LinkedIn for Coaches

LinkedIn for CoachesBuilding Your Professional Presence

© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

LinkedIn

“Facebook is like a college party. Twitter is like an office party. LinkedIn is like a professional networking event.”

Only social media that is strictly for professional networking.

85 million users in 200+ countries (half in United States).

A new member joins every second.


LinkedIn Payoffs

Build your presence

Build your network

Find new opportunities


Laura’s Payoffs

One paid speaking engagement

10–14 seminar attendees (at $250–$450 apiece)

Book contract (advance and royalties)


Key TopicsProfile

Recommendations

Connections

Company Pages

Other Tips


Profile© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Profile Key Parts

Your résumé on steroids

Different sections to highlight experience

Update regularly


Highlight Box• Summary line• Photo (professional)• Highlights of work history• Websites


Parts of a Profile

Experience: Your work history and current positions

Education

Recommendations (by me and of me)

Honors and awards, personal info, contact settings

Apps© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Profile: Additional Information

Key information for contact and to promote your own websites and interests. Gives contacts a quick glimpse of you

and a way to find out more about you.


Profile Tips

List a blog and get some recommendations

Update regularly (every 3 mos.)

Your connections are alerted when you make changes


More Profile Tips

Update your status regularly

A tool like Hootsuite will help you cross-post a status to Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook

Do not automatically cross-post Twitter to LinkedIn


Trick Out Your Profile

New features specifically benefit coaches:

Skills

Certifications

Publications

Add applications to show more of what you do


Skills & Certifications

Specifically highlight and draw attention to these points. Easier

than digging through your “Experience” section to find it.


•Name of certification•Who granted it•When it was granted (and expires)•Skill, expertise level, and years of experience

Publications List your key publicationsEasy for contacts to find


Adding Skills, Publications, Certifications


1. Go to Profile2. Look for “NEW” under highlight box3. Click Add sections4. Fill out information

Adding Applications

Key: Add an app that automatically imports your blog (WordPress or BlogLink) to your profile

SlideShare or Google Presentations: share your knowledge!

Reading List (Amazon)

TripIt (My Travel): connect with others when traveling

Company Buzz, Tweets, Polls, Events© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Application Tips

Use the Events app to find live events to attend

Create your own events (free or paid)

Market yourself through your events (use lots of keywords)


Recommendations© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Recommendations

Essential for complete profile

Ask for them, and give them

Build your reputation

You can review and approve each one

Recommendations for specific positions


Recommendations

Under your Profile menu, select Recommendations

“Request Recommendations” for a particular position

Choose from among contacts (you can ask multiple people)

You receive notice when one is written, you can approve and display it on your profile


Ask for Recommendations


Recommendations Tips

Include a personal note in your request to be endorsed, with specific items you want mentioned

Give recommendations generously (you can do this without being asked)


Recommendations Tips

You can reprint a recommendation on your website (with permission) as a testimonial

If feasible, ask LI recommenders to give you a Review on your Facebook fan page


Connections© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Connections

Build your network. The bigger, the better!

500+ connections makes you a LION: LinkedIn Open Networker

You can “follow” influential people


Connections

Add everyone you know professionally

Connect with classmates and friends

Regularly go through biz cards you collect, connect there


Connection Tips

Add a personal note to each invitation to connect

Check out the People You May Know box (on your home page) regularly

Browse your contacts’ connections


Connecting with Groups

Join Groups to network with like-minded professionals

Easy to find and join

Promote yourself and build your reputation in groups


Tips for Groups

When joining, select “Weekly Digest” email instead of daily

Comment and add value to the group

Create your own group, if it adds value to what you do or interests you


Discussions, Questions

Join the conversation by answering relevant questions from groups and individuals

Ask your own question, start a new conversation

“Follow” a discussion (but stop following once it disinterests you or fills up your inbox) or people


Answering Questions

Answer relevant questions to make new connections, establish reputation

Answering more questions marks you as an “expert” (with star status)

From top-level menu, select More, then choose Answers

Browse questions from network or in categories© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Company Pages© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Company Pages

A profile for companies (your coaching practice)

Highlight your coaching practice and be specific in what you offer (Products and Services)

Ask for testimonials for the company

Upload a logo, photos, more


Company Pages

Overview (mission statement, what you do, specialties)

Employees (you, any connections who work with you)

Recent blog posts

Company activity


Company Pages

On the Services tab, you can break down what you offer (types of coaching, speaking, consulting)—use artwork!

You can request recommendations for each service/product

You can also promote your products and services with ads

Analytics shows you information about your company page view


Services© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Other Tips© 2010 Laura Poole. Archer Coaching, www.archercoaching.com

Who’s Viewed Your Profile?Check out who has

viewed your profile and how often you show up as

a search result.Free accounts will only

see 5 of the most recent profile views


System Updates

Check regularly for new features (LinkedIn has a blog for this)

Learn how to take advantage of LinkedIn through their Learning Center


Daily Practice

To keep it sane and manageable, add a “daily practice” (or weekly) for keeping up with LinkedIn.

Once you are established, 5–10 min a day can easily help you stay on top of what’s going on professionally.

Business

LinkedIn for Coaches