Introduction
This article will walk you through how to use LinkedIn to build your brand strategically.
Overview of the key points to be discussed in the article:
Why LinkedIn is important for personal branding
Use LinkedIn SEO to make your profile search-friendly
Upload a high-quality headshot
Crafting a compelling LinkedIn profile summary
Optimise your content
Interacting and engaging with others
Why LinkedIn is important for personal branding
Personal branding can be a powerful tool to help you stand out in your industry, making you known, liked and trusted within that specific niche.
A strong personal brand will help you to:
Build authority
Attract trust and credibility
Establish yourself as an expert
Acquire new business prospects
5 ways to build your personal brand on LinkedIn
Here is a summary of the best ways to build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn.
1. Use LinkedIn SEO to make your profile search-friendly
LinkedIn SEO means crafting your profile to improve its ranking in search results. Similar to SEO on Google or Bing, the higher your profile ranks in search results, the more people will discover and see it.
Tips for LinkedIn SEO optimisation:
Leverage your background banner
Add keywords in the headline, summary, experience section, recommendations, skills section
Create backlinks
Get recommendations and skill endorsements
Publish content relevant to your niche
Use hashtags
2. Upload a high-quality profile photo
Here are some tips for enhancing your profile photo:
Use a high-quality photo that represents your brand
Ensure your photo is up-to-date and accurately represents you
Keep your photo simple and professional-looking
Use good lighting and avoid clutter in the background
Be the only one in your profile photo
Ensure your photo is of high-resolution
Also, remember to utilise the banner space on your LinkedIn profile. This is the space above your profile photo. Include an image that stands out and a few punchy words to explain what your business does. Remember to check what it looks like on desktop and mobile before publishing.
The profile photo is clear, with clean lighting and background. The dark banner stands out explaining what noa group ™ does in a few short words.
3. Craft a compelling LinkedIn profile summary
This section on your profile is the elevator pitch of your personal brand on LinkedIn, it’s also known as the “About” section, sitting just under your profile photo. It’s an open-ended space where you give an overview of your professional life in 2,000 characters max.
Remember to keep it short, succinct and to the point. It should highlight your area of work and expertise, plus the accomplishments that make you unique.
According to LinkedIn, these are some pointers for crafting a compelling LinkedIn profile summary:
Hook readers with a strong opener
Explain your present role
Frame your past
Highlight your successes
Reveal your character
Show life outside work
Tell stories
Ask for what you want
Make your first sentence count
Pump the keywords
Examples of strong openers
4. Optimise your content
With 740 million LinkedIn members, the content on the platform currently has great organic reach, unlike platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook where you need to “pay to play".
Some ways you can optimise your content to increase visibility include:
Know your audience
Use keywords
Craft compelling headlines
Share valuable content
Use short-form videos
Use visuals
Use polls and share the results after 2 weeks
Use hashtags, including a hashtag with your / your businesses name
Post consistently
Analyse your results
5. Interact and engage with others
Meaningful interactions on LinkedIn, in the form of comments, is a great way to boost your profile within your target market. It will help you become known, liked and trusted in your niche.
When you reach out to someone, mention something you have in common or discuss something you enjoyed about their post. Remember, providing value in comments is key, a simple “great post” won’t cut it on LinkedIn.
Examples of LinkedIn comment etiquette
Conclusion
Your personal brand on LinkedIn is your key to unlocking new opportunities, building authority, and establishing expertise in your field. Remember, authenticity is crucial.
Stay true to your professional identity, consistently refind your presence, and watch LinkedIn propel your professional career. Let your personal brand open doors to new possibilities and opportunities.
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