LinkedIn(R) – Use to Get Recognized as an Expert in Your Industry
LinkedIn®(LI) is marketing tool that can help you get recognized as an expert in your industry. It is an extremely powerful marketing tool of which we can all benefit. I am a coach and teacher on how to create an effective LI profile. Recently I provided a presentation on LI to my networking chapter which is made up of 16 members. I was amazed by previewing all of our members’ profiles as to how many have incomplete profiles.
The thing I’ve learned about LinkedIn® over the years is that most people think of this program as a tool for head hunters and recruiters. This is true but if used to its fullest, LI can be a tool to find clients, to find untapped opportunities, and to be recognized as an expert in your industry.
For example, a couple of years ago, I received an opportunity to present a workshop at an event where the planner found me on LinkedIn® when she searched for a “business networking expert.” My name came up first on that list because I have that term listed as my Headline (title).
Peggy’s Pointers on LinkedIn®:
- Create all of your descriptive points in a word processor before you copy to LI.
- The most important section of your LI profile is to create your Summary and include a career objective and a statement about who you are and what you do.
- In addition, make sure that your Work Experience is complete on every company that you have listed. Be very descriptive of the company and what product/service it provides; a statement about your job description; and a statement about any additional job responsibilities, including learned skill-set you have acquired.
- Go through your entire profile and add information in each of the categories. For example, even if you didn’t graduate from college but attended, include the information under the education category.
- Draft a list of all of your expertise…leadership, software proficiency, publications, etc. Include your skills in bullet form at the bottom of the Summary.
- Engage with your connections regularly. For example, under Notifications at the top of the Home page, will periodically list birthdays, work anniversaries, job changes/promotions. Drop each one of your connections a short note just let them know you are thinking about them. This is a great way to renew acquaintances of folks you haven’t seen or touched base with in a long time.
- In the Interest section, you can follow Influencers, Companies, Groups, Schools. Follow those people and companies that are of interest to you is a good way to know what is going on with each of them.
Finally, do not be bashful about your accomplishments and/or skill set. You never know when you just might have particular expertise that a prospective employer needs for their next project or job.
Peggy P. Edge (c) 2017
