How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile For Networking

Career

How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile For Networking

News Author

May 11, 2023

Most individuals could possibly be using LinkedIn SO MUCH MORE! When you’ve got solely simply made positive your LinkedIn profile appears good and that’s all, there are various profession and enterprise alternatives simply ready for you! We’ll cowl every thing you should optimize your LinkedIn profile for networking in as we speak’s episode.

You may get began accessing them as we speak. On this episode, you will discover ways to go above and past what most individuals are doing on LinkedIn and begin working your community on LinkedIn as an alternative.

Hear on:

CLICK HERE FOR THE TRANSCRIPT

On this episode:

Methods to use LinkedIn to community and discover profession and enterprise alternatives
Methods to go above and past what most individuals are doing on LinkedIn, and begin working in your community
A step-by-step information on find out how to optimize your LinkedIn profile

Assets and Hyperlinks

Anna has been instructing and clarifying her methods and frameworks for over 10 years. She has a system that works in any financial system and any market. Be sure to add your title to the CLASS Waitlist to be notified when you’ll be able to be a part of her teaching membership.

Transcript – Methods to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Networking:

Welcome, everybody to the Stylish Profession Woman podcast. I’m excited as a result of as we speak we’re speaking all about LinkedIn. It’s like LinkedIn month inside my membership website CLASS. So we’re speaking all about LinkedIn networking, we’re speaking all about creating your LinkedIn profiles and actually optimizing it. As a result of so many individuals are using LinkedIn proper now, so many greater than ever earlier than. And in case you’ve solely simply form of like checked in and form of made positive your LinkedIn is form of okay, you might be lacking profession alternatives, you might be lacking enterprise alternatives. If you’re an entrepreneur, they’re simply ready for you on LinkedIn proper now, like in case you’re combating gross sales, your shoppers are ready for you, extra gross sales are ready for you on LinkedIn.

In case you’re job looking and looking for your dream job, the individuals are ready to rent you on LinkedIn, they only are and you can begin accessing them as we speak. So on this episode, you’ll discover ways to go above and past what most individuals are doing on LinkedIn and begin working in your community and constructing your community on LinkedIn as an alternative. And I really like speaking about this subject as a result of LinkedIn is de facto one of many first social media platforms that I used method again in 2011, 2012. It’s been round for a protracted, very long time. And it’s one of many platforms I take advantage of to essentially develop my enterprise. And what I did again within the early days of rising Stylish Profession Woman, I had a coach who informed me that with a purpose to get my model on the market, and to form of launch this enterprise out into the world, I wanted to start out internet hosting occasions, I wanted to start out placing myself on the market, which I’m an introvert so this was utterly scary. However she stated I wanted to get on the market, I wanted to start out sharing with the world telling folks what I did, telling folks how I assist and begin, , sharing my affords and my providers as a profession coach.

And so I used to be utterly scared. And she or he requested, like, what’s stopping you from, , placing your self on the market and internet hosting these occasions and assembly these folks in your native space. At the moment, I used to be in San Diego, and I stated, I don’t suppose anybody’s going to return to this present like this occasion. Like I don’t suppose anybody’s going to return. And the way am I going to seek out all these folks? After which she requested me, Effectively, the place can you discover these folks? The place there are skilled ladies which are, , need possibly need a profession change, or assist with their management or assist with their productiveness? Like, the place are they proper now? And I’m like LinkedIn.

And so we put a plan collectively for me to each single day be spending time on LinkedIn, non-public messaging folks on LinkedIn, assembly new folks on LinkedIn, and it was truly actually easy to fill these occasions. I did three occasions, I crammed them solely via LinkedIn, solely reaching out to individuals who had been native to me in San Diego, and who’re in skilled ladies’s teams on LinkedIn. And I’d simply direct message them, I’d say, Hey, I, , we’re each a part of this group on LinkedIn, and we’re each in San Diego. And I see that you just work at this firm, and I’m having an occasion for skilled ladies. It’s a networking occasion. You understand, it’s free, I’d love so that you can attend. And other people would present up, after which they’d inform their mates, and like, there was one firm the place I reached out to at least one individual, and he or she introduced like 5 of her mates to my occasion. As a result of I suppose, I imply, at the moment, , skilled ladies, they only to community, we needed to satisfy different folks, we needed to not go dwelling after work. And we simply had been like in that connection section in our careers the place we simply needed to love meet different people who find themselves doing nice issues and study.

