10 STEPS TO A FAST STARTUSING LINKEDIN

Allison S. Weiss

Step One: Connect & Personalize

Other personalization options include: MY APPLICATIONS where you can post anything from your travel schedule (TripIT), reading list (Amazon), and Events!

PROFILE – upload your professional headshot, create a personalized URL, fill all fields available!

SUMMARY – Incorporate your elevator pitch…this is your 60 second commercial! Include a ‘key words’ section to increase search-ability

Connect to your network – use ADD CONNECTIONS to find your email contacts

Step Two: Highlight Your Experience

According to Linkedin, updating and adding sections can increase your profile views by 7X!

Think of your Linkedin profile as your virtual resume! Use powerful verbs, correct grammar and spelling.

Add SECTIONS: certifications, courses, honors & awards, languages, organizations, projects, publications and skills.

Strive for 100% profile completeness

Step Three: Customize your Settings

Carefully managing your account settings can increase your visibility within Linkedin, protect your privacy and cut down on unwanted email.

Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile – your name & headline, anonymous profile characteristics or totally anonymous.

Select who can see your activity feed, connections and determine email preferences.

Consider OPENLINK

Step Four: Integrate

Remember to post links to your company website, blogs, and facebook page!

Have a Twitter account? Optimize Linkedin to share your updates across both platforms. Don’t have a Twitter account? Get one!

Add your personalized URL to your email signature, Agent Website, Agent Page, business card & other marketing materials.

Step Five: Participate

Take your connections offline by connecting with other members and attending events! Each Group has individual tabs for discussion, posting jobs, and a roster of members.

Join GROUPS to connect with like-minded professionals! Examples include: Alumni Associations, Trade Groups, and online Networking Groups.

Introduce yourself to your fellow group members using the DISCUSSION area of each group. Many will have a discussion started for ‘Introductions’…if not, start the conversation yourself!

Step Six: Add Value

Contributing is not spamming… make sure you are offering ‘news you can use’ to your group members to avoid a negative online reputation.

Can’t find a group targeting your specific interests? Create one! Groups can be open to the public, or private to a select group of people.

Share articles of interest, ask for feedback & advice and comment on the postings of others.

‘Like’ the postings of connections to share them with your network!

Step Seven: Ask for Recommendations

Be specific when asking for a testimonial, and make sure they link to the correct position!

Who do you know who can give a testimonial on what it is like to work with you?

Great recommendation givers can be: current colleagues, clients, your Recruiter, Trainers, Sales Manager and connections from prior positions.

The fastest way to get a recommendation, is to give a recommendation!

Step Eight: Keep up-to-date

Using Google Alerts, and following business news will provide you with plenty of material to keep you at the top of the Newsfeed! Make a schedule for posting, and stick to it!

FOLLOW competitors and business in the area to stay apprised of industry and local trends.

SHARE AN UPDATE to let your network know the latest news about your Agency

Monitor PEOPLE YOU MAY KNOW, WHO’S VIEWED YOUR PROFILE, GROUPS YOU MAY LIKE and COMPANIES YOU MAY WANT TO FOLLOW.

Ask to connect with contacts made at Networking events – and make it personal, and follow-up in 24 hours or less!

Step Nine: Understand Your Network

Don’t forget to search the networks of current connections to prospect future connections!

The value of your network lies in your 1st, 2nd & 3rd tier connections…

Step Ten: Expand Your Network

Asking for an introduction is a great way to connect with those you’d like to do business with.

“From time to time, my clients ask for the name of a _____ that I do business with. Do you know of someone I may refer them to?”

Set a weekly schedule and goals for increasing number of contacts and interactions.

Are their industry gaps in your network? Fill those gaps!

Seek out related business that are non-competitive to build your referral team. Insurance Agent examples are: Residential & Commercial Real Estate Agents, Appraisers, Bankers, Mortgage Lenders, Home Inspectors, Attorneys and Property Managers.