How to Improve LinkedIn Profile

I have reviewed a lot of blogs about LinkedIn importance and how to improve LinkedIn profile & credibility. I am writing with help of these blog posts and adding my point of view.

1. Optimize Your Profile
LinkedIn have feature to give you completion percentage. So first you profile must be 100% complete means must have all information i.e. Personal Information with picture, Job history, Education History and etc. Now question how to optimize it so you can search by other over LinkedIn and easy to find. You summery must be optimizing as per your profession and must cover all major keywords. You want a “Sticky Profile”.

2. Use of LinkedIn Application
You must add applications to share information via presentations, white papers, or video. It will increase your credibility.

3. Importance of Title/Tag
Your Title/Tag line could have an impact on your ability to consistently communicate your message. I would recommend using the Tag Line to create a message. You can use up to 140 characters. You must make statement like to help individual or small companies in specific field. Rather only mention Accountant or Software Engineer.

4. Build Credibility
To keep yourself into business, you need to have credibility. On LinkedIn if you want to develop potential opportunities you will have to be judged credible. Credibility is built on how you interact, the information you share, and what others say about you.
You can take control by presenting a detailed profile, participating in Answers, securing recommendations, and providing value to your networks. A blog is a great way to build awareness and build credibility. My success on LinkedIn has in a large part been supported by my blog.

5. More You’re Network Connections, More Business opportunities
You need to grow your network/Connections side by side, and used to ask questions, do communicate with your connections so it will help you to get business.

6. Join 50 Groups
To increase your credibility and increase your business opportunity, LinkedIn groups are played vital role. LinkedIn provide you option to Join 50 Groups or Make your own group, you must join group relative to your business / expertise, and do share your knowledge either in shape of discussion and article. You must participate in other people discussion and do comments again other people blog.
The discussion and news boards provide a great opportunity to communicate your message on an ongoing basis. Avoid taking a direct sales approach and indirectly help others and share information. You start building your brand which will drive future success.

7. Seek Opportunities to Provide Value
People on social media networks don’t respond to direct sales pitches. You have to find a way to get your message in front of them in an indirect manner. Seek to first provide value and over time you’ll expose yourself to a large number of opportunities.

8. Start a Blog
Starting a blog is easy and there’s no excuse not to do so. The hard part is finding a subject that others will be interested in. Also you need to be able to develop enough content to post at least three times per week. Ideally your blog revolves around your company or industry. If that’s not an option then find another topic to talk about.
If people like your blog they will like you. And over time they will learn more about you and what it is that you do to help people. You’ll be on the top of their mind should they ever need help with a service or product you offer.

9. Evaluate LinkedIn Polls and Advertising
Polls and LinkedIn advertising are two of the three ways to tap into the entire LinkedIn network. These are provided at a cost so you need to evaluate if they are cost effective.

You can conduct polls with your Direct network at no cost, so consider posting a weekly poll. Just make sure it is interesting so that people will respond. You’ll learn something and in the process have an opportunity to get your name in front of more members.

10. Update Your Status on a Daily Basis
Twitter launched the micro blog craze with their 140 characters or less posting ability. LinkedIn jumped on the bandwagon and now you can update your status to your Direct network. Use it as a way to stay in front of your direct network, share success stories, announce new products or initiatives, and so much more. Commit to updating your status each day for the next six months.

11. Ask and Answer Questions
Answering questions is part of the process of building credibility and it’s a way to provide value to others. You can include a link to your site, recommended resources, or a blog.
Asking questions allows you to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others.
Both allow you to communicate a brief message through your Tag Line and create a link back to your profile. Try to answer at least three questions and ask one question per week. Do more if you have the time.

12. Give and Seek Recommendations
If you want to be seen as credible what better way to do so than to have your client’s tell other what a great job you did. If you’ve provided a great service to a client and they have not thought to recommend you on LinkedIn ask them to write a recommendation. Most will be happy to do so if they found value in your assistance.

Don’t forget to return the favor by recommending those who have provided value or service to you. Try to avoid giving recommendation in return for receiving one. They look suspicious and people will notice. There will be times when you and a connection are each other’s client and if each want to recommend the other that’s fine. The key is that the recommendation is given for a relevant reason.

13. Participate in Group Discussions
Your group network is likely to encompass a large number of people so it’s important that you stay if front of these people so that they get to know you. Thoughtful posts and questions can help jump start some great conversations. Commenting on other’s posts is also a great way to interact and present yourself.

Just remember that what you post or say will either have a positive or a negative impact on your brand. This is not the place to get argumentative. You can disagree; just do so in a polite way.

14. Post News Articles
If you find a relevant article, have a press release, a new product or service launch, or a new blog post, add it to the news board. This is a great way to share information.

The only key is to make sure that what you post has some relevance to the group. If you have a new sales letter or advertisement refrain from posting it. Direct sales messages will typically do more harm than good. Instead take that sales message or advertisement and turn it into an educational piece. You’ll be seen as sharing information verses trying to sell something.

15. Search People and Companies to Identify Opportunities; Then Connect Into Them
As a business professional you should have some idea who it is that you seek to do business with. Using the search function you can identify some potential prospects or business partners who are members of LinkedIn.

Some of these people will already be in your 2nd and 3rd degree networks. Reach out using introduction requests. Also don’t be afraid to offer to connect directly when possible, referencing shared connections and group memberships. Make sure that in your invitation request that you explain why you would like to connect and tell how you can provide value to the other person.

Don’t start by indicating you want to share with them what you do. Don’t tell them you have a “Great” opportunity to discuss. Establish the connection first. Once they are part of your Direct network you can reach out to them at the appropriate time.
The Companies search function has been a great way to identify companies that I would like to work with. XL Benefits, my company to help employers manage their benefits, specifically targets companies in creative industries with 10 to 50 employees. I use the Companies search to identify potential prospects and to note how I am connected in to the company.

My initial goal is to simply introduce myself and to get permission to send them a link to an online customized demo that explains how we can help the company manage their benefits.
I recently noticed that the CEO of a company on my prospect list was a member of one of the groups I belong to. I sent her a connection invitation explaining that we had several common connections (this is one way a larger network helps) and that we were both members of the same group. I also told her that I was looking to build a strong local network with people in Atlanta that worked in the creative industry. Finally, I referenced the Linked Intuition blog and let her know that if I could ever be of service to contact me.

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