+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!!...

Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!!...

Date post: 17-Jul-2020
Category:
Upload: others
View: 0 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
19
Transcript
Page 1: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

 

Page 2: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   2  

     

Published  by  Image  Building  Communications    P.O.  Box  241621  Omaha,  NE  68124-­‐5621  

 phone  (402)  393-­‐4600    fax  (402)  393-­‐4603  

[email protected]      

Initial  Date  of  Publication:  March  11,  2013      

All  rights  reserved.    No  part  of  this  special  report  may  be  reproduced  or  transmitted  in  any  form    or  by  any  means,  electronic  or  mechanical,  including  photocopying,  recording,    

or  by  any  information  storage  and  retrieval  system,    without  permission  in  writing  from  the  Publisher.  

 This  publication  is  designed  to  provide  accurate  and  authoritative  information.    It  is  sold  with  the  understanding  that  the  author/publisher  is  not  engaged    

in  rendering  legal  service.  If  legal  advice  or  other  expert  assistance  is  required,    the  services  of  a  competent  professional  person  should  be  sought.  

 Some  links  in  this  special  report  may  be  affiliate  links.    

These  could  be  text  links,  images,  or  any  other  type  of  link.    Affiliate  links  mean  that  if  you  are  led  to  a  site  and  make  a  purchase,    

I  may  earn  a  commission  from  that  sale.    The  amount  of  commission  varies  with  each  product.    

Not  all  links  are  affiliate  links.  Some  are  purely  for  sharing.    You  are  under  no  obligation  to  make  any  purchases  from  my  link.    

I  only  recommend  products  and  services  that  I  use  or  am  personally  familiar  with.      

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients      

Bridget  (Weide)  Brooks,  CPRW  10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1  

Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America    

Page 3: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   3  

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Résumé  Clients    You   already   know   that   LinkedIn   can   be   a   revenue   stream   for   your   résumé   writing  business.  Writing  LinkedIn  Headlines  and  Summaries  and  consulting  with  clients  on  fully  developing   their   LinkedIn  Profiles   is   a   service  you  can  offer  along  with   résumés,  or   to  clients  as  a  standalone  service.      But   the   focus   of   this   special   report   is   on   how   to   use   LinkedIn   to   attract   new   clients.  LinkedIn   can   be   effective   for   lead   generation   and   client   attraction,   as   many   résumé  writers  have  found  out.  There  are  three  main  ways  to  be  found:  One  is  through  LinkedIn  search;   the   second   is   through   your   connections;   and   the   third   is   by   participating   and  sharing  information  on  LinkedIn  that  makes  you  visible  to  prospective  clients.    LinkedIn  can  also  be  an  effective  way  to  start  your  client  list,  if  you  don’t  have  one  yet.  LinkedIn  allows  you  to  email  your  contacts,  and  this  is  an  “opt-­‐in”  list  because  they  have  chosen  to  connect  with  you.  So  you  can  also  use  LinkedIn  to  sell  additional  services  to  your  existing  clients  and  prospective  clients  that  have  chosen  to  connect  with  you.    Step  One:  Set  Your  Goal  Before   doing   anything,   you   need   to   know   what   you   hope   to   accomplish   through  LinkedIn.   This  might   sound  obvious,   but   it’s   the   things  we   think  we  know   the   best  —  things  we  take  for  granted  —  that  trip  us  up.    While   you’re   trying   to   generate   leads,   the   real   activity   you’re   focusing   on   should   be  networking.   If   you   have   a   well-­‐rounded   Profile   with   a   strong   identity   and   you   are  engaged  in  LinkedIn,  lead  generation  will  happen  naturally.  But  you  need  to  come  across  as  a  real  person,  with  a  distinct  personality  and  “voice.”    With  a  focus  on  being  authentic,  you  also  need  to  engage  in  networking  that  is  focused  on  “giving,”  not  “getting.”  Without  this  attitude,  you  end  up  being  just  another  annoying  marketer.   (I   think  we’ve  all  experienced  the  person  who  connects  with  us  on  LinkedIn  and  then  proceeds  to  send  us  email  after  email  of  marketing  pitches.)    Client  acquisition  can  be  a  goal!  Résumé  writers  with  a  complete  Profile  and  a  helpful  approach  (sharing  information  and  insight  on  their  own  Profile  as  well  as  in  Groups)  can  be  extremely  successful  in  driving  traffic  to  their  websites  through  LinkedIn.      Concentrate  on  developing  your  voice  first  and  foremost.  On  LinkedIn,  you  don’t  brand  your  business:  You  brand  you.  The  business  is  just  what  you  do.  People  pay  attention  to  it  only  after  they’ve  vetted  you  out  and  approved  of  you  personally.    Never,  ever   fake  anything   just   to  draw   in   connections  —  but  don’t  be  afraid  of  being  selective  about  things  you  share.  It’s  perfectly  okay  —  in  fact,  a  good  policy  —  to  omit  interests  and  data  that  would  dilute  your  “voice”  and  distract  from  your  branding.    

