how to build your brand on linkedin

merrill.theresa@gmail.com

Build your Brand on LinkedIn

Fundamentally changed the environment

business professionals

operate in

60% of the sales cycle is over before sales rep involvement

You must be sharing content & engaging in conversations through social media to

impact the buying cycle

Expect to be Googled

Control what is found

Get Noticed

Build Your Professional brand�

1 number

View yourself as a product

WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF,

WHEN THEY THINK OF,

YOU!

YOUR IDENTITY

merrrill.theresa@gmail.com

Optimize Your profile to be found�

2 number

Complete Your Profile

Headline Photo

Summary Experience

At least 5 skills At least 50 connections

=�

@sellsocialmedia

You’re 40 times more effective with a complete LinkedIn profile

No profile photo,

No credibility

Upload a professional headshot

Create a keyword rich headline

merrill.theresa@gmail.com

120 characters to build your brand

Keywords

words or exact phrases used to search for

someone, or something, on the Internet

Who you are

Whom you serve

How you help

Tell your story with a Summary Statement

Affirm relevant Skills Get endorsed

Showcase What You Do Best

Leverage a Powerful Network of Connections�

3 number

Connect with purpose

Strong Ties = your friends, first degree connections on LinkedIn.

Weak Ties = your acquaintances, friends of friends. Second and third degree connections on LinkedIn.

Sociologist Mark Granovetter’s Classic Study of Connectors

operates on this very premise�

Enabling professionals to build a network of

“weak ties” to increase their sphere of influence

Listen to your Network

Study Social Signals

Are you looking at me?

merrill.theresa@gmail.com

Engage People Who Viewed Your Profile

Check Notifications

ReSearch for Targeted Prospects

S�

Refine your search by criteria: function, seniority level, industry, geography, current/previous jobs…

Engage with Content for Thought Leadership �

4 number

People come to social platforms for thought leadership

Content now garners six times more engagement than jobs on LinkedIn.

Build Expertise Around a Niche You Own

Focus on timely and relevant

Status updates

Engage, don’t enrage

Think W.H.A.M factor

What here affects

me?

How to Increase Engagement

on LinkedIn Status Updates

�

#1. Include Links

#2. Use Images

#3. Educate

#4. Ask Questions

#5. Acknowledge with Mentions

#6. Use listicles

#7. Create Branded Quote Boxes

#8. “Like”

#9. Comment

#10. Share

First 5-10 minutes: acknowledge social signals 5-10 minutes: post updates

5-10 minutes: “like, comment & share” 5 minutes: reply to comments

5 minutes: accept invites

Socialnomics author

Thanks!

Theresa Merrill LinkedIn & Social Media Expert merrill.theresa@gmail.com Connect with me on LinkedIn Follow me on Twitter @sellsocialmedia Call me: 201.566.1351