Most of us have a Facebook profile, Twitter account or a Pinterest page, but many of us overlook the importance of a LinkedIn profile as a social networking site. This is the social media network that many professionals are turning to when looking for jobs, networking with people within their industries or even just reconnecting with old colleagues. LinkedIn is a powerful network that you should go back to not only for personal use, but also for business. Here are 3 tips to make your LinkedIn profile stand out.
1. The Headline
Did you know that your LinkedIn profile has a headline? That’s right, you may not have noticed it because it usually defaults to your current job title and company you work at. But guess what… you can change that headline to anything you want. You have 120 characters for this section and if you do it right, it can make you stand apart from all the other LinkedIn profiles out there. Tell people specifically who you are, who you help and how you help them.
One secret to making a great LinkedIn headline is to be creative – don’t just make it all business. Here are a few examples of headline creativity from Forbes:
“Reliable pet-sitter who will find out and report back to you exactly what your dog is up to when you’re not home.”
“Copywriter who knows how to craft web content that goes viral. Oh, and you’ll never beat me at Scrabble.”
2. Spell Check!
Believe it or not, spell check is still something that needs to be reiterated over and over again. In a world where we send messages in “text talk” and abbreviate words for character space, it’s important to remember that checking your spelling on any of your social media profiles is mandatory. Prospective clients, customers and possible future bosses maybe looking at your LinkedIn profile; having spelling mistakes could mean disaster for future possibilities. Make sure to check everything and have others review it to give you their feedback. This small step could make all the difference in your interactions on LinkedIn. It’s all about first impressions.
3. Include A Call To Action
We all know having a call to action is important when crafting blogs or updates for your social media networks, but did you know it’s also important to have a call to action on your social media profile? In the “Summary” portion of your LinkedIn profile you should not only have a brief description about yourself, your skills or your company and its goal, but you should also have a link to a website, what number to call to get a more information or the best way to email you. Don’t leave your potential customers and clients hanging. Give them a place to go to next and a reason to go there.
You should consider your LinkedIn profile as your professional brand to the world. While social media sites like Facebook and Twitter keep you in contact with friends and family, LinkedIn is meant to keep you in step with your professional network. Make sure all the information on your profile is correct and updated. As LinkedIn continues to grow in numbers and gains more media attention, it will prove to add more value to your brand and business, so make sure to utilize it well and to its fullest extent.
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