Looking good on LinkedIn

Source

LinkedIn is becoming the premier way to introduce your professional self online. Be sure that what you post and share there is the same kind of info you'd put on a resume or mention in a job interview. Achieve even greater success on LinkedIn with these tips.

Get a profile picture 
When LinkedIn suggests new contacts for me and one of them doesn't have a profile picture I 1) can't be sure it's the same person I think I know and 2) am left to feel this person created a profile ages ago and then left it to die. Let me ask you, would you go to a job interview without showing your face? Most of us would say no, unless we have a very good and perfectly acceptable reason as to why. Having a profile picture is just as important as meeting someone face-to-face.

Complete your profile with current info
Let your connections on LinkedIn know what you're about - just like you would with a resume. This is great so your connections know what skills you have and can offer, but also helps LinkedIn suggest others to network with based on the content of your profile.  

Connect and network
Ya got your picture. Ya got your content. Now get some connections! Quality connections are always worth more than quantity. So be sure you are requesting and accepting invites from people you know, trust or have a well-established reputation in your industry. TIP: When sending or receiving an invitation, LinkedIn usually creates a standard message for you. Forget that! Get personal and create your own "thanks for connecting with me" message.

Don't let your profile die!
Think of LinkedIn like a party. You're there in a room with lots of potential contacts. Don't just stand in the corner looking at everyone - or worse just staring down at the ground. Be a part of the party and chat with others. Compliment and converse to build professional relationships that will help further your career. TIP: Find ways that you can help others. This is an exceptional way to connect, make a solid new contact and demonstrate your expertise. 

Source: Social Media Today

Nine ways to vamp up your social media

Feeling a bit lost or dull with your social media marketing efforts? Don't worry! Here are nine ways to get up, dust yourself off and get back in the social media game!

1. Create a social media voice that people want to hang out with. Make your brand sound like your customers, or more importantly, relatable to your customers.
2. Make yourself and your team visible. Give a face to the name!
3. Know your customers and what their day-to-day lives are about.
4. Be an active listener. If you don't know your customer, get to know them and then get to know them again in a few months. Things are always changing and we have to keep up!
5. Avoid too much branding or talking about yourself too much. 
6. Instead, be more conversational and invite others to contribute to your story.
7. Give credit where credit is due. This not only shows you are a respectable brand, but also gives you a chance to network with others.
8. Lay off the #hashtags. #No one #wants to read a #sentence with too many #breaks! Be relevant in what you tag to get maximum results.
9. Remember that numbers fans and followers are overrated metrics. I said numbers. Fans and followers matter when they interact with our brand. Just having them doesn't mean anything if they aren't being engaged.

Bonus idea: Have fun with it! What exists online is just a reflection of the real world. So just be yourself!

Thanks, Entrepreneur for the article idea.

3 ways to make a good impression online (infographic)

Potential customers (and employers for that matter) don't just want to see that you are active online. They want to see that you are contributing something and are part of an online community. Ninety-percent of those surveyed say online interaction plays a huge role in their buying decision. Is your brand making the right impression online? Here are three ways to kick it up a notch.

1. Assess your reputation. Find out what people on blogs, social media and other websites are saying about your brand.

2. Monitor and address your reputation. Use Google Alerts for easy monitoring of terms related to your brand. If you find someone saying something negative about your brand, practice good customer service and follow-up with them. If it's an issue that can be fixed, take sets within your business to do so. 

3. Build and promote your reputation. Collect reviews and testimonials from happy customers. Shares these comments via your network.

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