16 Ways to Build a Powerful LinkedIn Presence

Presenter: Theresa Smith, PrincipalAugust 7, 2012

www.pathwaypr.com

Welcome

• My name is Theresa Smith• I am a Public Relations, Social Media and

Marketing Consultant• I help companies tell their story to drive sales

and influence• One of the most powerful ways to tell your

story now is through the power of social media

LinkedIn Background

• Today there are 175 million users worldwide on LinkedIn• Of the top three social networks –FB, Twitter and LinkedIn—

only LinkedIn concentrates on connecting business professionals

• LinkedIn members did nearly 4.2 billion professionally-oriented searches on the platform in 2011 and will surpass 5.3 billion in 2012

• Its corporate hiring solutions are used by 82 of the Fortune 100 companies

• More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn Company Pages.• How about you? How many of you have a LinkedIn presence?

Not Using LinkedIn to Full Potential

• According to LinkedIn’s co-founder Reid Hoffman, many of its users are not using it to its full potential. In a recent Wired Magazine profile Hoffman said:

• “They think it’s a place they keep their CV online and maybe have some connections with people they know professionally. They don’t think of it as a place to get business intelligence, to research problems, to establish an online presence where other people in the network can find them. It’s as if we’re a screwdriver in a world where people don’t quite understand screws.”

The Basics: Building Your Profile

• Sign up and complete your LinkedIn profile. Don’t skimp on information. Fill it all out. LinkedIn will let you know if it is incomplete.

• Don’t neglect your headshot. Although it may not seem a big deal to you, if your ultimate goal is to use LinkedIn to network a profile with a LinkedIn photo is "seven times more likely to be viewed” according to Nicole Williams, LinkedIn's Connection Director. Make sure it’s a flattering head shot and only includes you.

• Add your website, blog, your Twitter name. By the way, Twitter is a subject for another day.

Connecting

• Search for and add your business connections. To speed the process select “Add Connections” and LinkedIn can send out invitations to those you correspond with through email or you can enter the email addresses of your contacts.

• Have a strategy for building connections. One school of thought is to only connect with people that you actually know while another school of thought is to connect with everyone who asks to connect.

• Make sure to take the time to introduce yourself to anyone you don’t know well. Tell them how you know each other and why you want to connect.

Connections

Recommendations are Crucial• Make sure to add some

recommendations from others once your profile is complete. Recommendations set you apart from others and make you appear more credible.

• Make sure you get at least three recommendations. Many jobs advertised on LinkedIn require applicants to have at least three recommendations in order to be reviewed.

Skills

• List your skills and expertise. This is great for SEO. Look though your resume and perhaps the skills required for your dream job –that you of course possess—and list them here.

Power Tips

• Customize your LinkedIn URL. Go to “Profile” page and then select “Edit” next to “Public Profile.” Select the URL you want.

• Activate your blog from LinkedIn.

• Don’t forget to showcase your favorite presentations.

• Display and comment on your reading list.

Deleting a Contact

• Once you are logged into your profile select “Contacts” and on the far right you have two options: “Add Connections” and “Remove Connections”. Click “Remove Connections” and then check the box of the contact you want to drop, click OK and it is done.

Undercover Work

• Hide your status updates from prying eyes. You can fly under the radar by clicking “Settings” underneath your name on the right side of the screen. Next select “Turn on/off your activity broadcasts” and uncheck the box and don’t forget to “save changes.” When you’re ready for everyone to see your updates again make sure to reverse the process.

Going into Stealth Mode• Start sleuthing by making yourself

anonymous. Go into stealth mode by switching your profile to anonymous.

• Simply go to Settings>Privacy Controls>Select what others can see when you’ve viewed their profile.

• Select one of three options: your name and headline; an anonymous profile with some characteristics including industry and title or being totally anonymous. Just remember when you are done “researching” to revert back to your name and profile.

Publicize, Publicize, Publicize• Have something to share with

your connections like news about your company or something you would like to promote to your connections?

• Add it to the update box along with a link.

• This is then automatically shared to all your connections. In the event a connection comments on your post or likes it, your post is then shared among their connections.

Get Social. Join Groups.

• Join groups on LinkedIn. By joining groups you can meet others in your field and potentially add them as contacts as well. Also see if your alumni group is there as well. LinkedIn lets you join up to 50 groups.

Contact: Theresa SmithEmail: tls@PathwayPR.com

www.PathwayPR.com(818) 704-8481

Twitter: @PathwayPR and @CollegeChatLinkedIn: TheresaSmithPathway