Page 4: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   4  

 Step  Two:  Create  a  Strong  Profile  We’re   going   to   spend   a   good   chunk   of   time   on   this   topic,   because   connecting   with  prospective   clients   on   LinkedIn   starts  with   your   Profile.   Your   Profile   needs   to   be   fully  developed.   According   to   LinkedIn’s   own   research,   Profiles   that   are   “complete”   by  LinkedIn  standards  receive  40  times  more  opportunities  than  incomplete  Profiles.    LinkedIn  has   its  own  criteria   for  “Profile  completeness,”  which  has  changed  somewhat  over  time.  As  of  December  2012,  to  be  considered  “complete”  by  LinkedIn’s  standards,  you  need  these  items  in  your  LinkedIn  Profile:  

Your  industry  and  location   An  up-­‐to-­‐date  current  position  (with  description)   Two  past  positions   Your  education   At  least  three  Skills   A  Profile  photo   At  least  50  connections  

 Also,  your  LinkedIn  Profile  should  be  entirely  focused  towards  your  business  identity  as  a  résumé  writer.  We’ve  already  touched  on  being  selective,   including  only   information  that  supports  your  “message.”  If  you  want  to  attract  résumé  clients,  it  must  be  apparent  from  your  LinkedIn  Profile  that  you  are  a  résumé  writer.    Besides  clients  who  find  you  on  LinkedIn  directly,  it’s  common  for  clients  to  Google  you.  Often,  your  LinkedIn  Public  Profile  will  be  one  of  the  first  things  that  comes  up  in  your  Google  results.  If  you  don’t  emphasize  résumé  writing  in  your  LinkedIn  Profile,  that  may  turn  off  prospective  clients.      Speaking  of  turning  off  prospective  clients:  Your  LinkedIn  Profile  photo   is  key.  Because  we  don’t  meet  most  of  our  clients  in  person,  our  photo  represents  us  online  —  so  make  sure  your  photo  is  up-­‐to-­‐date  and  represents  you  well.    The  two  most   important  components   in  your  LinkedIn  Profile  are  your  name  and  your  LinkedIn  Headline.  Your  Headline  appears   in  multiple  places  on  LinkedIn,  so   it’s  one  of  the  first  things  many  prospective  clients  see  about  you  when  navigating  LinkedIn.    The  Headline  also  sometimes  shows  up  when  you  are  post  in  Groups  (not  on  the  Group  discussion  page  itself,  but  in  the  notification  emails).    For  example:    

Page 5: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   5  

 Writing  Your  LinkedIn  Headline  The  two  most  important  things  to  know  about  writing  your  LinkedIn  Headline  is  that  it  can  only  be  120  characters,  and  it  must  reflect  your  personal  brand  (including  keywords  that   may   be   used   when   doing   a   search   for   you,   or   someone   like   you).   In   the   new  LinkedIn  Profile,  the  Headline  is  much  more  prominent  than  in  the  old  design.    The  “default”  LinkedIn  Headline  is  related  to  your  most  recent  work  experience  listed  in  your  LinkedIn  Profile,  unless  you  change  it.  The  default  format  is  “job  title”  at  “company  name.”  This  is  not  a  very  effective  Headline  for  attracting  new  résumé  clients.    Things  you  can  consider  including  in  your  LinkedIn  Headline:    

• “Resume  writer”  • Types  of  customers  /  projects  you  work  with  • Industry  specialization  • Certifications  or  designations  • Awards  and  honors  you’ve  received  • “Expert”  status  in  working  with  certain  client  populations  (i.e.,  executives)  

 

Note:  Do  not  use  the  accent  marks  on  the  word  “résumé”  on  LinkedIn.  While  LinkedIn’s  search   function  will   read   the   accent  marks   (and   LinkedIn   does   retain   the   formatting,  unlike   some   online   systems   that   read   the   “é”   as   a   strange   character),   most   people  searching  for  a  résumé  writer  won’t  use  the  accents.  

