I recently wrote an article on getting business from linked in, but you may be wondering what is linkedin and how do I create a profile? They are both good questions. The featured video is published by common craft and answers the question what is linkedIn. As you’ve probably noticed I like common craft as their 3 minute videos are great at introducing complex topics.
With linkedin you build connections to people you know and trust within your work or profession. But it’s not just about building connections. It’s also about helping you be more productive. And it does this by making professional connections visible. The video gives an example by showing how a linkedin member finds and engages the right ad agency and finds a professional investor to help fund the growth of her business. I never thought of using linkedin in this way before but it makes sense.
When you create an account on linkedin, the very first task is to create your profile. Your online profile represents your professional experience, education and recommendations from customers or colleagues. But if you take a look at what you can include in your profile, it is a bit overwhelming. Where do you start?
Maisha Walker has written an excellent article on how to use your linkedin profile for the Internet Strategist. It’s a checklist with instructions. Maisha gives advice on using a photo, the headline, your ‘current’ section, website fields, your public profile, summary, experience and your company profile. One of the most important aspects of linkedin are the recommendations from other people in your network. To build a complete profile you will need some, but make sure they are genuine.
Now you know about linkedin and how to create a professional profile.
