LinkedIn has been the most important online marketing platform for some time. For an entrepreneur, it represents invaluable and bestowing access to a world of clients and fellow professionals.
Your LinkedIn profile is your window into this world. At the same time, it displays your professionalism, outlook, and credibility to others.
This is why it is so important to invest time and energy in building as captivating and as engaging a profile as possible.
Poorly crafted profiles with incomplete summaries, low-grade photos, or missing key elements would not only plummet your visibility but would repulse those who stumble upon you on this social platform.
Gear up your profile visuals
The LinkedIn profile visuals consist of three major elements:
- Profile photo
- Cover image
- Headline
Almost two-thirds of the entire LinkedIn traffic comes through mobile phones. This is the only thing you need to know to choose the right photo as your digital identity.
It has to be a headshot, and it has to be a high-quality professional take, not a homemade selfie. You should radiate optimism and self-confidence.
A proven technique of making your avatar recognizable and distinct is using a solid color for the background. Especially if it matches your brand color.
Your cover is what you offer. Don’t leave it blank. It should be conspicuous and readable on smartphones.
To highlight your industry role and services, use the headline. The most significant information should be reserved for the beginning of this section.
Bring in the profile content
LinkedIn’s search engine is keyword-driven. Choose up to ten keywords or phrases that best describe your role in business, your values, and what you offer. Use those words throughout your profile.
The About section should cover your general message and offer. Know the pain points of your customers and fill this section with ways of bringing about solutions for these problems. Avoid text piling. For a clear overview, use:
- Bullet points
- Emojis
- Text optimization
Use storytelling techniques to capture the attention of your future clients And always end with a call to action. Inform customers on how to reach you.
Share the content
Unlike many other social media platforms, LinkedIn’s purpose is not fun, but business. Still, it does leave a lot of space for creativity and content creation. Two main types of content are:
- Blogs and articles
- Status updates
Explore the current big themes in your industry, and start writing. Publish a blog and attract new audiences. Aim for originality. Algorithms don’t care for copy-pasting.
Status updates are the kind of feedback you give the audience about your current projects and state of affairs. Publish them once or twice a day, and keep them short and interesting. It’s a good way to pop out in people’s feeds.
Be consistent in content creation. One thing is to make an immediate impact, but it’s a whole different story to gain loyal followers. Meet their expectations by maintaining a certain level of quality. It does take time and effort, but it is the only road to building a great LinkedIn entrepreneurial profile.
Always connect
A well-built profile and ardent content creation go hand-in-hand with the third, and crucial component of a well-built LinkedIn profile: a solid number of connections. Leave just one segment out, and the page won’t yield results.
Try to make a habit of the following:
- Always ask for recommendations
- Send follow-up emails
- Use blanket emails on a regular basis
- Occasionally send custom messages to random connections
Never refuse a connection. You never know the possible result. If someone views your profile, send them a message and connect. Opportunities for lead generation are considerable.
When you make a habit of reaching out to other connections, it is a good idea to consider some useful apps that manage your LinkedIn connections. LinkedIn does come with some limitations. Using LinkedIn Inbox can be especially tricky when dealing with a large number of connections.
Keep track of LinkedIn groups in your industry. They are designed to make connecting a lot easier. Find groups with active members and share some enticing content, while at the same time connecting to prospective future clients.
Conclusion
Bring color to your profile, engage in regular content creation, search for clients and associates, and never stop connecting with them. Those are the guidelines for your mission of building a great LinkedIn profile as an entrepreneur.Follow those guidelines and your business will grow. And in the current business climate, LinkedIn is as fertile soil as it can get.
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