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 3  Steps  to  Personalising  your  LinkedIn  Profile  

A  complete,  up  to  date,  optimised  LinkedIn  Profile  is  something  every  business  professional  needs  in  their  personal  branding  toolkit.    Aim  to  complete  your  Profile  and  make  time  to  review  and  update  to  stay  visible  and  current,  and  use  this  asset  you  have  created  to  connect  and  communicate  with  your  target  market.  

1.   Update  your  Profile  image  

Organise  a  professional  headshot  –  infuse  your  personality  into  your  image  and  take  your  personal  brand  seriously.    Book  a  professional,  or  create  one  yourself  that  is  a  good  representation  of  you  professionally.  

Take  the  photo  against  a  plain  background,  be  in  front  of  your  brand,  on  location  or  holding  a  tool  of  your  trade  to  position  yourself.        Don’t  be  too  far  away  and  don’t  crop  in  too  tight  –  generally  aim  for  head  and  shoulders,  but  don’t  use  a  passport  style  photo!  You  know  the  look  I  mean!  

2.   Update  your  Headline  

Write  an  engaging  keyword  rich  problem-­‐solution  focussed  headline  in  120  characters,  to  gain  the  interest  of  your  ideal  clients.  What  you  do  /  your  keyword  rich  title,  the  problem  you  solves  and  if  relevant  your  organisation.  Think  of  it  as  an  online  elevator  pitch’  to  grab  attention  and  encourage  someone  to  click.  

3.   Update  your  Summary  

You  have  2000  characters  to  share  your  professional  story  from  your  voice  (i.e.  in  1st  person),  but  with  your  ideal  reader  in  mind.  Does  it  reach  out  to  your  target  audience?    Is  it  interesting  and  engaging?    Does  it  talk  about  the  problems  you  solve  for  your  ideal  clients?    Does  it  inspire  action  and  tell  the  viewer  what  to  do  next?  

Here  is  our  formula  for  those  in  business;  

• Identify  the  problem  –  this  could  be  in  the  form  of  a  question.  • Twist  the  problem  –  talk  about  the  effects  of  the  problem.  • Introduce  yourself  -­‐  who  you  are,  who  you  help,  and  the  problem  you  solve.  • Why  you  –  establish  big  picture  credibility  (reference  profile  sections  to  direct  the  viewer  to  discover  

more)  and  talk  about  what  you  are  passion  about.  • Share  your  main  services  that  relate  to  the  problem  • Reframe  the  problem  looking  forward  –  relate  to  the  ideal  client.  • Offer  the  main  solution  t  the  problem.  • Invite  action  –  tell  the  reader  what  to  do  next  >  Connect  with  you/  phone  /  email  /  book  a  meeting.    

Include  contact  details  that  relate  to  this,  to  make  it  easy  for  them  to  take  action.  

Take  a  look  at  my  LinkedIn  Profile  to  see  how  I  have  created  mine.  

To  really  kick  start  your  LinkedIn  strategy,  book  a  mentoring  session  with  us  in  person  or  via  Skype.    

 Jo helps experienced professionals connect and communicate with their target market using the right strategy and right online tools. She is an independent LinkedIn educator and trainer with a passion for learning through curiosity.