LinkedIn is social media’s very own business platform and, in a sense, kind of like Facebook’s formal sibling. There are several reasons why you should have a profile on LinkedIn; the days of paperweight CV’s are counting down, it’s the digital age and, like it or not, people will google you and when they do, it’s your LinkedIn profile that will pop up first.
LinkedIn is going to be your most effective marketing tool when it comes to boosting your business, generating leads and converting them and here are some reasons why:
- There are over 500 million subscribers and growing!
- Approximately 15% of people registered on LinkedIn are not on Facebook (shock, horror)
- And almost 60% of people registered on Linkedin are not on Twitter (not too much of a shock horror)
So, as you can see, it’s important to get your LinkedIn profile fired up and looking professional. How do you optimise your profile? We share some tips here.
First Impressions Count
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but in this case it’s the opposite and you need to make a great first impression. Focus on choosing a suitable photo, one that is professional and of a good quality. Also take a moment to upload a background photo; this helps you stand out (Read how you can choose a good background photo here). Write an effective headline description that is concise but properly promotes your value. The average attention span of people today is only 8 seconds- make it count. This headline is your prime real estate on your profile because it is one of the few things that recruiters or hiring companies will see before they click on your profile. Don’t be afraid to update this every so often to align it with particular job roles you may be interested in pursuing. Think; keywords, target audience and your unique selling points.
Put your Profile in the Lime light
This is about keeping your profile visible. Think about which words people in your field are likely to search and include these in your headline and summary sections. Strategic placement of keywords is important when it comes to getting noticed by recruiters. Be sure to have something in the ‘Current Position’ field and if your current title doesn’t include keywords related to your dream role, then add it in after your title so that is comes up in related searches. Avoid overused words and be specific when talking the reader through your achievements, key skills, qualifications and so on. There is even a hobbies section that you can complete on your profile- fill that out too. You are looking to reach that All-Star LinkedIn profile status.
Stay Up to Date and be Proactive
Make sure your contact information is available, visible and relevant. Stick your email address next to your name if need be. It’s also a good idea to get a custom LinkedIn URL that looks more classy and professional- you can change this in the LinkedIn settings. Rather than waiting to be found, get proactive and join relevant groups, make comments on articles, upload any blogs or content you have and ensure you have a good bank of connections. Engagement keeps you at the forefront of people’s minds and if you have worked closely with one of your connections, ask them for a recommendation that you can publish on your page. Make an effort to attend conferences and connect with anyone you have met on LinkedIn or offer to have lunch or coffee with connections; it’s still a social media platform after all.
Before you simply sign up to LinkedIn, familiarise yourself with how it works and go in knowing what your intentions or goals are. This is a powerful platform for professionals, whether you are wanting to make new connections or find career opportunities and is a great way to promote your personal brand or open up new doors.
If you need help setting up and running a successful LinkedIn profile; get in touch with us at www.skivvy.co.za.
