Instead of the abbreviated amount of space in a few bullet points on your resume, or a bio, LinkedIn provides you with unlimited space to describe your accomplishments, achievements, honors, awards, and recognition.
Bonus: LinkedIn also provides you with the tools to provide support for your claims through video clips, audio recordings, white papers, powerpoint presentations, and blog articles.
Many of the profiles I look at are nothing more than simple chronological resumes with very brief information. Boring, mundane, and lacking any impactful information.
Imagine when you send a note to someone inviting them to connect with you on LinkedIn – or when someone sees your profile as a connection to one of their key contacts – what’s the first impression they have of YOU?
Are they blown away? Does a little switch click on in their brain that says “I must get to know this person?” Or is the reaction bleh, blah, or shoulder shrug? Most profiles on LinkedIn deserve a shoulder shrug at best!
Is it time to spice up your profile?
- What’s your headline say about you?
- Do you give me a compelling reason in your summary for me to want to connect with you?
- Am I astounded by what you’ve accomplished in your life?
- Do we share similar groups, interests, book lists?
- Do I get to read on your integrated blog why you’re a thought leader for CEOs?
- Do I get to see how much value you’re putting into your twitter stream through the integrated twitter application?
- Do you reinforce the brand that is YOU through powerpoints, video, audio, and white papers?
Plain, vanilla, boring, mundane, unattractive, and average just doesn’t cut it in attracting potential CEO members. You need to stand out, be different, offer a compelling motivation to connect and engage?
What does your network say about your profile on LinkedIn? This is your marketing brochure. It’s your personal brand. It’s your calling card. And it’s advertising all wrapped up in the most powerful business network on Earth.
When should you give your LinkedIn Profile a Check-up?
Barry Deutsch
PS – Did you download the LinkedIn Profile Self-Assessment Tool I mentioned in a previous blog post?