And so I crammed these occasions via LinkedIn, I crammed numerous webinars with LinkedIn, I discovered lots of people for my gross sales conversations who had been combating their profession via LinkedIn, simply by non-public messaging folks, particularly as a result of my enterprise was within the transition of going from in individual. After which I used to be having my first baby, so I needed to form of transition right into a digital enterprise at the moment. Since I used to be doing numerous in-person talking, numerous in-person occasions. After which LinkedIn helped me actually then be capable of contact anybody in every single place and actually be capable of see, like with LinkedIn, you’ll be able to see what folks’s job titles are, you’ll be able to see the place they’re positioned, which at the moment, it didn’t matter as a result of I used to be transitioning right into a digital enterprise, on-line enterprise as a profession coach, however I might see folks’s titles, and so I might inform by their profiles, I might see this is a perfect consumer.

That is somebody that I can assist, that is somebody who can be inquisitive about my content material at Stylish Profession Woman, and that is somebody who possibly they’re searching for a job, and generally you’ll be able to even inform by your connections, they’re posting they’re searching for a job, , oh, okay, you may want a profession coach. Let me like attain out and like see if I can assist proper as a result of that’s as a enterprise proprietor. It’s simply, can I assist? Can I assist all day lengthy? How a lot worth can I present?

Additionally once I was job looking as effectively, as a result of there was a time frame the place I didn’t know what I ought to do with my profession in my life. And so I used to be beginning Stylish Profession Woman. And I used to be additionally job looking on the similar time as a result of I knew I wanted a profession change. I simply wasn’t fairly positive what that must be. And so I used to be utilizing LinkedIn quite a bit for informational interviews and for reaching out to folks and connecting with folks. And that become numerous 15 minute espresso chats, I don’t suppose zoom was round again then. However I used to be going throughout San Diego having these like, it become like an hour espresso chats simply which means folks connecting with them wherever they had been in San Diego, I used to be like coming to them, to satisfy them, after which asking them in the event that they knew anybody else that I might join with. And I used LinkedIn quite a bit for that, too. I referred to as it the 4 by 4 networking problem, the place every month I’d meet with 4 folks I didn’t know and 4 folks I didn’t know.

And so I actually had to make use of LinkedIn to seek out folks I didn’t know. However then LinkedIn was additionally an incredible place to seek out connections that I did know. And so LinkedIn actually is simply form of like, a little bit bit extra of like an expert platform, the place, , it’s not as very like photos. And it’s not as very like what number of followers and engagement do you’ve gotten in your posts, form of like I really feel like Fb and Instagram is. But it surely actually via the years has simply been like a extremely nice skilled platform, and an incredible place to attach with folks and to have the ability to see their profiles and their bios. And even in case you don’t need your boss, realizing that your job looking, you’ll be able to have a LinkedIn profile and be connecting with folks and becoming a member of teams and messaging folks backwards and forwards. And doing informational interviews, and your boss won’t ever discover out prefer it’s completely high-quality so that you can have a LinkedIn profile. Even in case you’re job looking. I do know within the early days, folks had been scared about that. However everybody actually ought to have a LinkedIn profile. Join with me in case you’re not already. Come discover me Anna Ryan on LinkedIn. And I’ll join with you as effectively. And let me know you hearken to this podcast. In order that’s my backstory story.

That’s why I really like LinkedIn a lot. And I do know through the years like since that point of getting youngsters, I’ve needed to discover ways to form of like leverage my social media, there’s so many alternative social media platforms. So clearly, I’ve gotten into Fb teams and Pinterest and Instagram and so many different locations since these early days of beginning. However this 12 months in 2023, LinkedIn is a big a part of my networking technique. Particularly as a result of in our enterprise, we have now decreased our advert costs, we have now decreased the bills that we need to spend on advertisements, and we’re growing our bills and our work on natural visitors. And so for us, we’re prioritizing search engine optimization. On our web site, we’re prioritizing numerous natural visitors that comes from Pinterest and Instagram, as a result of these are form of like our two most important websites. After which I’m additionally prioritizing much more like in individual DMs or emails or messages like connecting one on one with folks personalizing constructing a relationship reasonably than similar to throwing out an advert. And let’s see who finds that and who comes my method. Like that’s not how I need to do enterprise anymore. And I really feel such as you used to have the ability to do this, however advert costs elevated. And Fb and Instagram have form of simply been going via numerous adjustments.

