Create A Professional LinkedIn Profile in 10 Simple Steps

In 2020, 80% of B2B social referrals to a website come directly from LinkedIn. Only 13% come from Twitter, and 7% from Facebook.*

LinkedIn is your mini-website. This is the place that people will come to read more about you, and your business. Creating long-term relationships with potential clients inside of LinkedIn will only prove a success, if you have a professional LinkedIn profile that has been expertly crafted.

I have, in the last decade, changed my LinkedIn profile various times to make sure the content on my professional LinkedIn profile is relevant, and as up-to-date as possible.

Are you doing the same?

Regardless of whether you are new to B2B social media marketing on LinkedIn, or whether you have attended a webinar, or read a previous LinkedIn article of mine; there is always something worth learning in everything you read. Here are my 10 steps to achieving a professional LinkedIn profile YOU can be proud of.

1. Your Unique URL

You can customize your public profile URL when you edit your public profile. Custom public profile URLs are available on a first come, first served basis and will help you achieve your professional LinkedIn profile. Don’t know how to get yours? Here is a step-by-step process.

2. Professional Photo

Earlier this year I wrote an article on the do’s and don’ts for a profile picture on LinkedIn. Upload a professional photo which is recent, doesn’t include your friends or beloved pets and represents YOU as a professional. Remember: you are 11x more likely to have your profile viewed with a photo, so make sure it’s a good one.

3. Background Photo

You might not be aware that you can add a “header” background image to your LinkedIn profile, just like you can on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure this is just as professional as your profile picture.

4. Join Groups

Part of using a social network is engaging, and to do this in a professional way, you need to join, and get involved in groups. Don’t join too many, and only join the ones that are relevant to your business interest, and serve a specific purpose.

5. Endorsements

You can endorse a connection for a particular skill by going to the “skills & endorsements” section of their profile, and clicking on the name of the skill, or the + sign next to the skill. Do this for three different connections of yours, and they will be notified via email that you have done this and they will do the same for you.

6. Ask For Recommendations

A recommendation inside of LinkedIn holds a lot of weight so make sure you ask every single person you do business with, if they would recommend your product/service inside of LinkedIn. In return, you can do the same for them.

7. Share Content Regularly

One of the best ways to expand your LinkedIn network and to create a professional LinkedIn profile, is to share great content that is relevant to your audience. I do this on a daily basis and it has helped me build my network inside of LinkedIn.

8. Get Introduced To A Mutual Connection

Inside of LinkedIn you can be asked to be introduced to a contact who is a 2nd-degree connection of yours (you both have a mutual connection). You can do this by going to the 2nd-degree profile, chose the connection from the mutual connections on the right hand side and “request an introduction”. This is a great way to build your professional network.

9. Keep Your Profile Updated

I mentioned this briefly at the beginning of this article. It is key that you keep your profile updated, and relevant to your current working positions. This will include updating your skills, photo’s and experience.

10. Share Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile should act as a mini-website and because of this, you should be sharing it with those you would like to connect with.

Where To Go From Here

Join our upcoming webinar on Wednesday, 12th February at 19:00 GMT where Social Selling expert Vic Williams and I will be sharing more than 25 years of combined LinkedIn experience to help you be successful in 2020.

In just 90 minutes, Vic and I will help you optimise your profile and content to take it to the next level and ensure success, and will be sharing the latest, most up-to-date strategy to be successful.

Why is this for me?

• Get to the TOP of LinkedIn for your specific keywords in less than 60 seconds
• How to position yourself as a trusted EXPERT everyone wants to work with
• Build your LinkedIn network with QUALITY business connection
• Learn 3 SECRET LinkedIn features you didn’t know about
• How to build and grow your PERSONAL brand
• How to turn LinkedIn CONVERSATIONS into hot leads and paying clients
• The top 5 MISTAKES most LinkedIn users make (and how you can avoid them)
• Design and implement a networking STRATEGY

Register today to learn how the top executives on LinkedIn get the most out of their profile and content.

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