Optimize your LinkedIn Profile in 5 Minutes

According to Linked Into Leads, 9 in 10 Financial Advisors who use social networks turn to LinkedIn as their go-to social media platform. With over 400 million users on LinkedIn, you should focus on connecting with prospects through this giant of a social media platform.

Here are 4 ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile and convert prospects into clients (I’ve used Veriday’s, VP Product Management, Andrew Chung as an example below):

You need a picture of yourself. A great LinkedIn picture is:

Clear
Professional
Eye catching

You want your picture to resemble what you would look like if you were to shake someone’s hand. Smile and make direct eye contact with the camera so that on an online platform, you mimic that feeling to your audience.

Having an eye catching picture can also increase traffic to your profile. Think of it this way; if you were to search for a Product Manager on LinkedIn and in the search results, had the option of picking between the two pictures below, whose profile would you likely click?

Personalize your LinkedIn URL

This a fast and simple step in optimizing your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn provides each user with a randomized personal link. Customizing your LinkedIn URL will not only improve your SEO, but it will also look better and more professional.

What does your headline say about you?

Don’t just put your current job title as your headline, that’s already visible on your profile. Write something that encompasses who you are and what you have to offer. In our example, Andrew Chung’s official role at Veriday is VP, Product Management. Yes, that is his current role – but it’s not the whole story about who Andrew is. Instead he markets himself as a Growth-Driven Product Leader, User Experience Practitioner, and Relentlessly Focused on Customer Success.

What contact information have you made available to your connections?

How can people reach you? Including your contact information is critical to further build connections with people on LinkedIn. This provides your connections with a means to contact you outside of LinkedIn, whether it be through a phone number, email, or social media. Being connected on different mediums is great because it allows you to better market yourself to peers, coworkers, and key decision makers in your industry.

LinkedIn gives you the ability to connect with hundreds and thousands of key decision makers, prospects, and future clients. So, take 5 minutes out of your day and optimize your LinkedIn profile.

For a more detailed walk-through on optimizing your LinkedIn profile, check out our Webinar, Powering Up Your LinkedIn Presence for Success, which was hosted by Andrew Chung himself.