And so the non-public outreach, constructing that private connection, main that , right into a cellphone name, a zoom name, a , a espresso chat is so vital now to construct your relationship, whether or not you’re job looking, otherwise you’re rising your corporation. And so I’m utilizing all these methods, I’m going to really going to be instructing all of my LinkedIn methods that I’m utilizing proper now to get natural visitors and to construct my enterprise organically inside my CLASS membership within the masterclass this month, so ensure you be a part of us inside CLASS this month. Or in case you’re already a CLASS member, ensure you attend our masterclass this month, as a result of the subject goes to be the LinkedIn networking find out how to information. And I’m going to present you a step-by-step information of how you should utilize LinkedIn networking to seek out your subsequent dream profession or to make extra gross sales and to develop your corporation.

So as we speak, I need to discuss your LinkedIn profile as a result of we will’t actually discuss networking, in case your LinkedIn profile isn’t optimized. So it’s extraordinarily vital that you just spend a while right here going via this guidelines that I’m going to share with you as we speak. So one of many stuff you need to just be sure you do within the very starting we need to have about 100 connections. That’s form of like a great barometer. When you’ve got lower than that we need to spend a while connecting with folks, more than likely, 100 folks from the place you went to highschool, school, former work preparations, possibly you probably did some volunteer work, possibly folks from church or faculty or like round city, anybody that you’ll be able to join with, so undergo your electronic mail record. In case you’re simply getting began, undergo, like in case you’re on different social media platforms like Fb, like undergo everybody that you’re mates with on Fb and just be sure you have them in your LinkedIn profile.

You also needs to have an expert photograph, you don’t must, like pay for this and go to love an expert photographer. However it is best to have a photograph that reveals your face that , you’re smiling, you’re completely happy, somebody that somebody would need to work with, proper? And it’s achieved professionally. Um, you’ll be able to simply have my first images had been achieved by my husband and my finest pal. And we similar to she took her digital camera, and we simply she simply shot some images on me at some point. And people are my first images. Um, your profile additionally has to have a key phrase technique in place. So that is actually vital. We need to determine what these key phrases are that describe both in case you’re job looking, like what’s the job that you just’re searching for, in case you take a look at job descriptions of your dream profession, we need to pull out a few of these key phrases which are in that job description and put them in your LinkedIn profile.

Or in case you are rising your corporation, we need to guarantee that no matter you assist folks with may be very clear in your profile, and what individuals are trying to find as effectively. So for me, I need to be certain like profession coach is someplace in there. If somebody’s trying to find a profession coach, I’m going to pop up. And also you additionally need to ensure you have a singular LinkedIn URL in place. So it’s not like a bunch of letters and numbers proper after like, since you need to be sharing this LinkedIn URL after you begin networking as effectively. So that you need to create a singular LinkedIn URL. Your headline is de facto vital. So that is form of like your resume headline the place it grabs consideration, it’s like a very powerful a part of your LinkedIn profile is that headline, that’s what individuals are going to learn. In the event that they need to know extra about you, sure, they’re going to maintain scrolling down and skim your entire profile. However more than likely, they’re simply going to learn that very starting. So that you need to be certain it’s actually profit oriented, and it grabs consideration.

Additionally then your abstract. The abstract is just like the second place, then that I’d concentrate on. And that’s actually the place it’s going to incorporate an outline of your expertise, your skills, and how one can add worth to an organization in case you’re job looking. What I really like placing in right here, in case you’re a enterprise proprietor are testimonials and social proof. And so proper right here, that is like one other place the place you actually need to simply spend numerous time with like, you need to fake your LinkedIn profile is like your web site. Once I was creating my new web site, I spent a lot time on my about web page prefer it was, in case you take a look at the about web page on Stylish Profession Woman, you’ll be able to inform I spent numerous time there. And so that is your abstract, you need to guarantee that it provides a extremely good overview of the advantages which you can present to an organization or you’ll be able to present to a future consumer, it’s going to make it go wow, I have to get in contact with this individual.