 If  you  do  a  search   for  other   résumé  writers  on  LinkedIn,  you’ll  notice  that  everyone   is  using  the  same  keywords!      The  top  10  most  common  keywords  used  by  résumé  writers  are:  

• Resume  Writer  /  Resume  Writing  • Resume  Branding  /  Branding  Expert  • LinkedIn  Profile  /  LI  

Page 6: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   6  

• Job  Search  • Career  Coach  /  Career  Consultant  • Executive  Resumes  /  Executive  Resume  Writer  • Professional  Resume  Writer  • CV  Writer  • Interview  Coach  • Author  

 Identifying  your  niche  (types  of  customers,  projects,  or  industry  specialization)  can  help  you  attract  your  ideal  clients.  If  you  can  use  a  keyword  your  target  market  uses  —  that  doesn’t  show  up  in  many  other  résumé  writers’  Headlines  and  Summary  sections  —  that  can  help  you  be  found.    Some  examples  might  include:  

• Technical  resume  writer  • Military  transition  resume  writer  • Career  expert  for  executives  

 

   Attracting  Your  Ideal  Client  With  a  Compelling  Summary  If  your  goal  is  to  attract  clients  with  your  LinkedIn  Profile,  your  Summary  will  be  critical  to  this.  You  have  2000  characters  in  the  Summary  section.    One  of  the  best  opportunities  for  connecting  with  potential  clients  is  in  your  Summary.  The  Summary   is   really  where  you  can  win   over   clients.  Tell   the   story   of  who  you  are,  how  you  got  here,  and  who  you  work  with  (and  who  you  are  best  in  a  position  to  help).      

Page 7: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   7  

Keep  your  ideal  client  in  mind.  Of  all  the  things  you  do  and  the  skills  you  possess,  what  would  most  interest  him/her?  What  would  catch  your  target  customer’s  attention?  And  —   most   important   —   what   would   make   that   potential   connection   choose   you   in  particular,  out  of  all  the  other  people  who  do  what  you  do?    Address  these  questions:  

• What  results  do  you  get  for  your  clients?  (social  proof)  • How  has  your  background  prepared  you  to  work  with  clients?  • What  additional  skills  do  you  have  that  set  you  apart  from  other  résumé  writers?  

 Write   naturally   and   conversationally.   Do   not   simply   list   the   types   of   clients   you  work  with,  or  the  services  you  provide.  You  should  use  pronouns  in  your  Summary.  Speak  in  the  first  person,  not  third  person.  (“I  did  such-­‐and-­‐such.”)  Write  as  if  you’re  speaking  to  an   individual   reader.  Make   it   personal.   Be   sure   to   emphasize   outcomes  —  as  well   as  what   makes   you   uniquely   qualified   to   work   with   the   clients   you   do.   Try   to   find   a  common   THREAD   through   your  work.   Then,   once   you   have   a   theme,   use   storytelling  principles  to  write  your  Summary  as  a  narrative.  Have  a  beginning,  a  middle,  and  an  end.      Be  conversational  and  informal  in  your  tone.  Use  contractions  (“you’re”  instead  of  “you  are”).  Every  word  counts!  And  pay  attention  to  grammar  and  spelling.  Make  sure  there  are  no  mistakes  in  your  Profile.  Re-­‐read  and  edit  it.  Have  a  colleague,  friend,  or  spouse  read  it.  Copy-­‐and-­‐paste  it  into  a  word  processing  program  and  run  a  spell-­‐check  on  it.    You  can  also  use  asterisks,  dashes,  hyphens,  and  other  keyboard  characters   to   format  the  Summary  and  make  it  easier  to  read.    Some  of  these  include:  ►  Arrow  Pointing  Right  ◄  Arrow  Pointing  Left  →  Right  arrow  ←  Left  arrow  ★  Star      ❤  Heart    ♦  Diamond    •  Dot    ■  Square    ▲  Up  Arrow    ▼  Down  Arrow    ▄  Small  Block    Keyboard  characters  will  allow  you  to  add  emphasis  to  certain  statements,  and  they  also  add  visual  interest.  (You  can  copy-­‐and-­‐paste  these  characters  into  your  Summary.)    

