Does your LinkedIn profile create a good first impression?

In 2013, Anna Pitts published an article titled You Only Have 7 Seconds to Make a Good First Impression in “Business Outsider Australia.”

Some of the key things she listed include:

1. Smile
2. Shake hands
3. Introduce yourself
4. Speak clearly
5. Maintain eye contact

Read the original article at https://www.businessinsider.com.au/only-7-seconds-to-make-first-impression-2013-4

Now let’s translate these concepts into the LinkedIn environment. In 2013, Karen Emanuelson provided six helpful tips in her article Creating a First Impression on LinkedIn in the online publication “Reciprocate.”

Here are some of her tips, with a few additional suggestions from me.

 

Create a Good First Impression on LinkedIn

• Use a consistent name. If you always go by Jenny, don’t use Jennifer on LinkedIn or on your website.
• Include a professional head shot. Your head shot should be a recognizable photo of you.  It should resemble how you will look when you show up for a business networking event. Your photo is the most important part of your LinkedIn profile.
• Maximize the impact of your profile’s headline. You can choose to have the default headline, which is the title of your current position. Instead, choose terms that reflect the precise nature of what you do. For example, you could use key words that people use when using Google to find someone in your field. You can have up to 120 characters in your headline.
• Customize your LinkedIn URL. Like the headline, your LinkedIn URL is another place to differentiate yourself. If you are a philanthropist, put that after your name. Erase the random letters and numbers generated by LinkedIn. Make these changes in the Contact Info part of your profile. You can use up to 30 characters in your LinkedIn URL.
• Customize the listing of your website. You can also make this change in the Contact Info part of your profile. Just click on “other” instead of “company website” to open a field in which you can type the name of your business.
• Complete your profile. After your photo and headline, your summary is the most important part of your profile. Craft it in a way that makes you stand out. Then click on the Add New Profile Section button on the right side of your profile. Here you will see all the sections you can add to your profile. Complete all the sections where you have pertinent information that will enhance profile.

 

Read the full article at http://www.reciprocatellc.com/marketing-strategy/digital-marketing/developing-a-social-media-strategy/social-media/creating-a-first-impression-on-linkedin/

 

How About You?

What parts of a LinkedIn profile do you think are the most important to make a good first impression? How has your LinkedIn profile changed over time?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those ages 45 and older, to become more comfortable using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, leaders of nonprofit organizations, job seekers, retired people, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.