5 Easy Tips to Create a Better Linked-in Profile

How do you Create a Better Linked-in Profile?

While Linked-in is acknowledged as the premier business-oriented social networking site, many people look at it as a simple online CV or resume.     

But Linked-in is greatly underrated as a place to showcase your talents, grow your capabilities, and develop new business opportunities.  It is certainly worth your time to build a better-Linked-in Profile.   

I know for a fact that many Human Resource Professionals use Linked-in to help find and screen candidates. If you’re a job seeker, your should optimize your Linked-in Profile–just in case someone is looking for someone like you at this very moment.  If you’re a manager or an executive, you should take time to create a Better Linked-in Profile–to put your best foot forward.     

I realize there are many blog posts out there about how to Build a Better Linked-in Profile, but I put together the 5 main things that I do whenever I update someone’s Linked-in Profile. These 5 things will help you (1) connect with others and let them connect with you (2) collect and share information that’s important to you, and (3) to showcase your own content that positions you as the expert, so that when a client or prospect has a need they call you first.     

5 Easy Tips to Create a Better Linked-in Profile

 1.Clean up your URL with your name. When you first create your Linked-in Profile, it gives you a URL that ends with Gobbledygook. You should change this to something shorter. My LinkedIn profile URL is http://www.linkedin.com/in/lesproctor. It’s a much easier on the eyes, and looks nicer when you email it to people.     

2. Add your Twitter Account. In case you missed it, Twitter is going mainstream. And your microblog posts (or “tweets”), can now show up on the status update at the very top of your Linked-in Profile page. You can see a post that I put up entitled “An Open Mind is Good for the Bottom Line.”  These status updates are important because they illustrate to people visiting your website that you are active, and that “the lights are on and someone’s home.”     

3.Add Anchor Text to your Website Links. You can add up to 3 links on your profile to your website, or different pages on the same website; these links pass Linked-in’s SEO authority to your website, so you should take advantage of them. Customize the text on the links, so that the search engines understand more about the content of pages they link to.     

In my case I’ve added 3 Links to different pages of my website: (1) Direct Marketing 2.0 Blog, (2) Results Marketing Services, and a (3) Free Website Analysis.  

Adding Applications to your Linked-in Profile

You can add all kinds of really cool applications to your Linked in Profile. Your Creative Portfolio, Polls, Events, Your Reading, a Blog, and more. In my case I’ve added my Reading List and my WordPress Website Blog.      

4. Add your reading List. What people read tells a lot about who they are. By adding my reading list this I am giving you a sneak peek at the books in my library. Art, books, culture…, these are the things that bind us all together.     

 5. Add a Blog. In this case, my website is developed on WordPress, which is the most popular web publishing platform around. By adding my Blog, I’m publishing my 4 latest Blog posts, so people can see what I’ve been writing about lately.     

I know there are many others things you can do to create a better Linked-in Profile, but these are the areas where I consistently see an opportunity for improvement. I’m sure I’ve left something out.     

Please let me know what *you do* to build a better Linked-in Profile. And, if you liked this post, please share it with your friends. Share

If you’d like me to help you Build a Better Linked-in Profile or a Social Media Marketing Program, please contact me today.

4 Comments

• Tweets that mention 5 Easy Tips to Create a Better Linked-in Profile -- Topsy.com August 9, 2010 at 10:54 am

  [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Amanda Stillwagon, Les Proctor. Les Proctor said: 5 Easy Tips to Create a Better Linked-in Profile http://lnkd.in/dnxYgC [...]

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  Marcus Turner August 9, 2010 at 1:27 pm

  The world is a changing. These days there are many place to make a good first impression. Facebook, YouTube and Linkedin are the most obvious, however it’s usually a trial and error experience. Your article gives some excellent suggestions to shine on Linkedin! Thanks, Marcus.

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  • 
    Les Proctor August 9, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Thanks Marcus… I appreciate it.

    Reply
• 7 Steps to Local Internet Marketing Success | Les Proctor Direct October 14, 2010 at 8:55 am

  [...] sites. Two great ways you can control getting other influential sites to link back to yours are by Optimizing your Linked in Profile and Gaining Likes on your Facebook Page for [...]

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