5 LinkedIn Must Do's...Like, Do Them Now!

Yes I mean, right now. If you're on LinkedIn, and you haven't done at least these 5 things, then go do them right now. Do not call your spouse, get a cup of coffee, or check-up on Facebook statuses...Just take 30 minutes and do this now.  It doesn't matter if you are looking for a new job, wanting to connect with old colleagues or business partners, or using LinkedIn for networking purposes. These 5 Must Do's will make your profile so much more enticing and noticeable.

5 LinkedIn Must Do's!

1. Upload a photo of yourself. Don't upload your company logo (that's against LinkedIn's policies). And besides, people want to know who you are and whom they might be connecting to. Just like a Realtor, your friendly mug on your profile shows people who they are dealing with and puts a “name with a face.” And make sure it is a professional looking photo.
   
   
2. Make your professional headline enticing! Your professional headline is the first thing that people see on your profile. It is to the left of your profile picture. So make it exciting...and not just your current job title or position. For example - "Entrepreneurial Visionary and Social Marketing Guru," "Inspirational, Creative Director specializing in...,” “Author of…” Anyone viewing your profile will see your current and past employment connections, so use this headline to sell and promote what you are currently doing that sets you apart.
   
3. Tell a Story! The summary section of your LinkedIn profile is the place to tell your story. Again, make it enticing, exciting, educational and not just your job history. If someone finds you interesting, they will either a) ask you if you will connect with them, b) ask for your resume, or c) get enough information from your profile to contact you and have a chat. And make sure your story (and for that matter your entire profile) is keyword rich.
   
4. Make a connection each day. This is part of being consistent with your social marketing plan. Daily involvement on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, keeps you in front of connections and followers. For LinkedIn, making a connection each day helps to grow your network and also, keeps you active.  However, don’t just make connections to make connections. When making a connection add value "to them,” ask how you might be able to "help them," and swallow your pride and "ask someone else for help." After all, isn’t networking on LinkedIn, just like networking face-to-face? Same principles apply as the local networking mixer.
   
5. Cross pollinate your presence on other social platforms. This is a weird way of saying, “Cross Promote” other social networking sites where you can be found. Just because you connected with someone on LinkedIn doesn’t necessarily mean they are always on LinkedIn. Maybe they are a Facebook junkie, or a Twitter twerp. By letting your connections know how they can find you on Facebook, Twitter, Biznik, whatever their social network of choice you not only continue the engagement with them but you then “cross connect” to their networks of friends and associates who just might become one of your connections or followers.

Bonus To Do – I know I was only going to give 5 “To Do’s” in this post, but here’s a bonus and it is easy

#6 - Add your linked in URL to your email signature. How many emails do you send out a day? And with each new email you are either a) reinforcing where you can be found, b) potentially connecting someone new to your LinkedIn profile, or c) getting a referral if your email is passed along to others.  So use your LinkedIn URL wisely. It can be found by “Viewing Your Profile,” and then scrolling to the bottom of the blue box of your profile, where you will see “Public Profile.” That’s your LinkedIn URL.

So do these tips make sense? Let me know!