Making sure you make the right first impression

A digital handshake, especially on LinkedIn, is the first impression?someone has about you when they first see how you present yourself on, for example, your profile. it can be crucial for you to make a positive impact, especially if you are looking for a job, selling a product or trying to build a high quality network.

Your personal brand, profile picture and the information you share on your LinkedIn profile, can all contribute to making a strong first impression. If it doesn't look like you have given any time or thought to how you present yourself or your role, how well will you represent a company or a product.

As Dawn Rasmussen, a Certified Resume Writer and President of Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, explains: "Your LinkedIn profile is your personal brand. Make sure that your personal brand is consistent and represents who you really are, as opposed to who you think others want you to be."

An appropriate profile picture is something that is often overlooked but is absolutely essential in ensuring that you make the right first impression. A high quality, professional headshot, will help make a strong impression, whereas a blurry or unprofessional photo can definitely damage your personal brand.?

As Ryan Erskine, author of "The Ultimate Guide to Personal Branding," says: "Your profile picture is your first impression, and it's what people will look at first when deciding whether to click on your profile or not. Make sure it's a clear, high-resolution photo of your face with a professional or neutral background."

In addition to your profile picture, the information you share on your LinkedIn profile is an opportunity to showcase your skills. Your LinkedIn profile should be a reflection of your personality, your professional experience, skills, and achievements.?

As a hiring manager, what impression will a candidate get from your digital handshake? Do you have a track record of successfully developing talent? Do you come across as a person with similar interests and will you have a positive impact on my career?

As a salesperson, does you digital handshake help me to understand your skill set? Will you understand the issues i am trying to solve? Have you sold into my industry before? Does it look like I can trust and value your opinion?

Unfortunately, most people tend to use their linkedin profile as their CV and do nothing with it until they look to move roles again. They totally miss the power it has to build and maintain a brand that helps make you stand out from the hundreds of millions of other profiles out there.

As Emily Miethner, CEO and Founder of FindSpark, explains: "Your LinkedIn profile is your personal bio – it's the place where someone can get to know the real you. Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and interests in a way that sets you apart from the rest."

in summary, your digital "handshake" is an integral aspect of networking in our modern era. Making the right first impression is dependent upon a number of factors, including your profile photo, the quality of your network, what you publish or comment on and how much you care about your personal profile and the message it gives to others. Presenting yourself in a way that highlights your professional experience and achievements, as well as quickly showing why having you in my network will be advantageous, is essential. Doing so can help you lay a solid groundwork for developing meaningful connections with other professionals on LinkedIn.