7 Tips to Maximize The Value Of Your LinkedIn Profile

It's not enough that you have to manage the challenges of today's digital presence chaos. Now you have to wrestle with the dilemma of what to say in your LinkedIn profile even if you are not in the market!

May I use LinkedIn if I am not looking for a job?

Should my LinkedIn profile be the same as my resume??

How is LinkedIn a powerful tool to build a strategic network?

May I use LinkedIn to grow my personal brand?

As a LinkedIn Coach, I've seen the platform evolve to become one of the most extensive collections of business professionals in the world. What initially seemed like a Facebook knockoff is now one of the best and most used social and professional networking sites.?

Regardless of your networking objectives, it's smart to leverage the incredible platform that is LinkedIn.

Your LinkedIn profile is the foundation for your personal branding. And the company is regularly adding features to increase its capabilities as a personal marketing tool to give you new ways to connect with your ideal customer, either a recruiter or a real client, for your product or services.

Here are 7 tips to help you update your profile and enhance your personal and professional presence:?

1. Choose the right profile picture and a background photo.

Experts say your profile picture might play the biggest role in determining whether you land a job. Actually, statistics (from LinkedIn Sales Solutions) show that LinkedIn members with a photo receive far more engagement: 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. Your background photo is the second visual element at the top of your profile page. Therefore it should reflect who you are, what you do, your brand, and that you care about your professional image.

2. Get more views creating a compelling headline.?

I recommend making every element of your profile visible to everyone. In addition to the public profile settings, having a unique headline is one of the most important fields for LinkedIn's search algorithm. A LinkedIn headline is also key to making a positive impression and explaining exactly what you bring to the table.

This simple change will allow you to appear in searches (and be spotted by recruiters or customer booking for your products or services.)

3. Spotlight your personal brand.?

Highlight what differentiates you. Tell your professional story, not your career history.?

Who you are, what you do, why you are the right candidate/brand, they should consider? By building a strong personal brand on LinkedIn, you will shorten the sales/recruitment process that would otherwise last much longer.?

4. Keep it up to date.?

Don't let your LinkedIn profile gather dust.

Given the number of opportunities for jobs and business on LinkedIn, ignoring your profile is tragic. LinkedIn provides one of the best opportunities to increase your visibility and credibility with members of your brand community. The more interaction you have with your profile, the more likely others will see it. Having said that, some work on your profile is worthwhile.

5. Share your wisdom.?

Share your knowledge and experience with your connections.?

Show your expertise by sharing industry-related content or any insight from your experience to help your community get to know you better.?

6. Build a strategic network.?

Having an active and well-put-together LinkedIn profile will, thus, significantly increase the chances of being discovered either by companies looking to hire people with your skills and experience or customers looking for your product or services. LinkedIn also offers you an excellent opportunity to network with other professionals in your field.?

7. Illustrate the experience of working with you.

By getting endorsements and recommendations. Endorsements give people viewing your profile a quick, visual sense of what you’re valued for. Recommendations take things a step further. LinkedIn recommendations play an important part in getting you or your business recognized and respected. They are personal testimonials written to demonstrate what you're like to work with.

LinkedIn is powerful and will be even more important in the next 12 months.?

Connect, share, learn and grow. If you need help, don't hesitate to get in touch with me!??