How to create a LinkedIn Profile That Sells!

Last week I wrote about about some insider moves on how to use LinkedIn to build your business. The insider who provided the insights was LinkedIN expert Jan Vermeiren who was a guest on Charlie Cook’s Social Media Marketing teleseminar.
Here’s the follow up I promised on how to leverage the tremendous power of LinkedIN as a business building tool by creating a compelling profile.

Your LinkedIn Profile is very important because it’s what anyone who refers you will use as an introduction starting point.

If it sucks, they won’t want to send anyone in their network to it.

Here’s what Jan recommends:

1. Use your usual name. The one people know you by. And the one they will search on. If your clients and prospects know you as Bill Baker and you use William Baker, chances are they won’t find you.

2. Include your picture. And use one that shows you smiling. Remember, this is where you have an opportunity to send a message that you are a pleasant person to associate with. The last thing you want to do is look like Mel Gibson or Heather Locklear on The Smoking Gun mug shot list.

3. Use LinkedIn’s Professional Headline to sell yourself. This is the most important part of your profile. When you join Groups in LinkedIn, a small profile of you will show up on the left hand side when you’re participating in group activity. Gerry Black, Helping Small Businesses Identify and Fix Costly Marketing Gaps is going to give me a lot more marketing traction than Gerry Black, Owner, Relax Communications. Simply go into Edit Your Profile and edit your headline to say what you want it to say. Now! Or you won’t do it.

4. In your profile, there’s a line where you can list your website. You can leave the default at My Company or edit it to give the reader a clear message about what you offer. The hyperlink to my site says, Marketing and Copywriting Help. Try to put something there that will make people click. Google will pick up on this as well. Google likes LinkedIN.

5. If you display your Twitter link, make sure it isn’t set to “Yes, share all Tweets.” LinkedIN is a business environment. Not all Tweets are business related. You will upset some people if you’re a frequent Tweeter or Twitterer (or whatever the
6. In your Public Profile, make sure your name is there. Also, in the Summary section, use plain English. Save the jargon and buzzwords for your Specialty section.

That’s it for today. See ya next week.

About The Author: Gerry Black is a marketing writer and consultant specializing in helping solo professionals and small businesses develop and implement simple, proven, online and offline marketing strategies that attract clients. Visit www.marketingwriter.ca