LinkedIn for Independent Consultants: 5 Steps to Enhance Your Profile and Bring in More Clients
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Once thought of as a social media outlet for individual professionals, LinkedIn has been rapidly gaining traction as a resource for companies to promote and market themselves. For independent consultants - those who fall somewhere in between individuals and businesses – there are a number of outstanding benefits LinkedIn can offer to help you build your brand and promote your consultancy. Here are five tips for a business of one to keep in mind to succeed on LinkedIn. Find more resources for independent professionals at www2.mbopartners.com/ic-resources
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LinkedIn for Independent Consultants: 5 Steps to Enhance Your Profile and Bring in More Clients
- 1. 1 LINKEDIN FOR INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS FIVE STEPS TO ENHANCE YOUR PROFILE & BRING IN MORE CLIENTS ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 2. 2 MODERATOR STEVE ARHANCET Director of Consultant Services ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 3. 3 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 4. 4 WEBINAR CONTROLS The full screen icon maximizes the presentation area. The chat box allows you to send a question to the presenter. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 5. 5 LIVE TWEETING Follow our hashtag on twitter during this webinar for live tweeting! #mboweb ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 6. 6 ABOUT SPEAKER Melissa Washington LI member since 2004, id 1,408,083 Sacramento, CA| Professional Training ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 7. 7 STEPS 1. Write a compelling headline 2. Communicate your skills 3. Gain great recommendations 4. Make the right connections 5. Take networking to the next level BRING IN MORE CLIENTS! ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 8. 8 TODAY’S TOPICS Headline Connections Skills ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 9. 9 TODAY’S TOPICS Recommendations ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 10. 10 LINKEDIN FACTS ➤ LinkedIn is worlds largest online professional network. Over 160 million members. ➤ Enables you to network with other companies and professionals. ➤ Excellent way to stay on top of trends, best practices and business/industry specific news. ➤ Stay in front of your current customers and future customers ➤ 12 million small business professionals ➤ 81% of business to business marketers are using LinkedIn – B to B magazine ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 11. STEP 1: HEADLINE 11 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 12. 12 HEADLINE: WHAT IS IT? ➤ Your headline is your “calling card” ➤ It is the first thing people read when they click on your profile ➤ Searchable in LinkedIn advanced search ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 13. 13 HEADLINE: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 14. 14 HEADLINE: BEST PRACTICES ➤ Typical Example: • Independent Consultant • Program Manager MAKE IT COMPELLING AND ENGAGING ➤ Example: • Certified Internet Marketing Consultant | Get you more results | Author • Independent Consultant | Internet Technology Guru | C++ Certified • Creative Marketing Machine | Social Media Fanatic | Polished Presenter Tactical Take-Away Tips • Differentiate yourself from the rest by being specific and descriptive versus generic. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc. • Think outside the box by writing something other than your job title and company. • Make yourself memorable by adding interesting facts.
- 15. STEP 2: SKILLS 15 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 16. 16 SKILLS: WHAT IS IT? ➤ Promoted throughout profile ➤ Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly ➤ A way to describe your expertise and paint a picture of yourself ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 17. 17 SKILLS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 18. 18 SKILLS: BEST PRACTICES ➤ Integrate Keywords ➤ List them in: • Example • Summary • Consultant • Skills • Independent • Current and past positions • Specialization (Biofuel expert, C++) • Top to bottom on your profile • Certifications (PMP, Series 7) • Software Expertise (Oracle, Salesforce) • Familiar industries (IT, auto) • Clients Tactical Take-Away Tips • Research a variety of way to express your expertise and include them in your skills. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc. • Be as specific as possible. • Use keywords throughout profile, not just “skills” section.
