How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile in a few Easy Steps

LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful business tool; the key is learning how to use it and then maximize it. The first step is completing your profile. Here are some pointers:

First and foremost update your profile to include as much information as possible. LinkedIn, like Facebook, wants to know as much about you as possible but you should only share what you want others, strangers, to know about you from a business perspective. On Facebook you can pick and choose who is going to see your profile and share more personal details, but on LinkedIn everyone who clicks to your profile will see everything you write (you can make it private and hide your feed, but that's for another post). So what do you want others to know about you and your business experience? With LinkedIn, more is better! LinkedIn scans your profile, like Google, when people are searching on specific terms so the more times you mention specific key words in your profile, the higher you will rank when people search. And unlike Google, when you make a change to your LinkedIn profile it is reflected immediately in search results. Google can take up to six weeks to reflect changes you make to a website page.

When you are updating your profile, consider listing all previous jobs and volunteer activities. Each company title or group name you mention will become clickable meaning you (and others) will be able to click on those titles and then see others related to that group or company. This is also true for college names which can easily and quickly connect you to alumni. This is a great way to find people and turn them from a cold call to a warm call because you have a connection through a school, volunteer group or previous job.

Changing your "title" in LinkedIn can help with search results as well. Put yourself in the shoes of who you want to find you. What terms would they search on? That's what should be in your title. Before changing my title from President of GMG Public Relations, I was buried on page 3 or more when searching for public relations consultants. Changing my title now enables me to come up on page 1 on LinkedIn.

Upload presentations, slideshares, videos, documents, brochures, etc. LinkedIn gives you the perfect opportunity to show off your expertise in a myriad of ways! The more complete your profile, the more opportunities for connections. AND invest in a good photo! A selfie is NOT good enough for LinkedIn! Having no photo is worse, people want to see you to get a sense about you, no photo, equals very few new connections.

If you already visit LinkedIn a few times a week, that's great! Explore other things within it by clicking around. If you don't check it regularly then commit 20 minutes 2-3 times each week to get to know it and find people to connect with; it is an extremely powerful free tool that can help you grow your business or your career.

If you are interested in a LinkedIn workshop for your team, contact Risa Hoag at 845-627-3000 or through risa@gmgpr.com. Risa Hoag is the President of GMG Public Relations, President of the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce and VP of Marketing for the Rockland Business Women's Network. GMG Public Relations (www.gmgpr.com) is celebrating 25 years of providing award-winning creativity for businesses and non profit organizations of all sizes.