LinkedIn Or Left Out

Editor's Notes

• #8: If you’re only using social media as a broadcasting tool, you’re missing out on the power of connectivity networks such as LinkedIn offer.
• #11: You have a meeting with a new prospect. You have to expect that the prospect is talking to multiple promotional marketing firms, right? If the prospect is truly doing his or her homework, they are checking you out BEFORE the call to learn more about you. And they will make a judgment—right or wrong—about you based on what they find online (or don’t find).If you’re using social appropriately, then you’re also checking out your prospects online to see what commonalities you have so that this cold call feels a litter warmer.
• #12: POLLHow many of you are on linked in?How long? 1 year, 2 years, etc.Do you consider yourself active?Inactive, why?
• #13: 2 new members join—one of these could be your next client.Fortune 500 execs—who doesn’t want to get some of this business? You typically don’t waltz right up to these guys. It’s who you know…and who knows you.5.7 billion searches—you can’t be found unless you have a profile!
• #14: Company pages—are you following the pages of your clients and prospects?Actively sharing content—there’s lots to learn, and there are many ways to begin conversation.
• #16: My goals—all of my business is referral, so I must provide social proof that I can demonstrate the skills and expertise that I claim to have. If you don’t tell your story, someone else will. Take control of the narrative.
• #17: Incomplete profiles are one of the most common mistakes—and it’s one of the easiest to correct with some time and attention.As a salesperson, would you want a 40% greater chance of a sales opportunity coming your way?The difference is in the details. The only way to showcase your expertise is by explaining what you do, how you do it and what makes you different than anyone else.
• #19: How would you put yourself together when going on an in-person interview?Think about clothing choices—have contrast with skin tone, wear a timeless style rather than something that will easily become dated.Think about colors—typically blue, green, burgundy and brown work best.Look put together—style your hair, women wear an appropriate amount of makeup (not too much), men groom facial hair so it’s neat.
• #20: Take charge of your headline. This little 120-character section is prime marketing real estate. It should explain what makes you special—and different from the 200 million other people on the network. And it should be compelling enough for your target audience to read more.In the article “How To Make Your LinkedIn Headline Stand Out,” author Jenny Foss, Ladder Recruiting Group says: Done well, your LinkedIn headline can be used to promote your brand statement, core marketing message, most enticing expertise, and all-around spectacularity (please don’t use that word in your LinkedIn headline.)Bottom line: Done right, your truly unique and “branded” professional headline can increase the inbound marketing power of your LinkedIn profile.
• #23: After the headline, this is the most important section. You have free reign to sell yourself in the summary. You have 2000 characters, so make them count.Andy Foote, Linked Insights: 3 Stunningly Good LinkedIn Profile SUMMARIES “Because it’s the only area on the Profile where you get to define yourself from scratch, with a blank sheet unencumbered by dates, labels or other text boxes. Because it’s personal – it’s where people look to find out what makes you tick. Are you in command of your narrative? Does your Summary do you justice? Or have you just copied & pasted your 5 year old resume as a temporary measure? How long is temporary?”Tip from the MarketingThink.com blueprint: Humanize the story of YOU to say who you are and what you have done…and speak in the first person. Include phone, twitter handle and blog URL in the top of the summary (note: all this info is in the contact drop down, so you’ll have to decide if you think this is redundant. If so, put this info at the end as a call to action.)
• #24: From the article “3 Stunningly Good LinkedIn Profile Summaries”Something interesting happened from the time this article was published on Feb 7. Kay Allison changed her summary copy. Here’s how it read in the Feb 7. article:“Harriet the Spy” was my Bible when I was a little girl. I copied her by spying on my neighbors and writing down what I observed in a little notebook as well as noting questions that their behaviors triggered. I even spent a summer eating nothing but tomato sandwiches.Today, I still “spy” on people, although these days, respondents give me their permission to ask them nosy question and pry into their homes.My passion is inventing new, more powerful and profitable ways to listen creatively to consumers…and then turning the insights that emerge into business ideas that generate $50MM in annual revenue and above.Our Passion Point Framework shows brands how to align with consumers’ passions. These clients no longer have to settle for incremental growth, they enjoy exponential growth.Send an email to [address] to learn more.Kay: Hardly any clients I speak with are completely satisfied with the new growth they are able to produce. Incremental growth generated by incremental changes is insufficient. Traditional marketing frameworks and methods of learning about consumer motivations are inadequate to the challenge. 

