7 Easy Profile Changes That Generate More Leads
Successful social selling starts with an optimised profile
A lot of people think that LinkedIn profiles are just online CVs for potential employers and recruiters. This is simply not the case. For solopreneurs and sales teams, LinkedIn profiles have the potential to achieve much more when optimised in the right way.
While the points below are what people are told to optimise to increase their chances of landing their dream job, I’m going to teach you how to use these LinkedIn features to generate more leads for your business.
1. Profile Picture
If you don’t have a visible and professional LinkedIn profile picture then you might as well be cold-calling your prospects. What usually happens when you do that? That’s right - a slammed phone and dial tone. Without the right kind of profile picture, your LinkedIn DMs are going to get the same treatment.
What do I mean by the “right kind” of profile picture? LinkedIn might be getting more personal but it’s still leaps and bounds away from other social media platforms like Instagram. So, selfies of you and your dog, you and your mates at a concert or any photo that doesn’t show a clear image is going to harm your success on LinkedIn.
A profile picture that always performs well is a high-quality, professional headshot. You’ll also want to double-check in your ‘Settings’ that your LinkedIn profile picture is set to ‘public’ so prospects or other professionals you’re not yet connected with will be able to see it.
2. Header/Banner Image
Just like your profile picture, your LinkedIn header or banner (basically the landscape image at the top of your profile) will speak a thousand words to your network. What words is your current header saying? It should clearly demonstrate your brand and what you have to offer your prospects.
Your LinkedIn header is the first thing people are going to see when they go to your profile so it also needs to be a high-quality image. To ensure you’re not cutting off anything important, keep in mind that header images need to be 1584 by 396 pixels. Also, ensure to leave some space for where your profile picture will overlap when displayed on your profile.
What should you even include in your LinkedIn header? A few words that summarise who you are/what you have to offer. However, don’t overdo it. People are only going to glance at this section of your profile before moving on down.
3. Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is not just something that’s going to follow you around the platform, it’s how people are going to find you before they even know they need you.
On your profile, your headline is displayed beneath your name. Out in the wild (the LinkedIn feed), people will see it at the top of your posts along with your profile picture and name. It’s one of the most visible features on the platform so it’s one you need to be using to your advantage.
Include your USP and keywords in your headline to boost your profile when people are searching on LinkedIn. However, make sure to keep it clear and concise. For example: Head of Marketing @ [business name] | Elevate Your Content for Lead Generation | Helping Coaches and B2B Professionals Close More Deals in Less Time
4. About Section
Think of the About Section of your LinkedIn profile as an extension of your headline. It’s another feature you want to ensure is keyword-rich and highlights your USP and value proposition. However, it’s a feature you can use to expand more on your personal brand as well.
What should you include in your About Section? What you do, why you do it and how you realised you could solve certain pain points. Even though you should include keywords, make sure it still reads like a human being wrote it. If your About Section is just a bunch of keywords stacked on top of each other, people are not going to spend their time reading it.
The most important thing to remember when writing your About Section is the reason you’re on LinkedIn. Unlike some users on the platform, you’re not looking for a job so don’t write it like a CV. Write it like what it is - a way for you to introduce yourself and your services to your ideal prospects.
5. Experience Section
The LinkedIn Experience Section is another one people think is only for job seekers. Or, it’s one people overlook completely because it’s at the bottom of your profile. I’ll let you in on a little secret…
When people are scanning through your profile to decide if you’re someone worth interacting/working with, the Experience Section is the quickest way for them to do this. It’s also a way for them to check if everything you’re saying in your About Section can be backed up.
What impression will your prospects have if they scroll down and see an empty or incomplete Experience Section? Subconsciously, they’ll think you don’t have the experience to deliver on what the rest of your profile is promising.
6. Featured Section
This is where you can showcase your expertise both on and off LinkedIn. The Featured Section of your profile is where you can host links to external pieces of media as well as content you’ve posted on LinkedIn.
If there was a post that performed particularly well, answered some of the most common questions people ask you or is an example of the value you deliver, include it in the Featured Section. If your work was published on another platform, you contributed to an article for an online publication or you have a relevant website blog to share, include it in the Featured Section.
TOP TIP: You can choose the order in which the content in your Featured Section appears. You can order it by date, relevance or the amount of value it offers. The choice is yours.
7. Recommendations/endorsements
Of course, your profile can be saying all the right stuff but people are always going to look to their peers when they’re unsure. This is why the recommendations feature of LinkedIn is the finishing touch your profile needs to generate more leads.
Recommendations are written by other LinkedIn members recognising your work and are displayed at the bottom of your profile. Anyone can leave a recommendation but it’s your choice if you accept, dismiss or ask for a revision.
You can also request recommendations from your network as well as leave your own for other people’s profiles.
If want to learn more or are unsure about how to use any of the features listed above, leave a comment.
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Appreciate the tips, thanks! Time to go look at my profile and make some changes...lol!!