The Power of LinkedIn – Jamie Martin
The Power of LinkedIn Profiles
We research you on social media before committing to buying from you, don’t we?…
The importance of ethics and brand to business individuals you need to be aware of – what are they looking for on your profiles when they decide to purchase services or products?
LinkedIn in particular is known as the number 1 B2B (business-to-business) social media channel, with a significant increase in traffic since COVID, LinkedIn is used for winning customers, networking, and job searching. Your profile will also be used as your online CV during recruitment processes (both your CV and LinkedIn profile require to be coherent with each other).
The purpose of your LinkedIn profile is, however, individual to you – do you want to win new customers? Retain existing? Develop a brand? Search for a new career/skill?
Whatever your reasons, you need to start working on your profile today, as it could take several months to complete a LinkedIn profile and increase your visibility on this channel.
But what if your LinkedIn profile is not an ‘All-Star’ profile, this term is not as common as initially used by LinkedIn, ultimately it means having 100% of your profile complete. Really – just a tick box exercise on all the sections of LinkedIn… Why is this important?
Not only will you become more easily findable when there are ‘people’ searches on LinkedIn, the potential customer will also learn more about you (career experience, education, interests, groups you’ve joined, and so on), all can be an emotional decider if a consumer wants to speak with you further.
A Social psychological term ‘The Primacy Effect’ highlights that first impressions do matter… If you have not completed all sections on your LinkedIn profile – what does that say about you? Or not say about you?
How can the power of LinkedIn profiles benefit you?
One example:
“Hi Jamie, I saw a comment you made… that led me to your profile, and I am impressed by your experience and background. You seem like an interesting person to have in my network. I hope you will accept my invitation.”
Finding out information on a person’s LinkedIn profile can aid the KLT principle (Know, Like, Trust), for example, if you both support the same charity displayed on your LinkedIn profile, a common ground is developed between you both when mentioned in your conversations.
How can the power of LinkedIn profiles impact you?
Following previous research (from one demographic); here’s an important factor that impacts millennials’ buying decisions:
75% of millennials research a company on social media before deciding to buy a service or product from them (Correct Careers Coaching, 2020).
Millennials are the first generation brought up in a technology-led world. It is the ‘norm’ for them to research you online when deciding to purchase something. The same can be said for the other demographics as we continue embracing the digital world.
This behaviour is the same for meeting someone in person – they will still check you out online/LinkedIn before deciding to buy from you. This research is now part of the face-to-face buying process – the two things are becoming inextricably linked.
For those people who are employed for a business, your LinkedIn profile also promotes the brand and culture. It demonstrates your commitment to this business and will inevitably progress your career – thus the in-depth content you add in each of the profile sections should align with the rest of the company ethos too.
If your personal profile/business is not complete on LinkedIn – will a person:
- Buy from you?
- Choose your service/products over your competitors?
- Get in touch with you to sell to your business needs?
If you think and operate in that way – then you will certainly be influenced by the services and products, you see online – being experienced by others you respect. Just as you feel safer doing your own research before deciding to make any investment.
Some #TopTips to enhance your LinkedIn portfolio and creating an ‘All-Star’ profile:
- Include a job title and industry within your ‘Headline’ – easier to find you in searches
- Make sure you have added the ‘Featured’ section, an eye catching visual element to your profile (add certificates, team pictures, YouTube URLs, etc.)
- In your ‘About’ section; demonstrate your passion, mindset and reasons why you currently do what you do in a professional environment
- Within your ‘Experience’ section go beyond just the tasks and responsibilities – what achievements do you have? What are the outcomes/results you have generated?
- Finally, don’t forget to ask for ‘Recommendations’, what other’s say about you really counts. And remember reciprocity!
Jamie Martin of Correct Careers Coaching.
Jamie@correctcareerscoaching.com
07599 332178