Page 8: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   8  

Give  Your  Profile  Dimension  With  Rich  Media  Content  With   the   Profile   redesign   in   December   2012,   LinkedIn   removed   the   previous   “Apps”  functionality,   but   has   added   the   opportunity   for   you   to   include   “rich  media”   (links   to  web  content,  videos,  etc.)  in  your  Summary.    You   can   add   photos,   video,   audio,   documents,   and   links   to   online   presentations  (including  SlideShare  and  Scribd).  As   long  as   the  content   is  hosted   somewhere  on   the  Internet  (it  has  a  unique  URL),  it  can  probably  be  linked.  Make  sure  that  the  information  is  “on  brand”  before  you  share  it  on  your  LinkedIn  Profile.  

For   a   complete   list   of   compatible   content   providers,   check   out   this   page:  http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/34327  

After  you’ve  clicked  on  the  link  to  “categories”  within  the  text  on  that  page,  simply  click  on  the  type  of  content  provider  you’re  interest  in,  and  a  drop-­‐down  menu  will  appear.  

 

Note,  however,  that  you  must  have  been  fully  upgraded  by  LinkedIn  to  add  rich  media  to  your  Profile.  Click  on  “Profile”  in  the  main  menu  and  choose  “Edit  Profile.”  If  you  see  this   option,   you   can   add   rich   media.   Otherwise,   you’ll   have   to   wait   until   LinkedIn  upgrades  you.  (With  200  million  Profiles,  this  will  take  some  time.)    

Page 9: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   9  

   Checklist  for  Your  LinkedIn  Profile  Review  your  LinkedIn  Profile  with  this  checklist  in  mind:  

Have  you  used  an  up-­‐to-­‐date,  professional-­‐quality  photo,  with  no  distracting  or  contradictory  elements  in  it?  

Have   you   included   your   best   keyword   or   keywords   in   your   Headline?   Does   it  speak  to  your  “uniqueness”  as  a  résumé  writer,  and  what  sets  you  apart?  

Is   your   Profile   (and   your   Summary,   in   particular),   geared   towards   your   ideal  client  —  that  is,  the  prospective  customer  you  are  most  interested  in  reaching?  Have  you  included  relevant,  unique  details  that  make  you  stand  out  from  similar  Profiles?  

Did  you  proofread  your  Profile?  Make  sure  there  are  no  errors.  Read  your  Profile  Summary  out   loud  to   identify  and  eliminate  any  breaks  in  the  flow  or  awkward  sentences.  Break  long  sentences  up  into  short  ones.  Use  short  paragraphs.  

Have  you  completed  as  much  of  your  Profile  as  possible?    Step  Three:  Create  a  Strong  Public  Profile  Many  résumé  writers  aren’t  aware  they  have  a  Profile  for  other  LinkedIn  members  and  connections   to   view…and   a   Public   Profile   that   Google   and   anyone   else   can   access  through  Google  search.  Be  sure  to  go  to  your  LinkedIn  Settings  and  make  sure  both  are  optimized  the  way  you  want  them  to  be!    Go  up  to  your  name  in  the  upper  right-­‐hand  corner  of  the  page  and  hover  over  it  until  you   get   the   drop-­‐down  menu   (or   click   your   name   and   the  menu  will   appear).   Go   to  “Settings.”    

Page 10: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   10  

 Scroll   down   the   page   and   you’ll   see   two   options:   “Edit   your   Profile”   and   “Edit   your  Public  Profile.”    

   If  you  are  making  a  lot  of  changes  to  your  Profile,  on  that  same  page,  click  “Turn  on/off  your   activity   broadcasts.”   This   will   prevent   LinkedIn   from   creating   multiple   status  updates   for   the   changes   you’re   making.   When   you’re   finished   making   your   Profile  changes,  go  back  and  turn  the  activity  broadcasts  back  on  again.    While   you’re   editing   your   Public   Profile,   go   down   to   the   right-­‐hand,   second-­‐to-­‐last  widget   and   create   a   customized   URL   for   yourself.   The   best   format   is  “FirstNameLastName.”  If  your  own  name  is  taken,  add  your  best  keyword  to  your  name  (MarySmithResumeWriter)  or  your  company  name  (BestResumesofDuluth).    When  the  edit  popup  that  opens,  simply  type  the  vanity  URL  name  you  want  after  the  forward  slash  beyond  “pub”  or  “in.”    

