LinkedIn Training

Reintroduce your personality

will — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:13:24 +0000

Focusing on keywords and eliminating clutter is important, but in the process your individuality probably got lost. Now you can put it back and add a little enthusiasm and flair. Describing yourself as, “A process improvement consultant with a Six Sigma black belt,” is specific and targeted but also says nothing about you as a person—and doesn’t make me think, “Hey, she would be great to work with.”

Share why you love what you do in your profile. Share what you hope to accomplish. Describe companies you worked for or projects you completed. Share your best or worst experience. Keep your keywords in place, leave out what doesn’t support your goals, and then be yourself.

Keywords are important but are primarily just a way to help potential clients find you. No one hires keywords; they hire people.

Strip out the clutter on your profile.

will — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:14:30 +0000

If you’re the average person you changed jobs six or eight times before you reached age 30. That experience is only relevant when it relates to your current goals. Sift through your profile and weed out or streamline everything that doesn’t support your business or professional goals. If you’re currently an accountant but were a Web designer in a previous life, a comprehensive listing of your web designing background is distracting. Keep previous jobs in your work history, but limit each to job title, company, and a brief description of duties.

“Hello I’m your friend.” “ Are you? I must have amnesia”

will — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:28:51 +0000

When I get Linkedin invitation from people saying they are my friend and it is obvious they’re not, what do I think and what do I do?

When I am in generous mode I think they pressed the wrong button or
They didn’t know what to do
When it is from someone I think wants me in their network for the wrong reason, I think it is a very bad way to start a relationship

LinkedIn is social networking. Networking , in my view, is building relationships. When you want to build a new relationship first impressions are critical to where that relationship is going…if anywhere.

It is even worse when I am invited with LinkedIn default’s words I’d like to add you to my professional network.

STRONG ADVICE

When you want to connect with someone however little or well you know them ALWAYS send a personal message. Explain who you are and why you want to connect. That has to be a far better way to start or reinforce a relationship.

Not doing so is like going up to a stranger at an event and saying “Hi mate great to see you again.” You wouldn’t do it would you?

Us the same standards of behaviour online as you would face-to-face.

The author of this article is Will Kintish, leading UK authority on effective and confident networking both offline and online. If you’d like Will to speak at your conference or training workshops, call him on 0161 773 3727. Visit www.kintish.co.uk and www.linkedintraining.co.uk for further free and valuable information on all aspects of networking.

Your LinkedIn headline

will — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:24:21 +0000

The headline is a key factor in search results, so pick your most important keyword and make sure it appears in your headline. “Most important” doesn’t mean most searched, though; if you provide services to a highly targeted market the keyword in your headline should reflect that niche. Then work through the rest of your profile and replace some of the vague descriptions of skills, experience, and educational background with keywords. Your profile isn’t a term paper so don’t worry about a little repetition. A LinkedIn search scans for keywords, and once on the page, so do people.

READ THE LOCAL NEWS

will — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:49:37 +0000

I subscribe to lots of daily and weekly online business based magazines which obviously have news about businesses. Some of them may be present or old clients. This week I wrote to a past client to wish him congratulations on some great initiative his company were embarking on.

Then I suggested we got together to explore ideas as I hadn’t been in touch for some time. We meet next week. Nothing beats face-to-face in this digital and screen based world…in my humble opinion

Invitations From Prospects

will — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:39:38 +0000

When you get an invitation from someone where you think “This could be a nice client to have one day” ensure you build on that first communication. After all they have reached out to you. So, why not send them a message, or do something really scary and pick up the phone and suggest you get together to explore ideas? Nothing beats face-to-face in this digital and screen based world…in my humble opinion

Check out CardMunch. Brilliant for face-to-face and online networkers. I now have all my level 1 contacts and their profiles in my phone. Photo your own and others business cards, send the picture to ‘real people’ and Linkedin and watch what happens.

LinkedIn – Who’s Spying On You?

will — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:14:04 +0000

LINKEDIN

WHO’S SPYING ON YOU

On your home page on LinkedIn there is a section called ‘Who’s viewed my profile?” If people have their setting a certain way it will tell you who has looked. If they seem interesting and you think it is worth starting to build a business relationship why not send them a message, an invitation to link in or do something really scary and pick up the phone?! Why? Because you are wanting to do something quaint and old-fashioned which is to arrange a face-to-face coffee…or tea if you prefer, …or best of all a beer or wine.

Now this could be a real life changer in the social network scene. Employees take care!

will — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:57:39 +0000

Daily Telegraph Headline

“Executive ‘forced out of job’ over LinkedIn CV”

“Read all about it” here

Merry Christmas!

will — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:59:26 +0000

Here at Kintish we’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As a leaving thought, think of your old clients that have left their jobs and moved on, Christmas is the perfect time to say hello and maintain the relationship as you never know if they may need you in the future.

Inviting Someone To Be Your Connection

will — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:17:57 +0000

Inviting Someone To Be Your Connection

To start your LinkedIn online relationship you need to invite them to become part of your network. As with all relationships the only way to do it is with courtesy, politeness and good manners.

When you use the default message Linkedin suggests “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn”, I believe, ticks none of those boxes.

‘Include a personal note ( optional)’ says LinkedIn. It should read ‘We strongly recommend you send a personal note and unless you know the person very well remind them where you have previously met’.

When it’s time to invite someone the box below appears.

1 When you tick ‘I don’t know Emily’ Linkedin say, strongly, you cannot link in.

2 When you click either Friend or Other you will be asked for an email address. If you click other please explain in your invitation the reason you want to connect.

3 Colleague and Classmate is easy as you are asked which company or school/ university you were at. The software matches your profile with theirs so it works a treat.

4 “We’ve done business together”. When you select this option the drop down shows YOUR OWN present or past employers / businesses. Many people use this option when they find the other options don’t work even though it might be untrue. What a way to start a relationship! My advice is if you can only use this button explain in your invitation why you used it and apologise for doing so. At least that way you have started off the connection with some honesty. If you’re a recruiter it maybe you have a position for them.