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5 More Ways to Make your LinkedIn Profile Work for You

By Jan Wallen

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Published: 18Feb2009
Word count: 772
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When someone looks at your Profile, they'll decide whether to connect with you, hire you as an employee or for your services based on what they see there. Make it a good first impression, and make it compelling so that they contact you.

People want to connect with people they know, like and trust. And they buy from and hire people they know, like and trust. Be sure your LinkedIn Profile shows who you are and that people can know, like and trust you.

Here are some more tips for creating your Profile so that you're found on LinkedIn, and your Profile shows them that you're the best person to connect with.

1. When your LinkedIn Profile is complete, it's searchable by the search engines - almost like your own Web page. Look at other peoples' Profiles before you create yours. There are good examples to look at to get ideas for what to include in your Profile. Check out several in your industry or area and some that are outside your area. And complete your LinkedIn Profile as soon as possible, even if it's not perfect. Your LinkedIn Profile is dynamic, and you'll be making changes as you find a job, work with more clients, and see how other people write their Profiles.

2. Get Recommendations as soon as your Profile is finished. Offer to write a Recommendation for people you know and have worked with. Ask people who know you to write a Recommendation for you. Perhaps people from the company where you work, or clients, if you have your own business. Recommendations are like testimonials about you, and can include how you've worked together, results you've achieved, and why someone likes working with you. A good way to get Recommendations is to offer to write one for people you know on LinkedIn. Often they'll write one for you in return.

3. Make a list of your goals and what you want to get from being a part of LinkedIn. There's a summary section of your Profile where you list why you're a part of LinkedIn, and what you want to get from it. For example, new clients, a new job, let people know about your business or special events, etc. These may change as your goals change.

4. Make it a habit to use LinkedIn before you travel. Search for people in the city you're traveling to, connect with them via LinkedIn or a phone call or e-mail. Send them the link to your Profile, and tell them you're in LinkedIn and want to meet with them when you're in their city. Solid networks are being built in person through LinkedIn.

5. HOT TIP: Include the link to your LinkedIn Profile in your e-mail signature, so people can click right through to see it. This has paid off for me in many ways. For example, I sent out an e-mail with the link to my LinkedIn Profile in the signature line, and someone contacted me and said that my e-mail prompted him to look at my LinkedIn Profile and my Web site, and he wanted to connect with me. He was from Hungary, and we've already connected on LinkedIn and when he was in the U.S. recently.

Also include your link in the resource box of articles you write. Be sure you personalize it before you start sending it out. For example, rather than the link that LinkedIn gives you automatically, which is something like, www.linkedin.com/in/146t25ab, personalize it so people can read it and know it's you. (It's easy). Mine is www.linkedin.com/in/janwallen.

And here's extra tip for you - because I believe in Lagniappe, a New Orleans custom that means "a little bit extra". It started in New Orleans when the baker gave you an extra bun when you ordered a dozen. And I've adopted it and made it a part of my business practice.

Your Lagniappe (a little bit extra):

6. Connect with people you know and want to know on LinkedIn on a consistent basis. Invite people to be a part of your LinkedIn network regularly. It's very easy to extend an invitation - there's an e-mail that LinkedIn has already created that invites someone to be a part of your network. They can view your Profile on LinkedIn. My recommendation is to personalize your Invitation rather than use the rather bland one that was written by LinkedIn. For example, make it personal and friendly, and say more about why you want to connect and about who you are and what you're looking for in LinkedIn.

© 2008-2009 Jan B. Wallen. All rights reserved.

Are people finding you on LinkedIn? Does your Profile have the right keywords? Do they see why you're the best person for the job? If they don't, they can't hire you or work with you. Jan Wallen's Profile Makeover tells you exactly what to do. You've just read 5 Insider Secrets for your LinkedIn Profile. If you found them helpful, you'll find lots more at http://www.LinkedInWorks.com in Jan's book, eColumn, teleseminars and workshops.

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