From First Impressions to Lasting Connections: Leveraging Your Digital Presence.

“We lost the project to someone not as good as us, simply because they looked better online.”

Just about every workshop I do, somebody will tell me that they have previously lost work / a project / a job to someone not as good as them.

Not because they were a better fit, or could do a better job, simply because someone else was found first.

First contacted.

First thought of.

In today’s world, your digital-first impression matters. When someone recommends you or your business, or is considering working with you, what’s the first thing they do?

????They Google you. And then it happens. They find…

?? A LinkedIn profile that hasn’t been updated in a couple of years.

?? A website that’s okay but doesn’t really align with what you're doing now.

?? Or nothing at all.

And in that split second, they think: “Maybe "someone else" is a better fit.”Why? Because your digital-first impression didn’t deliver the confidence they needed to trust you.

You can read the full post here.

Core LinkedIn Principles

After a week of training in Brisbane and interstate, with teams of varying sizes and from different industries, one thing was consistent: the same three core principles for a successful LinkedIn strategy were the basis of each session.

These were:

?Profile - A strong LinkedIn profile and company page are the foundation of any LinkedIn strategy.

? Content - Content is the bridge that connects your organisation to its audience.

?Connection – It's not about the numbers but about forging meaningful connections that drive real business outcomes.

??As an added bonus, I had the pleasure of meeting with Alistair Marshall while in Sydney. A huge thank-you for sharing your book with me, it made for some nice rooftop reading.

Should You Post More Personal Content on LinkedIn?

?? Should You Post More Personal Content on LinkedIn?

Recently, someone shared with me that they’d been advised to post more of the challenging aspects of their business and life here on LinkedIn, they were told to "make their posts more personal".

Is that good advice? Maybe.

I asked them:

?? What’s your objective here on LinkedIn?

?? How will these personal posts align with that goal?

In their case, they wanted to use LinkedIn for business development.

Here’s the thing: personal posts and sharing challenges can absolutely humanise your brand and have a place on LinkedIn. But if they don’t connect back to your message, story, expertise, or how you help others, they might not deliver the results you’re hoping for.

On LinkedIn - especially when your goal is business development - your audience is looking for trust, credibility, and solutions, not just a window into your personal life or an update on your life circumstances and it's challenges.

This doesn’t mean avoiding personal posts altogether. Personal posts can absolutely be a positive game changer for your business - but it’s all about being intentional.

You can read more about when personal posts work and when they don't here.

Start Where You Are

I was at an event recently, and someone shared with me, "I could never write a newsletter, I wouldn't know what to say."

I totally get it - it can feel overwhelming, maybe even a little bit daunting. But here’s the thing with LinkedIn content, you don’t need to start with writing a newsletter.

The key to LinkedIn content?

Start right where you are and just take the next step in your journey.

Read the full post here.

One LinkedIn Profile Change for Big Impact

During a recent training session, someone asked me, 'What’s the one change I can make to my LinkedIn profile that would have the biggest impact?'

My suggestion: Change your LinkedIn headline.

Your headline sits right under your photo and name here on LinkedIn, why is it so important?

??Your LinkedIn Headline Follows You Everywhere: When people are searching for you, you’re posting, or commenting, your LinkedIn headline is one of the first thing people see before they even click on your profile. It acts as your personal tagline whenever you show up on LinkedIn.

??Keywords for Search: Your headline plays a part in LinkedIn’s search algorithm. Using the right keywords makes you more discoverable to your target audience.

?? First Digital Impressions Matter: Your headline shapes the initial perception others have of you. It’s your chance to make a strong digital first impression and invite people to learn more.

On the flip side, here are some suggestions on what to avoid:

?? Buzzwords: Use specific language that your audience can relate to and shows your impact. Show don't tell.

?? Job Titles Only: A job title is a start, but don’t stop there. Add insights of your contributions, who you help or what you’re known for.

??Excessive Emojis or Symbols: These can affect your searchability. Your headline is prime digital real estate, and a quick update can make a big difference to both your searchability, and digital-first impression.

LinkedIn for Member Organisations

Thank-you Jackie Price from Joint Colleges Training Services (JCTS) for inviting me to host the "LinkedIn for Practice Managers" session and for the opportunity to spend the day at the ACCHS Practice Management Networking Conference, at beautiful Kingscliff.

It was great to discuss how LinkedIn can support practice managers as a tool to elevate their online presence and showcase the incredibly important work they do within their communities.

One of the things I enjoy and appreciate when working with member focused services such as JCTS is the sense of community, the shared drive to make a positive impact, and the support that the services and members provide to one and another - all which were clearly evident to me yesterday!

Thank you once again to the ACCHS Practice Management community for such a warm welcome – it was great to share with you and taking on new learnings myself.

Is 2025 the year you get LinkedIn working for your business?

Not sure where to start with your LinkedIn strategy for 2025?

Take our customised diagnostic tool, the LinkedIn Success Scorecard, and measure your team's digital influence across profile, content, and communication. Here is the link.

?? Upcoming Events and Travel for 2025

Having finished off the year in Sydney and Melbourne in November, I am now taking interstate bookings for 2025, current travel dates include:

January - Adelaide and Sydney

February - Melbourne

March - Sydney

If you would like training for your team or organisation at these places during these times, let's connect!