5 Steps To Building A Productive Linkedin Profile

To so many Linkedin is viewed as more in depth business card.  Which in some cases is true, but it is also so much more.  Used correctly, Linkedin can be the single best source for new job opportunities, expanding your network, finding mentors, getting cutting edge news and data, and even generating new business for your organization.

So how do you reap these benefits?

Below are six easy steps you need to take to make your profile not just another name on a list, but a profile that is productive for you and your organization.

1. Add or Update Your Profile Photo - Not having a photo on your profile is the fastest way to Linkedin Failure.  Having a "RECENT" photo shows that this profile is really you, and that you are engaged with your online network.  This is very important if you are looking for new business or job opportunities.

For those of you who do have a photo on your profile, you have taken a great first step.  But, you also must make sure to keep it updated!  One of the largest frustrations I have with profiles is meeting a person for the first time that looks nothing like their profile photo.  My issue with this is that it immediately raises red flags that this person may have self esteem issues, or may be hiding something.  It is always better to be upfront and honest with all the data on your profile, and your photo is no different.

2. Write an Engaging Bio - I am not saying you need to write Nobel Prize worthy bio, just something that can capture attention quickly, and make the person viewing your profile want to learn more.  Personally I find the use of carefully selected quotes (that I update annually) to be very useful.  The quote(s) I select are always relevant to the industry I work in, and reflect the image I wish to portray to my profile viewers.

A few other cleaver ideas I have seen are the use of jokes, personal mission statements, and great questions (i.e. - Do you need a person who can double your current sales in 12 months?).

The secret sauce is to be UNIQUE and CLEAVER and PERSONAL.  Make your bio reflect you, and make it standout so when someone reads it they will remember it and talk about it with others.  But, even more importantly make sure when you read it that is 100% YOU!

3. Keep Your Work Experience Up To Date! -  Not updating your work experience is by far one of the most common mistakes people make on Linkedin.  If something changes, it must be reflected on Linkedin ASAP.  It doesn't matter if it is something as small as your title changing from Sales Executive to Sr. Sales Executive, you need to memorialize it on Linkedin the day it happens.  This not only is important for future job opportunities, but it also sends out a note to your entire network, which can potentially jog their memory of a business opportunity they may need to talk to you about.

Remember, every opportunity to get in front of your network both digital and face-to-face is important not to waste.

--> As I was writing this post I received an email from Linkedin with the title "Who's Started Something New?"  Just proving my point that keeping your profile up to date is so important!

4. Beef Up Your Experience With Accomplishments - You don't have to win an official award to have accomplishments.  These can be as small as beating quota by 10% in a quarter, to as large as making the President's list at your company.  It is important to celebrate your professional accomplishments and share them with your network.  By doing this you do two things:

a) You show people that you celebrate all victories small and large, and take a positive view of everything going on.

A positive view of the world is a breath of fresh air to many employers, especially coming off the rocky economic times we all just went through.  People want to work with people that always see opportunity, even when no one else can.  This kind of attitude is what makes leaders, and that is what every company wants in their ranks, and as partners.

b) Accomplishments show prospects and your network that you are someone who strives to do more in your position that just hold a status quo.  When a potential employer or client sees this, it will help them view you as a resource, rather than another vendor or prospective employee.  Changing this view is so critical, as it then allows you to collaborate with a person, rather than just take orders from them.

--> It is important to note the importance of recommendations.  Many people will say that recommendations are the most important item for your profile.  Personally, I do agree they are important, but do not view them as mission critical.  Recommendations are things you do need to ask for, and will get when you have earned them from your network.  

One word of warning is that you need to make sure to only publish recommendations that is both impactful, and relevant to the image you are looking to portray on your profile.  So many times as I am reviewing a profile and reading peoples recommendation I begin to get confused by what the person actually did.  (i.e. - A VP of Sales received a recommendation from a co-worker in H.R. / Recruiting who mentioned that she always appreciated the help he would offer with recruiting efforts her team was working on.)  This raises two flags for me: Why is a Sales VP working on recruiting and not sales, and how does this tell me why this person was a good/great Sales VP?    

5. Stay Engaged and Active - Social media is not a set it and forget it environment.  It is communications channel that must be managed and supported on a regular basis.  Now I am not saying you need to be working on it 100% of your time.  What I am saying is that you do need to schedule 5 - 10 minutes a 2 - 3 times a day to check it and share some news about yourself or something going on in your professional environment (i.e. - News article, blog post, reactions to a new technology, etc...).

Though many do not believe it, people are curious about what you do, and what you think about.  Share it!  This will engage your network and help them become closer to you.  This way when an opportunity presents itself to them, that you could benefit from, they will come to you with it.

--> A great FREE resource I highly recommend to every busy professional is an online service called Buffer (https://bufferapp.com).  This service allows you to load up posts for all your Social Networking sites and then it will post them on a regular schedule throughout the day.  I have used this program with great success and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone looking to get more active, but can not be day-to-day.


If you follow these 5 easy steps you will be well on your way to building a GREAT network that your are engaged with, and can come to rely on for business opportunities for many years to come.

Feel free to visit my Linkedin page and add me to your network to see my profile in action!
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcmcmillan/

To Your Success & Prosperity!!