Linkedin can be an endless source of leads, job opportunities, referrals, and multiple income streams. However, none of that matters if you have not optimized your efforts both with your network and your profile.

Optimizing your network: First key step to optimizing your Linkedin network is to build a network based off the target market you are after and want to penetrate. In order to do this write a list of potential industries and titles you are targeting. Then identify those you have interacted with in the past and invite them to connect with you. You can also target those on Linkedin within the advanced search option, who are open networkers. Using such search terms such as LION, Toplinked.com, and opennetworker can generate a long list of members whom provide their email address readily to accept connection invites. In addition you can add the keywords of your target market in the search allowing you to find those open to connecting within your target audience.

The next key to optimizing your network is to add tags or categories to your connections so you can effectively manage which target market they fall within your connection base.
(Learn more on this by joining us for our Linkedin Strategies Webinar this Thursday with Q & A at “no cost”.)

Bonus Network Tip: Now that you have the right target people in your network be sure to reach out to them and keep them updated via email or by updating your status in your Linkedin profile on a regular basis.

Optimizing your profile:

Your Linkedin Profile is your online professional brand, just google your name and see what pops up. More than likely your Linkedin profile showed up near the top.
I often tell people “Your Linkedin Profile is Your Resume”, so how well does yours read?

1. First of all is your profile complete? Things such as work history and education are critical.
2. Have you written a compelling headline?
3. Do you have a good profile picture loaded? Preferably a nice headshot professionally done.
4. Think about your list of specialties and make sure they are keyword rich so you appear in more searches and are found easily within Linkedin for your target audience.

The first key is completing your profile. I cannot stress enough how an optimized profile is critical to measurable success on Linkedin.

Bonus Profile Tip:

Take a look at my profile and in the summary you will see I noted common misspells of my name. Why have I done this? Because someone may misspell your name searching for you on Linkedin and never find you if it’s not within your profile.

~Randy Schrum

*Linkedin Strategy Group: Learn more Linkedin Strategies and Tips at the most collaborative Linkedin Group available within the Linkedin space.

*Linkedin Strategy Webinar: “No Cost” Series, Join us every Thursday different times every week (4pm EDT or 7pm EDT “subject to change”). Don’t worry if you can’t make the live webinar, sign up anyway to gain access to the recording.

*Profile Optimization: Not sure if your profile is optimized at its best? Need the help of a professional who has helped countless others? Email support@mycorporatemedia.com  For $300 get your profile professionally revamped, in the email subject please put “Profile Re-vamp”.

 
***LinkedIn is a networking tool that helps you discover inside connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts and business partners.