There’s not much point in being involved with something, if you’re not “all in,” right? Yet, many people on LinkedIn fail to do five simple things that can help them get more of what they want.
Whether you want to find a job, brand your business, make more money or connect with old friends, here are 5 Cool Ideas for getting more from one of the top three social media platforms in the world.
1. Thin profiles look fake. Post a profile photo and completely fill out your profile information, if you want Linkedin to work for you. A thin profile make you look half-interested and one-dimensional. List schools you’ve attended, places you’ve worked, and at least three Web sites, including your current employer, your Facebook page and maybe your YouTube channel page.
2. All words are not created equal. Okay, let’s run it down again. Search engines function on what are called “keywords.” A string of keywords makes up your elevator speech. An elevator speech is a type of value proposition and when Linkedin connections recognize your value, you will get more attention.
The most valuable real estate on your LI page is the “Profile Headline” underneath your name. It appears in LI search results and almost every other time your name comes up on the site. Choose these words very carefully!
3. Ask, don’t tell. The “What are you working on?” box or “Status Update” works best when you engage people by asking a question. Extra points if the question is related to your value proposition, but don’t be heavy-handed about the reference. When you show interest in others, others will show interest in you. Be interested, then be interesting when using Linkedin.
4. A posse makes you look better. Everyone recognizes Linkedin profiles to be at least part puffery. It’s natural for people to make themselves look as good as possible. Most of us don’t list all of our faults on LI!
Remember that when you write how great you are, it’s self-promotion, but when third parties write how great you are, it’s The Truth. That’s why you should have at least three Recommendations on the site.
Hint: You may have to write ten Recommendations for others to get three for yourself.
5. If 100 Linkedin connections gets you “x,” then 200 LI connections gets you “2x.” Do the math. Add five connections a day to your Linkedin network. Never miss a day. Ever.
Bonus idea–
6. Your top keywords belong in your Linkedin URL. When it comes to Internet marketing, the best place for keyword placement is in the actual Web site address or URL. You can see your Linkedin URL by going to your LI home page and looking for the “http://www . . .” thingy at the top of the screen.
If your name isn’t in this URL already, get it there pronto by going to Profile/Edit Profile/Change Public Profile Settings/Edit (Your Public Profile URL).
My Linkedin public profile URL, for example, is http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelangelocaruso
Before I inserted my name into it, however, it was something like http://www.Linkedin.com/in/5uewbngsoergsjbhgjhshososohgoehrbjkdiyghnshgjskgjehgvhgsjhskhghaeoihyhd.
Do the above five things and you’ll be “all in” on Linkedin!
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