- 19. 19 STEP 3: RECOMMENDATIONS ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 20. 20 RECOMMENDATIONS: WHAT IS IT? ➤ You can both give and receive recommendations on LinkedIn ➤ You can only give and receive recommendations from your contacts ➤ You must have the position listed on your profile that you are ©2011 MBO Partners Inc. getting the rec for
- 21. 21 RECOMMENDATIONS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ➤ Validates competency, certification, knowledge ➤ Prospective clients will research your reputation ➤ Professional testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 22. 22 RECOMMENDATIONS: BEST PRACTICES ➤ How to request a recommendation • Personalize your message • Ask for specific recommendation on a project • Spell check your writing ➤ Write recommendations for others to get your own ➤ Be strategic about who you ask for a recommendation • Timing • Position-level • Type of relationship Tactical Take-Away Tips • Try to garner a variety of recommendation – from C-level execs to colleagues. • Be generous in providing recommendations for people, it will give you exposure. • When requesting a recommendation, be specific about the project you want highlighted. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 23. 23 HOW TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 24. 24 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 25. 25 HOW TO GET A RECOMMENDATION Tips: • Personalize • Spell check • Be specific • Remember to say “thank you” ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 26. STEP 4: CONNECTIONS 26 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 27. 27 CONNECTIONS: WHAT IS IT? ➤ A way to connect professionally with your network ➤ A way to stay in touch with former colleagues ➤ A way to meet new people (through mutual contacts) ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 28. 28 CONNECTIONS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ➤ Leverage to increase productivity • Find, Connect, Collaborate with your connections ➤ Can lead to new project opportunities • Your name/profile will appear as “connected to” on all of your connections profiles • More visibility ➤ Keeps past colleagues updated on your professional status • Communication tool • Keep in touch ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 29. 29 CONNECTIONS: BEST PRACTICES ➤ Connect with people you already know • Import your email address book • Personalize your message • Spell check reminder ➤ Use as a follow-up tool when you meet someone new at a business event ➤ Consider your contacts when you post updates on your profile Tactical Take-Away Tips • Consider timing, personal and professional relationship - will they remember you? • A smaller number of solid contacts will serve you better than a lot of mediocre contacts. • Provides a way for new audiences to find you. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 30. CONNECTIONS: ADD 30 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 31. STEP 5: NETWORKING 31 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 32. 32 NETWORKING: WHAT IS IT? ➤ Bringing two worlds together • Online networking via LinkedIn • Offline networking via events ➤ Meeting new business contacts to further your “brand” awareness ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 33. 33 NETWORKING: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? ➤ Source of new clients and projects ➤ New connections help you grow your business ➤ Societal expectations ➤ Technology advancements are making it easier than ever • Connect with people over the internet • Meet with people in other locations via Skype IF YOU DON’T PARTICIPATE, YOU’LL GET LEFT BEHIND. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 34. 34 NETWORKING: BEST PRACTICES ➤ Build connections online and offline • LinkedIn Groups • Networking Events • Find on LinkedIn Events • MeetUp ➤ Smartphone app ➤ CardMunch Tactical Take-Away Tips • After meeting people in person, connect with them online via LinkedIn. • Don’t be shy when networking, everyone does it and it may be the key to success. • Stay up-to-date on social/professional networking trends. ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 35. 35 NETWORKING: FIND EVENTS ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 36. 36 NEXT STEPS 1. Write a compelling headline (120 characters or less) 2. Put a list together of at least 10-12 skills 3. Make a list of 2 people to give recommendations to and 2 to request recommendations from 4. Add contacts from either my gmail, hotmail, yahoo or outlook 5. Expand my networking next month by adding an event BRING IN MORE CLIENTS! ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 37. 37 CONTACT SPEAKER ➤ MELISSA WASHINGTON • www.SmartNetStrategies.com • melissa@smartnetstrategies.com • P: 916.253.7357 ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
- 38. 38 WANT TO LEARN MORE? ➤ EMAIL US! info@mbopartners.com ➤ VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.mbopartners.com ➤ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @mbopartners ➤ SIGN-UP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • Receive updates for upcoming webinars - email webinar@mbopartners.com ©2011 MBO Partners Inc. • Sign up for new Independent Consulting Brief at newsletter@mbopartners.com
- 39. 39 THANK YOU www.mbopartners.com http://www.mbopartners.com/blog https://www.facebook.com/mbopartners ©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
Notas do Editor
- How can we incorporate networking here?
- What is it? Why is it important? Best practices. 120 characters- it is what differentes you- tag line, brand statement
- Melissa, feel free to add more info in the 2nd column
- Expand upon the language “give to get”We should use a graphic on this page
- Melissa, please make the circle red here.-Done
- Talk about the benefits of these connections? Why is it important to connect with everyone I know? How does this benefit me?People might be concerned about spamming people they know, how would you address this concern?
- Is there a screenshot here that would work better for consistency? This worksNote: This image is from an actual networking even MBO held, our CEO – Gene Zaino is the man on the left.
- Edit these to be tactical steps to take now that they’ve seen the webinar – one for each topic.