Page 11: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   11  

   Use   that   URL   on   your   business   card,   fliers,   and   other   materials   where   you’re   not  providing  a  “clickable”  LinkedIn  Badge.  The  LinkedIn  Profile   is  a  complement  to  —  but  not   a   substitute   for   —   your   résumé   business   website.   It’s   not   uncommon   for   a  prospective   client   to   “Google”   you   before   hiring   you   to   write   their   résumé   —   and,  especially,  their  LinkedIn  Profile.    Create  Profile  Badges  Finally,   check  out   the  bottom-­‐right  widget  on  your  Public  Profile,   and  click  on   the   link  that  will  allow  you  to  create  badges  on  your  sites  and  other  social  networks  that  allow  badges.    

  Step  Four:  Ask  for  Connections  Now  that  you’ve  beefed  up  your  Profile,  it’s  time  to  turn  your  attention  to  boosting  your  LinkedIn  power.  If  your  LinkedIn  connection  list  is  still  fairly  sparse,  you  may  wish  to  ask  for   more   connections.   As   a   résumé   writer,   you   should   have   a   minimum   of   200  connections.   This   can   include   other   careers   industry   professionals,   but   should   also  include  clients.  The   idea  of  connecting  with  clients  can  be  a  controversial  one,  but   it’s  important  to  remember  what  the  purpose  of  LinkedIn  is:  business  connections.    More  connections  means:  

• More  endorsements  • More  Recommendations  • More  leads!  

 If  you  have  clients  who  are  concerned  about  privacy,  leave  the  decision  up  to  your  client  as   to  whether   they  connect  with  you,  or  not.  The  advantage  to   them   is   that   they  can  take   advantage   of   your   connection   and   network   of   contacts   to   reach   more   hiring  managers,   recruiters,   and  decision-­‐makers.  The   disadvantage   is   that   the  connection   is  public,  and  they  may  not  want  to  showcase  they  are  working  with  a  résumé  writer.    

Page 12: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   12  

It   is   to  your   advantage  to   connect  with   recruiters,  hiring  managers,   and  other   careers  professionals  on  LinkedIn,  so  growing  this  part  of  your  network  is  important.    When   you   request   a   connection,   never   leave   the   default   message   as   is.   Always  customize   it.   If   someone   thinks   you   are   impersonally   requesting   a   connection   just   to  boost   their   numbers,   it   feels   more   like   a   nuisance   request.   If   you   give   someone   a  personal  and   relevant   reason   for  wanting   to  add   them  to  your  network,   they  will   feel  pleased  and  flattered.  Take  a   look  at  the  person’s  Profile  before  sending  a  connection  request.  Give  a  precise  reason  for  wanting  to  connect.  Be  specific.    Step  Five:  Participate  in  Groups  Joining  Groups  and  developing  a  presence   is  always  good   for  building   relationships  —  but  you  can  also  generate  leads  in  surprisingly  direct  ways  —  especially  when  you’re  in  the  middle  of  a  “hot”  discussion,  where  opinions  are  flying  freely.      One  common  mistake  many  résumé  writers  make  is  joining  only  Groups  related  to  the  careers  industry.  Not  only  is  there  fierce  competition  for  jobseekers  who  post  requests  for  assistance   in   these  Groups,  but  you  are  missing  out  on  an  opportunity   to   connect  with  people  on  LinkedIn  who  are  not  actively  looking  for  a  job.    Instead,   look   for   Groups   in   your   target   niche   (finance/banking,   technology,   military  transition,   engineering,  media,   hospitality,   sales   and   retail   are   all   popular   topics)   and  join  those  Groups.    

Taking   advantage   of   Groups   to   answer   niche-­‐related  questions   nurtures   trust   and   helps   build   respect   for  your   skills   and   expertise.   Because   LinkedIn’s   Answer  feature  has  been  discontinued,  participating   in  Groups  (and  sharing  articles  and  information  relevant  to  these  populations)  can  be  a  great  lead-­‐generating  strategy.    To  find  Groups,  don’t  rely  solely  on  those  suggested  by  LinkedIn.   Instead,   click   on   “Groups”   in   your  menu  bar  

and   select   “Groups   Directory.”   You’ll   be   able   to   choose   from   among   more   than   1.6  million  LinkedIn  Groups.  You  can  be  a  member  of  up  to  50  Groups  at  one  time.      If  you  haven’t  yet  joined  a  Group,  follow  these  tips:    

• Don’t  join  Groups  from  whom  there  has  been  no  activity  for  more  than  a  couple  of  days.  Look  for  the  status  “Active”  or  “Very  Active,”  when  looking  through  the  Groups  Directory.    

