Weekend Work #9

Yes, it's time to get back to work! 

SO- let's get started on that quick weekend work assignment!

We're looking at your LinkedIn Profile today! I know we've done one before on quick fixes, but this is just something everyone needs to do. Take a little time today (or right now if you're smart) and apply these tips to stand out! 

When you first joined LinkedIn, you filled out quick facts to get the profile up and running, just to start connecting with others and feel accomplished enough with your joining.

However, we both know it’s been a few months (or even longer) and you still have a bare profile. You're not going to generate any results for your networking. Even if it some visitors do stop by, they’ll quickly leave to find someone more interesting and complete. 


Look at these popular problems to recognize yours – and take action now to improve your LinkedIn profile before it takes down your networking.
Problem #1: The Minimal-Effort Profile
Here is your name, education, and current job. But where’s the rest?
If you haven’t added any specifics (your full work history for the last 10 years, certifications, or expert skills), your networking possibilities will drop substantially. That's because your profile, just like any website, is find-able based on the keywords throughout your text.
Employers, recruiters, and co-workers scouring LinkedIn also look for context that demonstrates exactly who you are, where you've been, and where you're going. To satisfy them, you’ll need to add competencies, success stories, and publishing's, with detail that resembles your resume.
On the site readers will be able to identify your likely next career target or project and suitability for promotion. Both of which not only improves your LinkedIn profile, but encourages others to network with you.


Problem #2: The Default Headline
LinkedIn has many shortcuts that allow you to quickly fill in crucial data. Most of these are helpful in presenting a polished, professional look to other site users—but the default headline feature isn’t one of them.
When you specify the details of your current job, LinkedIn will ever-so-subtly include a checkbox that is already set to “Update My Headline to (your job title)”. If you leave this information as is, site users will see “Bob Jones, Vice President Finance at ABC Company” throughout all your activity.
However, if you uncheck the box and then edit the Headline available when changing your name field, you’ll have the chance to advertise your career level and competencies with “Bob Jones | VP Finance, Controller, CFO | Growth, Capital, Funding, & Technology Strategies.”
The key in altering your Headline is to use terms that will trigger your hit rate for both your job target and current position (and potentially your industry). Inject a brand message related to your success, as in these examples:
Martin Forester, IT Director. SAP, Infrastructure-Building, & User Responsiveness. Manufacturing & Medical Devices
Claire Wilson | Enterprise Account Executive Accelerating Channel Sales to $40+ Million in Managed Services Markets

Problem #3: The No-Networking-Wanted Approach
If you’re paying attention to how LinkedIn works, you can make it easy for someone else to contact you. However, this doesn’t just happen on it's own unless you take steps to be find-able and reachable.
First, join groups (a lot of them is A-OK!) that represent your career goals. The benefit of group membership isn't just the forums; it’s the fact that LinkedIn allows free contact from other users who share the group with you.
Recruiters, who often use paid memberships to access choice candidates, appreciate this effort, and it can result in additional contact requests from employers via your groups.
Next, ensure that you've left the “Select the types of messages you’re willing to receive“ option under Settings to fully open, ensuring you’ll receive both introductions and InMail (LinkedIn’s internal e-mail).
Look at the contact information. Yes, it’s buried all the way down at the bottom of your profile, but it’s important. Did you add a phone number, e-mail address, or both? If not, do it. You can also add this information in the summary section.
There’s no need to make others wonder if you’re open to networking with them; otherwise, why use LinkedIn at all?

The whole point of LinkedIn is to gain social exposure and network with business professionals. In a primal sense, your goal is to sell yourself. Here are three tips to really get going.

Tip #1 Make It Interesting
Nobody enjoys reading boring resumes, and the same holds true for boring social profiles. Don’t just clutter your profile with professional lingo, work opportunities and bland descriptions.
Make it fun. Make it pop. Throw in a little humor, or spice up your descriptions with something out of the ordinary. You don’t want to go overboard and give the impression that you’re a total goofball, but you don’t want to put anyone to sleep either. You want them to make it through your entire profile, so give them a reason to. The only way to accomplish that is to make your profile interesting.

Tip #2 Use Important Keywords and Search Terms
Marketing 101 for a blog or publication is to use popular keywords. This makes it more likely that the related content will be spit out by search engines. It also brings the content to the forefront in conjunction with various search terms. You better believe that professionals spend a lot of time searching the LinkedIn network, especially when they’re looking for someone to hire, or somewhere to work. Layer your keywords like icing on a cake.
Are you a website designer? Use web design keywords throughout your entire profile. Are you an experienced CEO? Throw in keywords that point out your management skills.
Focus on the specific things you've accomplished in your career. Instead of saying "I worked with various programs", explain how you used estimating software to create contracts, give specific examples of the types of software you used. If you use the specific program and they want to search by that program because they use it too, you’re more likely to be found.
It’s important to remember that when people search for things on the internet, they often use very specific terms. Honing in on those terms and keywords will ensure your profile stays fresh and timely. If you have to, use the Google AdWords Keyword Tool to brainstorm some terms.

Tip #3 Use an Attractive Profile Photo
No, that doesn't mean you have to look like a supermodel in your profile photo. It just means you need to use an appealing image. You also need to be clearly visible. If you must use an action shot, ensure that your face and expression are not blurred in any way.
As much as a lot of us hate to be judged, that’s exactly what potential connections do before they add you to their network. Sure, you might have an amazing resume but no one is going to bother with you if your profile photo includes sweatpants and a dirty tee at the forefront. Especially, if your primary field of work requires business attire.


BIG BONUS TIP: Let Your Personality Shine!
This isn’t the same as making your profile interesting, believe it or not. Don’t be afraid to talk about some of the things you’re passionate about. No one keeps their entire life focused on just work alone, even workaholics have hobbies for their free time.
Keep a professional tone obviously, don’t go telling everyone you like to smoke or get drunk with the boys every Friday night. Still, it’s okay to tell folks that you love to kayak on the weekends, or you’re actively involved with an adult sports league.
Even better, when revealing your accomplishments and life goals let your passion and personality shine. Allow potential connections to see how much that employee of the year award really means to you. Not only does this allow them to gauge what kind of person you are, it shows everyone just how hard you’re willing to work.