Have You Looked At Your LinkedIn Profile Lately?
Often the best way to come up in search engine rankings is through your LinkedIn profile. Advisors who effectively use social networks have better online
results from Google, Yahoo! and Bing for their personal profile pages
than their own Web sites. Having both the profile and Web site show up on searches adds credibility and increases the chances of numerous clickthroughs.
If you have not looked at your profile since you created it, now might be a good time to review it on a few fronts. Ask yourself these three questions:
Question #1: Is my profile filled in?
The more components that are completed on LinkedIn, the higher the odds of coming up on keyword search results. Plus, by updating past positions, education and more, there are many more ways for friends and old colleagues to find you. Lastly, when prospects come to research your site, a well completed profile can impress them and help make "small world" connections, making it easier to close the business.
"Make sure your LinkedIn public profile is visible to everyone," says LinkedIn spokesperson Krista Canfield.
Question #2: Is the content in the words of my clients (and prospects)?
Avoid using industry jargon. While it might impress some individuals, in a relationship business, few people want to be talked down to. Nor do they want to not understand something, especially when it comes to their finances. A good test is to have a client read your profile and explain if they don't understand something.
Make sure your profile is clear and to the point. Avoid big blocks of text.
"Adding original, relevant, and quality content is the number one way to improve your LinkedIn profile's visibility in search engines," Canfield says. "Your profile should be written in a 'natural manner,' for people you want as clients. When you're crafting your profile, use keyword-rich content that benefits both users and search engine crawlers-that is the best advice to make sure your profile is written in the most effective way possible."
Question #3: Am I taking advantage of all of LinkedIn's functionality?
Your profile can have more than your past experience and education.
Add the "Publications" section if you have written a book or been published in a magazine and link the section on your Web site that promotes that information so you can track how many visitors are coming to that page from LinkedIn.
Also, take five minutes to add the new "Skills" functionality to your profile. Add things like "Financial Planning," "Investment Strategies" and "Retirement Planning"-whatever your skills are-that highlight your proficiency and your years of experience.
Visit my public profile on LinkedIn if you want to see examples of how to take advantage of this advice.