According to Kim Stricker, “there are over 500 million LinkedIn users, making it one of the mmost essential tools for every CEO and Executive.” At the Leaders Connect Breakfast on March 15th, Kim, who is the Founder and Strategist of Social Motto, gave Leaders Connect members some practical advice about LinkedIn:
- Create a buyer-centric profile
- Share and post effective content
- Engage and build your network
- Utilize LinkedIn as a prospecting tool
Here are some tips for creating a buyer-centric profile:
- Profile photo – use a current photo; LinkedIn profiles with photos get 21 times more views and 36 times more messages
- Cover Photo – pick an image that represents you in a creative way
- Profile Headliner – tell users who you are through accomplishments and current employment details
- Profile Summary – share your interests, skills, qualifications, and how you have helped the companies you have worked for
- Skills List – help your profile stand out by listing all the skills you have under your belt
- Past Job Experience – do not just highlight your current role; show all of your extensive experience by detailing all relevant work history
- Recommendations – ask for endorsements and give others endorsements. It shows that you are willing to go the extra mile to give a raving review a current or former employee
- Articles – add good content to your LinkedIn profile by frequently composing articles. Don’t worry about length, but just discuss relevant topics in your industry that you are passionate about
- Update – every month or so, do a brief sweep of your your profile to make sure it is up to date
Click here for Kim’s full PowerPoint slides.
With Kim’s assistance, I have been working on my LinkedIn profile. Let me know what you think or if you have made any changes to your profile as a result of Kim’s advice. I also have a new LinkedIn group for Leaders Connect. This is a proprietary group that you may request to join. ~Dr. Rob