Page 13: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   13  

   

• Be   selective.   You   can   always   “unjoin”   Groups,   but   be   choosy   about   the   first  handful   of  Groups   you   get   involved  with   (especially   those   that   appeal   to   your  target  audience).  Get  to  know  the  Group  before  you  invest  too  much  time.  

 • Don’t   join   Groups   that   are   too   large.   You   may   get   lost   in   the   chatter   –—  

particularly  if  they  are  too  active.    

• Do  introduce  yourself  briefly  when  you  join  a  new  Group.  But  don’t  be  too  self-­‐promotional   right   away.   Start   participating   in   discussions   and   answering  questions,   but   do   it   from   a   spirit   of   “giving,”   not   self-­‐promotion.   If   you   offer  valuable  information  and  explain  your  credentials  as  you  do  so,  you’ll  find  you’re  a   client   magnet.   (The   easiest   way   to   do   this   is   by   answering   with,   “As   a  professional  résumé  writer,  I  advised  my  clients  who  had  a  similar  problem  to  do  ‘x.’  Here  is  what  they  found…”)  

 • Do  be  consistent  with  your  participation.  It’s  better  to  check  on  and  comment  on  

three  or  four  Groups  daily  than  10  Groups  every  once  in  a  while.    

• Don’t  start  your  own  Group  unless  you  are  prepared  to  devote  substantial  time  to  monitoring  the  Group  (answering  questions,  monitoring  spam  comments  and  posts)  and  growing  the  Group  through  marketing  and  promotion.  

 Step  Six:  Integrate  With  Outside  Sites  Cross-­‐promotion  is  a  key  to  success  with  social  media,  and  LinkedIn  is  no  exception.  Tie  in  your  other  social  media  Profiles  and  your  own  website  (and/or  blog).  Link  to  these  in  your  Profile:    

   Be   sure   to  edit   the  names  of   the   links.  You  can  do   this  by   choosing   “Edit  Profile”  and  then  clicking  the  blue  arrow  next  to  “Websites”  and  selecting  “Other.”  You  can  create  a  name  for  the  link  that  will  appear  instead  of  the  URL.  

Page 14: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   14  

 

 Links   to   consider:   your   website,   your   blog,   your   Twitter   Profile,   Pinterest   Profile,  Facebook  Business  Page,  or  a  landing  page  for  an  opt-­‐in  offer  (a  special  report  on  a  topic  that  your  target  audience  will  be  interested  in).    Note:  In  the  new  LinkedIn  Profile,  you  won’t  be  able  to  see  these  links  until  you  click  on  the  “Contact  Info”  button  on  the  Profile.    

   You   should   look   at   your   content   across   all   social   networks,   blogs,   and   websites   as   a  “whole”   —   a   big-­‐picture   overview   of   your   focused   lead   generation   strategies   and  Unique   Selling   Proposition   (USP),   or   what   sets   you   apart   from   other   résumé  writers.  LinkedIn  should  never  be  “separate”   in  your  mindset   from  these  other  areas.  See  how  you  can  connect  them  all  together  and  cross-­‐promote.      Share  your  LinkedIn  posts  directly  to  Twitter  as  you  make  them.  Also,  decide  if  you  want  comments   to   be   seen   by   “anyone”   or   connections   only.   In   general,   I   recommend  allowing  them  to  be  seen  by  “anyone,”  as  this  will  get  you  greater  visibility.    

Page 15: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   15  

   Sharing  Dos  and  Don’ts  You   will   be   the   best   judge   of   how   and   when   to   share   LinkedIn   content  —   and   with  whom.  Otherwise,  here  are  some  general  guidelines:  

 • Post   and   comment   regularly   and   consistently   —   preferably   every   day.   At   a  

minimum,  post  content  2-­‐3  times  a  week.      • However,  never  post  or  comment  just  for  the  sake  of  doing  so.  Have  something  

valuable  to  share!    

• Answer  questions  —  both  within  your   target  audience  Groups,  but  also  within  peer  Groups.  Help  out  other  résumé  writers!  

