Here are some tips to maximizing your Linkedin Profile
1. Complete your profile 100%
It not enough to add the basic data about who you are and what you do. In order to get 100%, at least add three recommendations, two past job positions, and a list of your specialties. Also, consider adding a detailed summary of your professional accomplishments. It’s one of the areas that people read and it’s a great opportunity to tell people what you want them to know about you.
2. Keep your Linkedin photo up to date
If you have gained or loss weight or are using a 10 year old photo, update your picture. It’s best to use a professional headshot which shows you smiling.
3. Grow your connections every chance you get
From now on whenever you meet a new contact connect with them on Linkedin to follow-up, in addition to adding their name to your contact database. If you are just getting started, import your contact databases (i.e Aol, gmail, MS outlook etc.) into Linkedin.
4. Update status on a regular basis
Your status updates appear on your connections’ home pages, giving you further exposure. Consider including links to your status updates to conferences you may be attending, or a new website you just launched or if you have a blog, it is great to add a link to you posts on occasion. Use tinyurl.com or bit.ly to shorten longer links. An advantage of using bit.ly is that it tracks click conversions, which help you know what interests your connections the most.
5. Add the slideshare application to your profile
Forget about emailing information post what you want to share with an audience. Post it on your Linkedin profile using slideshare. As a professional speaker I no longer travel with handouts, I make the audience contact me on linkedin to get my information. Also make the slideshare presentation available to everyone. It will significantly increase your rankings in the search engines as well. You can post PPT, PDF and files with audio and video as well.
6. Add your blog feed to your Linkedin profile
You can use the Blog Link application to show previews of your latest blog posts right on your Linkedin profile. Readers can get a glimpse of what you’re blogging about and click the Read More link to go directly to your blog.
Great post, Melinda! There are certainly too many “anemic” profiles out there and LinkedIn has provided so many ways to paint a clear picture of our expertise. Some other ways to help promote your blog in LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/bZXpra
.-= Deana Goldasich´s last blog ..It Feels Good to Go Pro! =-.