LinkedIn: Handy hints and hacks.

I recently announced that I'd made a change to my working life.

I chose to make the announcement on LinkedIn. So far I've had nearly 500 "likes" and 50+ comments on the LinkedIn update and over 100 messages via LinkedIn messenger to congratulate me. I do not write this to self-promote or stroke my own ego....I write this because it's evidence that the persistent approach I have taken over the last 5+ years to build a LinkedIn profile that truly reflects my brand has been successful.

LinkedIn is easy to learn and its powerful!

I taught (& continue to teach) myself about how to use the full power of social media. I read blogs, articles, follow influencers and look at the writing style they have..I listen for their online "voice". I have also had a little bit of professional help from specialists like Amanda Blesing who has a great approach to managing LinkedIn.

I want to share something else.

I have had heaps and I mean literally heaps of invitations to connect on LinkedIn, particularly recently as my business takes off. Two things I think about. Firstly, many of the invitations are from strangers who do not bother to personalise their invite. So I have to look at their profile, work out who and what we have in common and make a call from there. More often than not, I connect, that's what LinkedIn is for and I'm not a "LinkedIn snob" which many people are. Second thing, when I check the profile of the person that wants to connect, many are either blank or as good as blank. So I have ZERO idea who you are, what you stand for, why we should connect or how I can help or be helped. Here's tip...no pic, no connect! Gah!

So, in the spirit of generating lots more outstanding LinkedIn profiles, that make it easier for all us humans to connect and know each other better, here are a sample of the tips that I've pulled together from a lot of other clever people.

 Headline:

1. To maximise the ‘hits’ on your LinkedIn profile…don’t use your generic job title! Especially if, like me, you have several jobs!
2. Your headline tells the world how you see yourself. Be creative. Be descriptive.
3. Use every one of the 120 characters (yes use symbols) to create an at a glance profile. You want to be click-bait!

LinkedIn Photo:

1. Have one! I do not connect with people who haven’t bothered with this basic step.
2. Do not make it the same as your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc LinkedIn is your professional site
3. Have a professional shot taken. These are not expensive. Matthew Cook at MJC Creative Images is my go to photo guy.
4. Smile!! It’s catching.

Summary

1. Your headline will have attracted people to your LinkedIn page. Now give them something interesting to read!
2. Write in the first person…i.e.: I am an entrepreneurial woman who wants to change the world for women.
3. Imagine that you are describing to a recruiter or potential employer how you will help them. For example “I am able to quickly build trust and rapport with new teams along with thriving in ambiguous changing work environments”. Or “I am very entrepreneurial and use these skills to generate new ideas that have led to xxx success in xxx role”.
4. Talk about your passion projects. Recruiters and employers want to hear about your values and your character. They can see your qualifications and technical skills elsewhere. Talk about achievements that you are proud of.
5. Use bullet points. Use paragraphs. Remember people skim read things online. Long sentence structures and paragraphs make people lose interest.

If you would like to know more, my advisory service Ready2Thrive may be for you.

R2T offers:

Short term, high impact career advisory service for women who are undertaking or planning to undertake a career change or transition. Includes:

1. CV Audit and rewrite
2. LinkedIn Audit and rewrite

1:1 interview preparation and coaching

Michelle is an astute businesswoman & keen entrepreneur who has founded a business to advise women about how to shatter the glass ceiling & be successful, in whatever way they define success. Founded by a woman, run by women, for women and the organisations that employ women. Michelle is a coach, mentor, consultant, runs events & speaks about her vision to create a gender equal world. Michelle’s business supports, advocates, activates and champions women of all ages and stages.

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