 • Share  other  great  answers  you  receive;  give  credit  where  credit  is  due!  

 • Thank  people  for  shares  —  and  especially  for  LinkedIn  Recommendations.  

 • Keep   your  main   target   audience   always   in  mind,   and   stick   to   your   “brand”   in  

everything  you  do  on  LinkedIn.    Step  Seven:  Follow  and  Observe    Pick  leaders  in  the  careers  industry,  and  “Follow”  them.  Observe:  

• What  techniques  they  use  • Which  ones  get  a  noticeable  response  • Which  tactics  annoy  you  • Which  tactics  you  respond  to  

 You  can  learn  a  lot  from  following  industry  experts  who  are  also  LinkedIn  megastars.  But  LinkedIn  also  offers  “hand-­‐picked”  suggestions  on  who  to  follow:  http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/whotofollow    You’ll  find  articles  that  LinkedIn  thinks  you’ll  find  interesting  —  and,   for  the  most  part,  they  are!  

Page 16: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   16  

 Things  to  Watch  Out  For  When  Using  LinkedIn  LinkedIn   is  a   dynamic,  active  network  whose  main   focus   is   business.   It   is   still   growing  quickly,  and  LinkedIn  is  adding  new  features.      Once   you   have   set   up   your   first   rush   of   connections   and   joined   a   couple   of   Groups,  nurture  and  grow  your  relationships.  Add  people  thoughtfully,  making  sure  they  will  not  detract  from  your  LinkedIn  “voice.”      Create   the   habit   of   daily   interaction   —   even   if   it’s   just   checking   your   messages   and  making  one  or  two  comments.    Think  of  when  people  move  away.  Even  if  you’ve  been  best  friends  —  in  and  out  of  each  other’s  houses  all  day  long  —  once  one  of  you  moves  miles  away,  contact  drops  off.  This  is  a  normal  part  of  life.  Change  is  a  normal  part  of  life.    Life  is  all  about  habit  and  presence.  If  you’re  not  there,  you’re  no   longer  important.  So  be  there  —  not  just  on  LinkedIn,  but  on  all  your  social  networks.      Answer  questions.  Acknowledge  comments.  And  make  sure  you  thoroughly  enjoy  doing  so.  (Get  rid  of  any  Group  you  find  you’re  not  naturally  and  eagerly  interacting  with.)    Look   for   opportunities   for   LinkedIn   lead   generation  —   and   you  may   be   amazed   how  many  you  find,  once  you  get  to  know  the  network.    Additional  Resources  for  Learning  More  About  LinkedIn    Jason  Alba  –  Book:  “I’m  on  LinkedIn  —  Now  What??”  More  information  here:  http://amzn.to/llSv54    “The  New  LinkedIn  Profile”  webinar  (recording)  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/AlbaLinkedInWebinar    “LinkedIn  Proactive  Strategies”  webinar  (recording)  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/ProactiveStrategies    Brenda  Bernstein  –  How  to  Write  a  Killer  LinkedIn  Profile  …  and  18  Mistakes  to  Avoid  More  information  here:  http://amzn.to/13PUvHw    Wendy  Enelow  &  Louise  Kursmark  –  Writing  LinkedIn  Profiles  E-­‐Summit  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/LinkedInESummit  

Page 17: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   17  

 Louise  Fletcher  –  The  Blue  Sky  Guide  to  LinkedIn  (ebook)  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/BlueSkyLinkedIn    Kevin  Donlin  and  David  Perry  –    How  to  Get  Hired  Faster  on  LinkedIn  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/GuerrillaMakeover    Lewis  Howes  –  LinkedInfluence  (How  to  market  on  LinkedIn  even  if  you  have  little  or  no  budget)  More  information  here:  http://bit.ly/RWDLinkedInfluence    Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Résumé  Clients  Checklist  

I  have  decided  on  my  LinkedIn  goal  and  strategies     I  have  decided  on  my  LinkedIn  “voice”  

  I  am  being  selective  about  the  things  I  share  on  LinkedIn  

  I   have   chosen  my   best   keywords   for   my   Profile   and   used   them   in   my   Profile  

Headline  and  Summary.    

