LinkedIn is an amazing social media site that allows you to network and find people to connect with who share your interests. As an entrepreneur, solopreneur, or independent contractor, you can generate more clients on LinkedIn. Whether you’re new to the platform or already have a few connections, implement these strategies to make your profile shine. Keep reading.
1. Define your ideal client.
Ask yourself, “What kind of clients need the services that I provide?” It would be helpful to create an avatar of your dream client. You’ll want to research the following details and write them down:
- In what industry do they belong?
- What are their job titles?
- What are some problems they’re experiencing?
- How old are they?
A client avatar will enable you to write content on your profile that resonates with them.
2. Maximize your LinkedIn summary.
Unfortunately, not a lot of LinkedIn users think about their summary or “about” section. Filling out this section could set you apart from other users in your niche. After all, it’s the first thing that people see when they visit your profile.
Did you know that LinkedIn uses your summary for search results? Make sure that you include search terms or keywords that a potential client may use to type into a search bar. Relevant industry keywords will boost your visibility to your dream clients.
Check out these 10 profile summaries that LinkedIn loves.
3. Start strong.
People only see the first 3 lines of your profile summary. So, you need to make sure that your first few words grab your dream client’s attention. Mention the number one thing that you want people to know about you. Make it actionable. Eliminate fluff.
4. Increase your engagement through posting.
Now that you’ve nailed your summary, you need to work towards getting a higher engagement. With that, you need to think about what content to post that encourages discussion and provides valuable insights to your audience.
Here are some ideas:
- Success stories. A before-and-after story could be about you or a client you’ve helped using your methods.
- Industry trends. Timely content that your audience will find useful is always a great idea. When you share trends, you are also positioning yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
- Inspire others. Spread positivity! The lessons you share may immensely benefit someone else. If you do this, people will look up to you as a valuable mentor, a real human being.
5. Don’t make it all about you.
If you’re focusing on putting out content and not helping others, you can’t expect your profile to go that far. Like and comment on relevant posts. Leave thoughtful responses. Most importantly, be industry-specific. Pick posts to interact with that are within your industry or interests.
6. Use hashtags.
Hashtags were introduced on LinkedIn in 2018. The value of these hashtags is that they boost the visibility of your posts on a certain topic. For example, by including the hashtag #marketing on your post, you are making sure that people who search for marketing will be able to find it.
There you have it! Surely, there are more strategies out there that will help you optimize your LinkedIn profile. But these tips should get you off to a good start. Show enthusiasm and make use of every opportunity that the platform provides to promote yourself. Good luck!
