subject: 5 Killer Tips For Using LinkedIn [print this page] 5 Killer Tips For Using LinkedIn 5 Killer Tips For Using LinkedIn
Here 5 top tips from Red Alien for using Linkedin
1) Fill 100% of your profile in
Your profile should be completed 100% in order to properly market yourself. Most people do background checks on others whenever we want to buy something from them, bring them in to speak, or do anything with them. It is common to Google people to do our research.
LinkedIn is usually one of the top five search results that pops up for anyone's name (assuming your'e on there). First impressions leave lasting perceptions about people, and you don't want someone to come to your profile and realise that you make spelling mistakes, you don't have a picture, no one has recommended you, there is no personal story in your summary, and so on. You need to make sure you complete the profile area 100% and have your profile make you look like the top business guru that we know you are.... Doing so will ensure you're maximizing your marketing opportunities.
2) Update and Engage Frequently
Think of LinkedIn marketing efforts as you would blog, Twitter or Facebook marketing efforts: The more activity and interaction, the better the results. To consistently engage with your network:
* Sync blog posts to your profile with tools like Blog Link or WordPress LinkedIn Application
* Frequently update your profile with the LinkedIn status feature, much like Facebook status updates
* Leverage the LinkedIn Question and Answer function participate in others' questions and ask your own
Updates can be interesting and valuable to others reading them. Others can see what you are involved in or who you have been working with and who they are connected to, also improving others knowledge of you and leaving a mental blueprint.
3) Find Top Recommendations
Just like a lot of the directories are doing these days, you can seek recommendations. is a place for your connections to comment about your work. Instead of telling one person how you feel, you're telling the world that person does good work.
It is important to get good recommendations as this will be a global stamp on your online profile. Think about who know you best (and likes you) maybe someone you work with someone you have provided some good work for. It could be a client or customer if you have developed solid foundations. You may also want to return the favour.
4) Don't Waste Your Profile Opportunities
For the LinkedIn community, your profile will be this first item they see, so treat it as you would any landing page. To make the most of your profile:
Hyperlink using keywords. Include relevant URLs in your profile, and use links with anchor text. For example, instead of "My Blog," use a keyword to describe it such as "SEO and Online Marketing Blog." (see image below)
Use keywords in descriptions. That includes the summary, specialties, experience and all other description categories.
Include an image in your profile.LinkedIn, after all, is a social networking channel. So add as many personal touches as possible to maximize engagement and put a face to the brand.
Caption: Include blog or website links in your profile using anchor text.
5) Check Out the Competition
With the use of LinkedIn you can see your competitors's teams, clients, references, plenty of information that is not readily available to you otherwise. You may also see where they're coming from, or what they've been up to recently.
If you're in B2B, then communication is important and you should be looking to get moving in social media, especially LinkedIn. Maybe you started a while ago and now need to go back to LinkedIn to use it wisely if you haven't already.