I  have  added  rich  media  and  outside  URLs  to  my  Profile  Summary   Links  to  presentations   Links  to  documents   YouTube  video  link   Link  to  your  website   Link  to  your  blog   Link  to  your  Twitter  Profile   Link  to  your  Facebook  Business  Page   Pinterest  link   Other   _______________________________________________________  

  I  have  paid  attention  to  the  following  details  and  areas:  

Using  an  up-­‐to-­‐date,  professional  quality  headshot  with  no  distracting  or  contradictory  elements  in  it  

Creating   a   Profile   that   speaks   directly   to,   and   is   geared   towards,   the  résumé  client  I  am  most  interested  in  reaching  

Including  relevant  but  unique  details  that  make  you  stand  out  from  other  résumé  writers  

Recommendations  from  other  résumé  writers  and  clients   Telling  the  reader  what  you’ve  got  that  you  think  they  need   Having  as  much  of  your  Profile  as  possible  completed  

Page 18: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   18  

  I  have  made  sure  my  writing  is  clear  and  direct  by:    

Eliminating  adverbs  and  adjectives   Breaking  up  long  sentences  up  into  short  ones.     Reading  my  Profile  Summary  aloud,  to  identify  and  eliminate  any  breaks  in  

the  flow  or  awkward  sentences.   Using  active  verbs  as  much  as  possible,  providing  it  feels  natural  and  not  

forced    

I  have  carefully  proofread  my  Profile,  including  its  Summary    

I  have  included  Recommendations  from  other  LinkedIn  members     I  am  making  Recommendations  for  other  LinkedIn  professionals  I  know  

  I  have  made  more  than  50  connections  

  I  am  aware  that  I  have  two  Profiles:  

My  internal  LinkedIn  Profile   A  Public  Profile  

  I  have  customized  both  Profile  Settings  for  maximum  reach  

  I  have  created  my  own  custom  URL  for  my  Public  Profile  

  I  have  created  Profile  Badges  for  my  external  sites  

  I  am  committed  to  steadily  but  selectively  adding  more  LinkedIn  connections.   I  

understand  more  connections  means:   More  endorsements   More  recommendations   More  leads  

  I   am   faithfully   customizing   my   messages   when   sending   invitations   to   new  

connections   (providing   specific   and   personalized   reasons   as   to   why   I’d   like   to  connect).  

  I  have   joined  at   least  three  relevant  Groups  where   I  can  showcase  my  skills  by  

being  genuinely  informative,  helpful  and  interesting    

I   am   committed   to  monitoring   and   interacting   regularly   with  my   Groups   on   a  consistent  basis  

  I  am  looking  for  opportunities  to  provide  truly  helpful  answers  within  my  Groups  

Page 19: Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! · Getting!LinkedIn!With!New!Resume!Clients! 2!!!! Published!by!Image!Building!Communications!! P.O.!Box!241621!Omaha,!NE!68124G5621!!

Getting  LinkedIn  With  New  Resume  Clients   19  

  I  have  made  sure  that  the  Groups  I  have  joined  are  active  

  I  have  taken  note  of  the  size  of  the  Groups  I  wish  to  join,  to  make  sure  they  are  

not  too  large    

I  am  integrating  and  cross-­‐promoting  with  relevant  outside  sites,  including:   Pinterest   YouTube   Twitter   Other   _______________________________________________________  

  I  am:  

Posting/commenting  regularly  and  consistently  —  preferably  every  day     Never  posting  or  commenting  just  for  the  sake  of  doing  so   Answering  questions  as  helpfully  as  possible   Sharing  other  great  answers  I,  myself,  receive   Being  quick  to  give  credit  where  credit  is  due   Thanking  people  for  shares  and  Recommendations   Keeping  my  main  target  audience  always  in  mind   Sticking  to  my  focused  overview   Other   _______________________________________________________  

  I   have   visited   the   Who   To   Follow   Section   and   selectively   picked   key   industry  

figures  to  follow,  so  I  will  be  kept  in  the  loop  via  their  updates    

I  am  carefully  observing  and  making  note  of:   What  techniques  the  influencers  that  I  follow  use   Which  ones  get  a  noticeable  response   Which  tactics  annoy  me   Which  tactics  I  respond  to  

  I  am  adding  techniques  I  think  would  work  for  me  with  my  target  audience  to  my  

LinkedIn  habits    

I  am  checking  my  LinkedIn  messages,  Groups,  and  feed  daily    

I  am  interacting  regularly  on  LinkedIn,  to  nurture  and  grow  new  leads!      

 

 


Recommended