Once I finally figured out how to make LinkedIn work for me, it’s often been the most valuable social networking site for me. I use it for locating suppliers, getting advice, building partnerships and alliances and yes, getting new business.
In order to get the most out of LinkedIn, you need to ensure your profile is complete. When you login to LinkedIn and look at your profile, LinkedIn tells you how far along you are in the completion process in the completion bar in the upper right.
Why is a complete profile important? Well, according to the LinkedIn blog having a professional photo attached to your profile makes you seven times more likely to be viewed by other LinkedIn members than if you don’t have a photo. And having more than one position increases your chance of having your profile viewed by 10 times.
One step to create 100% complete profile on LinkedIn that is a challenge for many people is that you need to have three recommendations. What is a LinkedIn recommendation? That is where one of your connections has written a recommendation based on one of the positions you have listed on your profile.
The best way to get recommendations is to ask for them. I know that it can sometimes be uncomfortable to ask for recommendations, but it’s actually a normal part of doing business. Are you connected to a customer who you know is happy with your work? Ask them to write a recommendation on LinkedIn. Do you have a current or former colleague who can testify as to the quality of your work? Ask for a recommendation. Is there a business professional who you’ve worked with jointly on a project? Ask for a recommendation.
Here’s what else you can do to complete your LinkedIn profile:
- Your industry and postal code
- At least three positions – your current one and two others
- Education
- At least 5 skills
- At least 50 connections
- A summary
It can take some time to get your LinkedIn profile to 100% complete, but if you’re serious about using LinkedIn to build your business it’s a necessary step.
Andrea J Stenberg
How complete is your LinkedIn profile? Please leave a comment and tell us how you’re doing. Don’t forget to include a link to your LinkedIn profile.