I partner with people in leadership positions who are responsible for producing new revenue of $10 million - $100 million, who champion the consumer, and who are decisive and clear. 

I make sure that their marketing and sell story is distinctive, meaningful, relevant and valuable to their end-consumers - and that it motivates those consumers to buy my clients' products. Paul: No one is good at everything. As much as you may be in command of your core offering, chances are your messaging doesn’t quite make the grade.

I help businesspeople get their messages out clearly, concisely and accurately. My writing, editing and webinar management services help clients who struggle with content reach their target audiences with sharp, meaningful and relevant information.

Whether it’s your blog, website, newsletter, book, social media accounts or more, getting to the point and conveying simply and strong what you do or offer is essential. That’s where I come in.

And if you need helping setting up webinars/webcasts, managing them, moderating them, talk to me as well. I’ve conducted or supported more than 100 in the last few years. 

If I can't be of service, I may know others who can meet your needs. After all, creating and fostering relationships -- and giving back -- is a cornerstone of conducting business today.
• #25: From the resource: Create More Connections Using “Projects” on LinkedIn1. “Projects” allows you to name your project and input a URL. This then turns the title of the project into a hyperlink, leading the viewer of  your LinkedIn profile to the project’s website and thus creating an inbound link.2. You can specifically relate your project to a position that you hold or have held. This can be a great way to show off your expertise in a current or previous position by showing viewers evidence that you know your stuff.3. Emphasize relevancy by stating when this project started, completed or if it is still ongoing. The more current, the more likely viewers will be to check it out.4. There is a character limit-free (at least as far as I can see) Description space where you can add details to get people interested in the project itself. (Disclaimer: Be aware that this will show up on your LinkedIn profile, so be concise and to the point.)5. The best part is that you can add “Team Members.” If you are connected to your collaborators on LinkedIn, you can add them here and their name will appear as a hyperlink to their LinkedIn profile. You are not, however, limited to just your connections. You can still add other collaborators to the list and they will appear as plain text. I recommend using this as a reason to connect to someone on LinkedIn (or encourage someone to get a LinkedIn profile if they don’t have one.)
• #27: However, this should not look like a cut-and-paste of your resume info. Make it more relatable. Professional yet conversational. This is “social” networking.
• #35: If it’s important enough to connect with this person, then you can take an extra minute to write a personal note.
• #40: Stephanie and I share 90 connections.Brian and I share 37 connections.
• #41: These give profile visitors additional insight into the kind of person you are to work with as well as the traits your value in others.
• #43: When asking for recommendations, you may want to give some direction as to what you’re looking for—a particular skill set, project, etc.
• #46: If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?The same thing goes for your work. If you don’t let others know what you do, did it happen? Sure, but it doesn’t contribute to overall goals: establishing your expertise, getting visibility for your skills and showing that your business is active and vibrant—all things that go into forming opinions. Opinions that matter when it comes time to purchase. Think of it as indirect selling. Give example of Paul and RFP based on status update.
• #47: Gregg – is in broadcasting. Him knowing about my LI workshop could be useful if there’s a segment on using LI for biz and they are in need of an interview source.Nikki is the editor at Promo Marketing. Perhaps she didn’t know about my LI experience. Could be useful if I want to pitch an article to her based on this workshop.
• #56: Let’s hear some of the top 3 things.If you want me to check up with you on your goals, write them down on your card and the date you’ll have it done, and I’ll follow up.