I know. It’s been a while since I posted to the blog. It’s amazing how a full time job gets in the way of things like blogging, but I’ve added some admin time into my schedule, and I intend to use some of that to get back to my blog. It’s not just good for my site. I’ve always relied on my blog to reflect on what I learn from my clients.
The subject of LinkedIn came up recently at a meeting, and I thought it would be a good time to reinforce why every small business owner needs a complete LinkedIn profile.
I’m always amazed at how frequently I run across incomplete or inadequate LinkedIn profiles. Your profile is one of your most important sites on the Internet. Don’t believe me? Do a Google search on some people you know. It’s highly likely that a LinkedIn profile will come up near the top, if not number 1.
Given that it’s so important and shows up so high on search engines, it’s insane that people don’t give their profile the time and attention it deserves. I’m going to talk about a few areas I usually see lacking
Your Summary should be the last thing you write. It’s a synopsis of you as a person, and it’s the tease that makes us interested to read more. No, it should not be the “summary” section of your resume. No “well-organized business professional” type language. That’s good for getting in the door on a job search, but it doesn’t make us want to connect to you. What’s in it for me to connect to you? Tell me that. Or why might I want to use or refer you? Tell me that. Shine. Stand out!
Lots of people cut and paste from their resume to create a profile. That’s okay for older entries, but make the newest positions in your profile snap and sparkle.
Need I say anything about this? LinkedIn prompts you on exactly what you need to complete a profile. Follow their suggestions and get it to the “All Star” level.
Your profile is a huge part of your reputation online. The more recommendations you have, the better. And absolutely get at least 2 (preferably more) for your most recent position. We’re going to make decisions about you based on that. Make sure we’re making a good one for you.
I don’t have the same urgency about Endorsements. I’m not a fan of them. They are too much like a “Like” on Facebook. While a recommendations tells your network that someone valued you enough to do a bit of writing, just hitting a button to endorse you doesn’t carry the same weight.
I could say a lot more about this, but those hit the biggest points. What are you waiting for? Go look at your profile and make it shine.