You additionally need to guarantee that this abstract consists of earlier quantified outcomes at different corporations and numbers each time potential. So in case you can present folks you get outcomes, that is the place you need to put it. So in case you’re job looking, , these are the outcomes I received at this different firm, I saved this a lot cash for this firm, I, , cut back the time spent by this p.c, I helped this consumer, I helped my shoppers discover jobs this p.c a lot occasions sooner. You understand, attempt to quantify, use numbers when you’ll be able to, that’s like wow issue. Additionally ensure you embody how one can be reached, how folks can contact you. After which I additionally like having some type of like media or showcase like when you’ve got like a video that you just’ve achieved or a portfolio or one thing which you can connect there to present folks a little bit bit extra of an concept of who you might be. Relating to your expertise, then you definitely need to guarantee that your expertise consists of outcomes, numbers and people accomplishments.

So I at all times like fascinated with like in the case of your expertise, actually specializing in like challenges that you’ve got had prior to now, the actions that you just took to recover from that problem and the outcome that occurred after you probably did these actions. In case you do this problem motion end in your expertise part on LinkedIn, it’s actually going to make you stand out. Additionally when you’ve got any type of media, when you’ve got related movies, photos, displays or articles quoting you, add that to the expertise part as effectively. Like that is additionally I ought to say a time the place it’s completely high-quality to brag about your self. I do know it’s laborious once I was doing my about web page. It was actually laborious for me to brag about myself, however you must bear in mind, it’s nearly like, I would like you to suppose that another person is introducing you. If another person is introducing you, it’s completely acceptable for them to brag on you and say how superior you might be, once they learn your bio. Once we say it ourselves, like, if I went to learn my bio, it might form of seem like, it wouldn’t really feel snug, it might seem like I’m bragging, you’d seem like I’m like, , I do that. And I do that. And I do that I’ve had some folks even say on a few of my webinars are like, cease speaking about your self a lot. Like, we don’t need to hear any extra about your self.

I’ve had folks like inform me that they’re like, simply get to the coaching, I don’t need to hear about all of your, , the issues that you just’ve achieved. And so you’ve gotten that in your head, proper of like, oh, gosh, I don’t need to brag, I don’t need to look like I’m similar to saying all this nice stuff about us. So get within the mindset, then of another person’s introducing you. So generally I’ve even achieved this originally of my webinars, I’ve, like somebody on my workforce are available in and skim my bio earlier than I begin. And that method, I pop in with the good content material. And I don’t have to love say all of the issues myself. So fake you’ve gotten somebody in your workforce, they’re coming in to jot down your expertise part in your abstract part to , to highlight you in like the easiest way potential.

And so get out of your head that you just really feel such as you’re bragging. And as an alternative it’s like, it’s somebody simply introducing you and saying all this wonderful stuff and why you have to be employed. You additionally need to have at the very least three suggestions right here. So in case you don’t have already got that, take into consideration who you labored with prior to now and who can be prepared to suggest you. And then you definitely additionally need to be endorsed at the very least 15 occasions, these are simply form of like the start. Clearly, I would like you to be endorsed much more than that. I would like you to have much more suggestions, I would like them to be related and up to date as effectively. I do know in case you’re like me, I received suggestions in like 2011 and 2012. And so , they’re nice suggestions, however they had been from a very long time in the past. And so I most likely want some up to date current ones, proper?

That discuss my work as we speak. They’re on LinkedIn. So it is a good reminder to me, proper? Like every thing, every thing I educate you guys, I’m doing myself and studying myself as effectively. So far as networking goes, then you definitely need to have a aim of turning into a member of at the very least 25 teams, as a result of these teams are going to be the place the place you’re going to be doing your entire networking in and also you’re posting in and also you’re reaching out. After which once you’re in teams with different folks, that offers you numerous simpler solution to join with different folks and message different folks. And so that you need to form of get hold of teams and determine, , the place are your preferrred shoppers? Or the place are your preferrred hiring managers? The place are the those who in case you’re job looking, like the place do you need to work? The place are these folks? What teams are they in, and numerous occasions you’ll be able to see on on their LinkedIn profiles, what teams they’re part of.

And so do a little analysis on the folks that you just need to join with, and determine the place they’re half what teams they’re a part of. Additionally, I extremely suggest posting related articles and suggestions in your profile. My aim is to do it thrice per week. However at the very least as soon as per week, you need to be popping in there with some type of related articles, some type of replace, suggestions in your profile, one thing that you just’ve achieved form of simply an replace on what’s occurring with you with the intention to form of keep prime of thoughts with these folks that you just’re connecting with. I would like you to comply with at the very least 5 corporations that you’re inquisitive about. So in case you are job looking 5 of your prime 5 corporations you’re inquisitive about, I would like you to comply with them on LinkedIn and work together with their posts.

