great question and here’s the answer:

  1. It very well may be someday. LinkedIn sections and search functions are getting more robust every day. I see LinkedIn adding functionality and features all the time. I believe it won’t be long before we Google one “interest” and gain an entire list of possible connections.
  2. Inside of LinkedIn the search function is more powerful. LinkedIn is always trying to connect people and often it uses the other layers to do so via the sections you have filled out. One assistant of mine had 34 profile views, 1/4 of which were from the typical title, summary, skills keyword searches. However more than half came from “people similar” and “unknown key words” which means anything from interests, to projects, to publications to honors/awards and more. It’s hard to say exactly, but clearly having more depth to your profile is definitely key to getting more views. And more views = more clients at the end of the day.

So I challenge you today, sit down and fill out one “extra” section on your LinkedIn profile, then in a few days fill out one more. After a week take a look at your “Who’s viewed your profile” section and see the gains you have made.

Not sure which additional section to choose? Join me in my LinkedIn group where I can answer that question and more everyday!

 

Why You Might be Leaving Money on the Table in LinkedIn (and what to do about it!)

 

I do a lot of speaking about LinkedIn. I love to go to conferences and speak with groups who are just ready and willing to see social media change their business. During these breakout sessions I try to make my information “real” by doing some on-the-spot mini profile reviews as I am speaking.

What I find is so interesting!

More than 50% of the time these mini reviews reveal that the LinkedIn profile is missing a summary.

Your summary section IS one of the top reasons that makes LinkedIn so powerful and so helpful for you and your business, whether you are trying to find a job or find clients.

[Tweet “Your summary section IS one of the top reasons that makes LinkedIn so powerful for your business.”]

Your summary section is what makes LinkedIn NOT a boring old resume filled with facts and dates and figures.

Your summary section is where you tell people:

  • Who you are
  • Who you help
  • How you help them

And you tell people all of this in YOUR voice.

It’s a way to be interviewed without being interviewed. It’s a handy way to show your personality along with all of your skills, to bring your uniqueness across the computer screen, which all leads to a 100% stronger connection with your viewers every time.

But the biggest reason the summary section is so powerful?

Every word is searchable by Google. Every word!

We all know what it means to “rank” in a random search. Being able to rank is like free advertising every minute of the day. In short, if you skip out on your LinkedIn summary you are missing out on valuable Google real estate that is just waiting to find you the career or the client of your dreams.

So let’s get crackin’ shall we!

Tips to Make Your Summary Section Shine

Use first person.
You want to start the conversation with your audience whether it’s a prospect boss or a prospect customer, and the best way to start the conversation is to be natural, be normal and just be YOU engaged with the reader.

Make sure to use every character allowed.
LinkedIn allows a 2000 character count for the summary section. Every time I write one for my clients I try my hardest to hit the mark, 1999 characters if I can. Again, not using this space is like leaving money on the table, so re-write until you can craft those sentences to fit the space!

Use keywords of your business niche, market, client or career.
What is your target market? Who are you an expert to? What business niche do you want to stand out in? What company or client do you want to be seen by? Keywords are what Google will focus on, as well as internal LinkedIn searches, so make sure you aren’t just telling the story of that “time in life you overcame failure”. Great story to be sure, but distill it down to one sentence, and make sure the rest is filled with keywords your audience cares to read.

Take a look at my LinkedIn summary here:
Look at all the keywords I have (arrows and underlines) as well as the proof that what I do works. Yet my summary still tells a story and I am still having a conversation with my customer.

lisummary

Save some room for your specialties/skills section. Highlight where you are an expert in now and also where you would like to be an expert in the future! Think of at least 5-10 specialties or skills to add here. Sprinkle in some aspects of your professional character that potential clients or bosses would want to know you possess, especially if they are traits you are solidly known for in your current field. All of this adds to your personality profile and is also a keyword pot of gold.

Here is mine:
See how I showcase who my client is (corporate, individual), what I want to do more of (training, speaking, workshops), and what I am really good at (marketing, webinars, LinkedIn, social media design, branding etc).

lisummary2

Your summary is one place you can truly brag about what you do well, and I sincerely hope you do. Your future boss and your future customers NEED to know.

If I had only one piece of advice to give you? I’d say: write your LinkedIn summary section and get it up on your profile TODAY.

Need help getting started on your LinkedIn summary? Join me here in my LinkedIn group and together we can get the keywords flowing!

Personal Branding and Why it Matters

 

According to a study quoted by Forbes: “92 percent of children under the age of two already have a digital footprint.”

And guess what?  So do YOU.

You think, “Of course I do!” But be aware my friend, it’s not just Facebook that brands you, it’s who you are, and how you are perceived day in – day out online. In this world of online marketing, branding is not just for your business.  YOU also have a personal brand.

[Tweet “In online marketing, branding is not just for your business. YOU also have a personal brand.”]

A strong personal brand can change the face of how you do business, the depth and the breadth of your message, and the salary you can command while doing what you do best in your biz.

Personal branding can:

  • establish you as the expert… or clearly show you are not
  • show how much you care about your customers… or broadcast that you do not
  • stake your claim in the online real estate with your URL … or give it away to others
  • set forth the perception you wish your name to have … or allow it to crumble away
  • be strengthened by connection to other brands … or founder in obscurity

Remember a strong personal brand depends on you consistently crafting a message of value in all you do online and off.

The three keys to personal branding are:

  1. What is your why or what do you stand for?
  2. What makes you different?
  3. What makes you interesting and compel your customers to buy, read, hire, or emulate?

Tom Peters from Fast Company was one of the first to talk about this idea of Personal Branding back in 1997.

“It’s this simple:” he writes, “You are a brand. You are in charge of your brand. There is no single path to success. And there is no one right way to create the brand called You. Except this: Start today. Or else.”

Sounds a little dire, even now, but the message behind it remains undeniably true.

We must always be on the lookout for ways to up-level our brand as well as the pitfalls that line the path to this pot of gold.

With that in mind be sure to keep these questions nearby:

  • What is your intention?
  • Is that post you are about to publish helping or hurting your message?
  • Are you engaging with your tribe and listening to what they have to say?
  • Does your content educate and uplift?
  • Do you reach out and connect to other likeminded high-value brands?

One of the best places to use personal branding is in your LinkedIn Summary.

Tell your next customer, client or business partner who finds you there, who you really are, how you make people feel and what is the benefit of working with you. Describe your work in your headline so your target audience understands, make sure how you serve is up front and center.

Are you a creative connector who works well with computers?

Are you a thoughtful entrepreneur who leads by honest example?

Are you a strategic thinker who brainstorms successful solutions?

 

Know yourself, know your brand, know your value. Only then can you truly sell.

 

Want help decoding your personal brand? Join my LinkedIn group and together we can start you off in the right direction!