2 Tips To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Is your LinkedIn profile costing you clients?
Google your name. Go ahead; I can wait. Chances are, unless you’ve spent some major money on SEO, your LinkedIn profile comes up before your website. Your potential clients see the same thing when they Google your name. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to optimize your LinkedIn profile.
Your headline: this is prime real estate in the world of LinkedIn. Your headline should do more than state a job title. Think of your LinkedIn headline like an email headline… it needs to quickly tell the reader what this is about, who it’s for and why it matters to them.
For example, instead of:
Version 1: Jane Smith, MFT, Counselor
Change it to:
Version 2: Jane Smith, Therapist For Stressed Out Parents Of Teens With Conduct Disorder
In the second version of the headline, you know what Jane does, who she does it for… and by using the term “For Stressed Out Parents”, we identify a benefit of working with her; she reduces the stress of parenting a teen with CD. I’ve also made use of keywords so that someone searching Google or LinkedIn can more easily find Jane’s profile. A potential client might search “stressed our parents”, “therapist for teens” or “teens with conduct disorder”.
In addition to your headline, your LinkedIn banner is another high impact area where many profiles come up short. Swap out LinkedIn’s standard blue banner for something more personalized to your brand. You can use your banner area to express the general feel of working with you, or you might use it to establish expertise and trust. The best use of imagery in your banner depends on your goal.
For example, if you want to sell online courses and book speaking engagements, it’s important to establish yourself as an expert in your niche. Your LinkedIn banner might show you speaking in front of a group of people. This implies that others are looking to you as a teacher and expert. It helps move you closer to your goal.
If your goal is to make potential clients feel at ease about coming in to see you for the first time, your LinkedIn banner might show a calm shot of your office space. Serene colors and a soft focus image projects an atmosphere of safety and assurance for your prospective clients.
These are just two pieces of your LinkedIn profile. If you’re interested in learning more about optimizing your LinkedIn profile to its maximum potential, contact me for a free consultation.