Without a polished, professionally crafted LinkedIn profile, you risk not being taken seriously. Upgrading your professional online presence helps to:
Make the right connections, expand your network of resources, attract your ideal clients, and grow your business
Pinpoint your unique value and package it more attractively
Optimize your LinkedIn profile for better SEO results
Rank higher in Recruiter Lite
Create a powerful personal brand message that gets the attention and respect you deserve
Tell your brand story by making the best use of visual profile features (profile banners, headshots, & attachments)
Attract new employment opportunities and get paid what you're worth!
Make the absolute best first impression and establish instant credibility with your audience
LinkedIn is not like other social media platforms. This is the professional zone. The place where people, employers, recruiters, and potential clients will come to seek you out and vet you before doing business with you. To avoid sending your target audience straight into the arms of your competition, you need a strong professional online presence on LinkedIn; one that brands you well and markets your products or service in the most compelling, interesting way.
And you need to feel 100% confident about the quality of your LinkedIn profile because the right people are looking for you, your product, or service.
And when those people find you on LinkedIn, will you be ready?
Create the bigger picture by aligning all elements of your profile as a marketing tool like this:
Banners
Well-branded banners help to introduce your story. They act like the book cover of your profile. It's a great place for a tagline, benefit statement, logo, your title, contact info., special offer, etc. Steer clear of generic banners that don't speak to your personality or brand. The images chosen should reflect the message and help develop intrigue.
Headlines
Should be energized, layered with keywords for SEO (but not just keywords because that's a major snooze), and show your value. The best headlines are designed to set you apart from everyone else in your industry or field.
About Summary
Write your summary in first person to make it more personal, like a conversation. Include your value or superpower and what makes you unique. Balance story telling with action-driven content that builds trust and ultimately gets your ideal audience to make a move. Make sure the message is clear and avoid any confusion. You should be able to answer "why you?" before they even ask it.
Experience
Back up your summary with results. Avoid putting descriptions of the company in your experience section. Think of this section as less than a resume and more as the proof. This is where you can expand on what you promised in your about summary. It's also a great section for SEO if you use relevant keywords.
Skills
Optimize your skills for the specific things you want to be known for or searched for. Avoid dumping everything but the kitchen sink into this section. Keep a clear vision on your skillset and attributes. These are the the areas of expertise or experience you want to contribute and want others to come to you for.
Is it the same approach if you are a business owner vs. a job seeker?
Not necessarily, but it depends on your vibe and how you plan to utilize the platform.
Here are key strategies to consider to help you leverage LinkedIn:
For business owners & entrepreneurs:
Your messaging should be geared toward promoting your business but in a way that connects the message with your audience on a deeper, more emotional level. You do this by sharing your value, what your want to be known for, and letting them know that you have a solution to their challenge.
For Creators & Thought Leaders:
Why should people follow you or listen to you? What topics do you create? What do you want to be known for? Promote your channel through your headline. Share your story in your about summary, and then create and publish content that reinforces your topics or channel approach. And stay active. The more active you are, the more visible you will become.
For Job Seekers:
Leverage relevant keywords that help recruiters or employers find you, but not at the expense of having a boring headline. You still want to follow my advice on headlines and make sure your are standing apart from everyone else. Your banner can be industry focused or personal interest focused. Your about summary should show your impact and the benefit you provide. You have to communicate your unique value that makes you different from the competition.
Getting your brand presence right is the first step towards attracting your ideal audience, demonstrating your abilities and value, building lasting relationships, networking for the future, and growing your business or channel. Waiting one more day to get started is one more day you could be missing out on opportunities that are available to you. Don't risk being passed on because your profile isn't up to par. You only get one first impression. Make it memorable.
To you success,
Janine Hogan
Janine Hogan is a personal branding copywriter, LinkedIn Profile Master, and host of The All-Star LinkedIn Profiles Podcast. To learn more about how Janine can help you be successful using LinkedIn, feel free to connect with her here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinehogantheprofilemaster/
Or check out the podcast that is helping entrepreneurs and professionals better optimize their #linkedinprofile and turn #LinkedIn into a powerful branding and marketing tool.
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