After which additionally in case you’re a enterprise proprietor, there’s so many alternatives for partnerships and sponsorships. And that is undoubtedly one thing that talking alternatives. That is undoubtedly a route that I’ve been specializing in as effectively. And so for even in case you’re a enterprise proprietor, I would like you to comply with at the very least 5 corporations that you would probably associate with sooner or later. I would like you to message at the very least one individual , and at the very least one individual you don’t know on LinkedIn each single week. And so that is going to begin to get you within the behavior of reaching out to folks.

Now if you are able to do multiple, that’s nice. I believe yesterday I used to be reaching out to folks to attach and allow them to know I’m relaunching my certification program. I reached out to fifteen folks yesterday in at some point as a result of after getting the script, it’s very easy to repeat and paste. You simply must ensure you change out the e-mail tackle, change out the title, simply personalize it a little bit bit. However then when you get within the zone and as soon as you might be like increase, increase, increase, you simply maintain doing it over and over and it’s very easy to do like 15 in a day.

After which each month, I additionally need you to introduce two new folks in your community. So that is one thing that’s going to essentially make you stand out is in case you begin to turn into the community networking organizer, and also you begin connecting folks, I’ve somebody like this in my community, and he or she is like, always sending folks my method. And, I requested her, like, I’m searching for podcast interviews, and he or she’s like, Oh, let me introduce you to this individual and this individual. After which she’s like, this individual desires to turn into a profession coach. And so she despatched her my method. After which I need to write a e-book. And so she despatched me this e-book, , writer, my method. So it’s like, that is the advantage of introducing folks and connecting with folks. And it simply actually places you in a extremely nice place.

As a result of if now if she wanted something, I’d do it proper, as a result of she’s now join, she’s now put me in contact. And by the way in which, that is Natalie at her see candy, she’s wonderful, it is best to join along with her, she, you’ll love her too. But when she wanted something, I’d fortunately assist her out. As a result of she’s now despatched so many individuals my method, I’d fortunately go into my community and ship somebody her method, if she wanted one thing as effectively, too, proper. So turn into that individual introducing folks in your community. And it’s often mutually useful for all events.

And never solely that, it reveals like, , so and so commented on this publish, after which your followers see that too. So that you simply by no means know, by commenting how that may stand out within the algorithm. So it’ll pop up on another person’s radar on their LinkedIn, they usually’ll see it after which they’ll click on your profile. And so they’ll be like, Oh, she’s a profession coach, I need to join along with her. After which unexpectedly, you’ve gotten a brand new connection and a brand new gross sales name and a brand new consumer, proper?

After which the very last thing so far as networking goes, I would like you to touch upon a publish in at the very least one group as soon as per week. So these 25 teams that you just’re in, I would like you to be lively in them, I would like you to be commenting and fascinating. As a result of folks see that if you find yourself participating on their posts, and also you stand out. And never solely that, it reveals like, , so and so commented on this publish, after which your followers see that too. So that you simply by no means know, by commenting how that may stand out within the algorithm. So it’ll pop up on another person’s radar on their LinkedIn, they usually’ll see it after which they’ll click on your profile. And so they’ll be like, Oh, she’s a profession coach, I need to join along with her. After which unexpectedly, you’ve gotten a brand new connection and a brand new gross sales name and a brand new consumer, proper?

Prefer it actually can go that quick by simply commenting on one publish in a bunch that you just’re in. So I hope that you just see as we speak how useful LinkedIn may be to your profession or your corporation. I hope you comply with the following tips. I hope that this has been useful. Just remember to join with me on LinkedIn. And in case you are in our CLASS membership, be looking out save the date for our masterclass in April as a result of we’re going to be speaking much more. Now that you’ve got nice profiles. You’ve achieved all this foundational work as we speak. Now we’re going to take it up the following stage, we’re going to inform you the scripts that it is best to use, find out how to construction your time find out how to batch your time, and the way networking on LinkedIn actually can dramatically have an effect on your profession or enterprise. So I’ll see you subsequent time.