Why you might need to pimp up your profile
Written by Sue Llewellyn
When everything is virtual and you can't be physically present, it's even more important that business leaders have a digital presence.
A good online presence will expand your network as a business leader
A good online profile is your shop window, a chance to increase your visibility, share your story, showcase opinions and build vital connections. It's your opportunity to attract attention and make an impact but, if you're not doing it, or not doing it effectively, you could be missing a trick.
Why is that?
The first thing most of us do if we want to find someone is to Google them. And, if you've got a Twitter or LinkedIn profile, these come up top of the search rankings. Go ahead, try it. Google yourself or, if you haven’t got a Twitter/LinkedIn account, Google me. Just be sure to use plenty of Ls – Sue Llewellyn.
Online we have milliseconds to grab attention and make a striking first impression. And we tend to make a snap judgement based on what we see.
So, if your social media profile is your digital calling card, how does it look?
Polished and professional or neglected, unloved, half-finished or, worse, totally invisible. First impressions count.
Since 2008 I've helped thousands of people to find their voice, build their personal brand and make an impact online, on social media and on-air. And I've got a few simple tips to help you start to polish up your profiles.
The first thing people look at is your photo. Which should be a good, clear headshot and something that's clearly visible on a mobile. It helps if the same image is used across multiple platforms for consistency and recognition.
Once someone clicks on your profile, the next thing they'll see is the header shot and your bio. These too need to hook the viewer in and this is where most people miss a trick.
The generic background on a LinkedIn profile looks dull and is a missed opportunity. Swap it for something eye-catching that shows a bit of life and colour. Personally, I don't feel it should be a giant billboard with a hard sell, but it could be subtly branded or somewhere to showcase you doing something interesting.
Two other parts of your LinkedIn profile are also critical. The 'Headline' and the 'About' section.
The Headline is your elevator pitch, who you are, what you do and, how you can be of professional use to your network. And this too is searchable so think carefully. Founder of the Acme Corporation means little to anyone who stumbles across your profile. Make it count by telling a little of your story and why someone might want to connect. Then elaborate on this, in the first person, in your 'About' section.
Use the 'Featured' area to showcase your highlights. A video or presentation for example. And don't forget to claim your personal URL to remove all the random numbers. You'll find this under the 'Edit Public Profile and URL' section.
On Twitter, your bio is searchable so it's essential to use relevant keywords to aid discovery. Tag your business, explain what you do and show a bit of personality. People like people so it helps to sound human. Add a bit of interest or humour to give a sense of the person behind the business and why someone might wish to follow and engage with you.
Pinning a relevant and recent tweet to the top of your feed is another opportunity to highlight something you're working on or showcase something you're proud of. And don't forget to Tweet something occasionally, that helps too.
If you’ve got any questions or need any other tips or advice, drop me a DM on Twitter @suellewellyn or connect on LinkedIn.