Once you have created a linkedin profile, the first step is to complete your personal or company profile by clicking on the improve your profile button. According to Linkedin data filling out your complete profile gives you a 40% greater chance for networking success.
Completing your profile with talents, background, experience, passion among other areas will help your profile stand out from the people who choose to leave the information about themselves blank.
Profile Checklist
(i) Use a professional image for your profile picture.
(ii) Create a headline to grab the attention. Use keywords that relate to your field so that it is easier for the right professionals to discover your profile.
(iii) List your current positions in your company and past positions.
(iv) Complete the summary section in third person because first person can take away from the information.
(v) Utilise keywords potential customers will use to find you and use them in the “specialities section of your profile.
(vi) Give recommendations to be displayed on your profile.
(vii) Complete the interests and group association sections.
Profile Optimisation
Optimising your profile to be found by potential contacts is important
(i) Customise your linkedin url to include your name so if someone googles your name your profile has the potential to show in organic results
(ii) Create website listings in the website section of your linkedin profile. Your able to list up to three urls. You can edit the terms that describe the website as well.
(iii) Link to your twitter account. This gives people another method to contact you.
(iv) Make your entire public profile visible to everyone
Building Your Network
To start building your network use first degree contacts by importing contacts from your e-mail contact list and other address books. Linkedin allows the user to log in and import your contacts and see who has a linkedin profile.
Add previous colleagues and classmates to the network and then by viewing the connections of your immediate network you can find potential contacts that way. After you have exhausted your current connections use the advanced search option to search for people in your field and make an introduction. Other ways to build contacts are to join groups that your target market would use and interact in these groups. Lastly, make sure to follow up with all communication by setting e-mail notifications for messages.
Setting up a Company Page
(i) Add relevant details to your Companies description
(ii) Use keywords in the speciality section. Use industry related keywords and keywords that a potential client would use to find your type of business.
(iii) Choose your companies industry.
(iv) Fill out the physical locations section of your profile
(v) Link your company’s blog rss feed to linkedin to showcase your content.
(vi) Regularly create status updates to show currency.
How to Create a Group on LinkedIn
Creating a group on LinkedIn is an effective way to engage people in your industry and to start the conversation on related topics. Choose an effective name that does not involve the companies’ name. Remember when creating your group that it is to network, people are not looking to be directly sold to. You can brand your group by using a variation of your logo. Next your group needs a mission statement that will attract people and show what the group has to offer. After your group is set up and ready to go the next step is promotion
Promoting Your Group
Promoting your linkedin group should start and stop with linkedin. Using other social media platforms to promote your group is a great way to engage people. Participate in other groups and invite people that are actively participating to join a different conversation in your group.
After you have everything set up it is important to keep up with your linked in profile. Stay commited to building your contacts until you have reached a point where people are asking you to connect with them.
I am a project manager at The Click Depot. I work on lead generation using social media, pay per click and search engine optimisation. Add him to your Google+ Cirlces +Cody Peay.
