If you are a business owner or a professional using LinkedIn for connecting with other professionals, peers, other business owners, vendors, partners, etc. to grow your business or to achieve professional growth you must spice up your LinkedIn profile. According to a survey only 50% of sales people have more than 500 connections and a Social Selling Index (SSI) or more than 50. You can find your SSI score on www.yourSSIScore.com. Not many people pay attention to their LinkedIn profile which affects their credibility. Use the following tips to improve and optimize your LinkedIn profile. It will help you build your brand image, connect with right people and build successful relationships that will help you grow professionally and generate more business.

1. Create a banner

The banner creates a brand awareness and can include call to action (CTA). The banner should conform to LinkedIn recommended size. Make sure you can view clearly both on desktop and on mobile devices.

2. Add your photo

Take a professional head shot

3. Add a headline

This is just more than your title. You can include keywords about your business, target customer, products and service, how you help, USP, etc. Separate items with a vertical bar.

4. Add contact info

Make sure you include your website, email and phone number. You can also include your twitter handle.

5. Add business info

List the industry, services that you provide and work location

6. Add About info

This should be a detailed description about your business. Include information such as

a. Unique selling proposition

b. Mention the target customer you help

c. Mention their pain points that you solve

d. Mention how you solve their problems

e. List your products and services

f. List your areas of specialization

g. Give five reason why should someone choose you

h. Add contact information

i. Include a call to action

j. Include any graphic image if you have one

k. Embed key words

7. Add your experience

List all your experiences and describe your role. Show how you helped the clients and how they benefitted. In the experience title use keywords in addition to your position or role such sales consultant, or multiple roles that you played in that position. You can add media here.

8. Include your education

Include all your degrees, diplomas, etc.

9. Add certifications

Add all the certifications that you have earned over the years. This will differentiate you from your competition.

10. Add any volunteer experience that you might have

11. Add skills

You can add up to 50 skills. Use as many as you can. You use your products and services to fill in the rest of skills left. Pin top three skills to the top.

12. In the Accomplishments section add honors & awards you have won, organizations that you have worked for and any publications that you have published such as books, articles, etc. You can add links to your publications.

13. Customize your LinkedIn public profile URL

Make it easy to remember and include it in your email signature and your business card.

14. Ask people for recommendations.

You can ask for recommendations only from your 1st degree connections.

15. Review your LinkedIn settings & privacy

Review the Account, Privacy, Ads and Communication sections and make any necessary changes.

I improved my SSI score by 25% after following these steps and so can you.

Contact us today for a FREE review of your LinkedIn profile.

Call: 610-482-4359 Email: siva@cubeinfosolutions.com Text: 610-246-9710 with a hashtag #LinkedIn4Me