How Will the New LinkedIn Profile Page Changes Affect You and Your Business?

While LinkedIn is in the process of making a variety of changes to update its pages, the first page changes - which will immediately affect you - are its upcoming change of the Profile Photo size; providing you with a larger frame for your photo. The second is several sections will now be hidden in the background. Such as website address, email, and several other sections. Leaving you more space for Summary creation.

First, what can a larger photo frame mean to you?

Dressing more professionallyTaking more time with grooming before a photo shootSpringing for a professional photographerChoosing a less casual photo

In the past, you may effectively used Adobe or snagged your face from a family, friends or group biz photo. With the new larger photo frame, you'll need one which shows only you. Making it more difficult to crop yourself from current group photos.

Do photos really matter? Do members and visitors even look at them?

The answer is yes. LinkedIn stats show members consider people who don't upload a photo don't care enough about their presentation. Suggesting that pages with no photos are often skipped over.

In order to stand out from your competition and the crowd, to make a good impression with potential clients who likely don't meet you before hiring, you should provide a clear, current, professional looking profile photo of yourself. How you create that photo, or whether you have a pro snap you, is your choice.

Regarding attire for photos:

While dressing for success has always been essential when job interview time comes 'round, when meeting new or potential clients, LinkedIn is now upping its professionalism and yours. By providing you with a larger frame, for your photo. Allowing you take center stage on your Profile Page.

A 2010 national poll by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pa. provided the following invaluable information:

"Appearance" ranked second only to "communication skills" when respondents named qualities most often associated with professionalism."

Further - Virginia Tech's Division of Student Affairs tells students applying for all types of jobs - "Your choice of attire reflects your judgment. Your choices regarding your attire and appearance: Show how you choose to present yourself. Are a form of communication to the people you encounter". This is such good advice, it can aptly be applied to almost anyone appealing or applying to clients or companies to hire them.

LinkedIn Summary Changes:

More emphasis will also be placed on your Summary. When it comes to businesses, this should not be presented resume style. And will require more thought and presentation to hit the mark and get you hired.

Not only that, because competition is so fierce your Summary will require some search engine optimization to reach those who want your unique services and products.

Getting that done means doing some keyword research to discover what words potential clients actually search for to find you. If you're unfamiliar with keyword search, use Google's Free Keyword Search Tool.

In a recent LinkedIn workshop I hosted, I explained that LinkedIn is similar to Google in that it can be considered a type of search engine. Though considerably smaller, you are still using it as one when you type names, groups and other info into the search box at the top of each page. This search box helps members refine the search process.

There are several other Profile Page changes:

Job titles will be removed from the area next to your photo. That spot will show education and experience. Website info, emails, for example, will now be found by clicking the 'contact' button.

The two changes you should be most concerned with, and having the most impact, are your profile photo and Summary.

Think about scheduling an appointment with a professional photographer. One whose expertise is snapping business professionals. Though technically a business expense, it's also an investment. Don't think it's necessary or can't fit it into the budget? Get creative. And discover a way to use a pro looking photo you have on file. No kids, no pets, no family - just you.

Second to that, yet no less important, is fleshing out, and search engine optimizing your summary. Taking some extra time to rethink, reorganize and/or rewrite your Linkedin Profile Summary, along with a great profile photo, will allow you to present yourself as the best professional for the job. One ready for immediate hire.

One last word regarding dressing professionally. Here's some sage advice from Image Consultant Sandy Dumont: "If you are not professionally attired, you won't get the job, even if you are the most qualified. Always dress better than required for an interview. Never dress down, because it is insulting to the other person. It says, 'I don't have to impress you; I dress for my own comfort.' When you dress to impress, they get it, and you will stand out from all the other candidates."

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Tweaks to Make to Your LinkedIn Profile

If you put a lot into LinkedIn, you get a lot out of it too. If you set up your profile with scant information, you are not allowing others to know anything about you. It is important to share information.

LinkedIn is a social media channel that has a tremendous amount of professional potential. In addition to filling in your experience and leveraging your contacts to help you to establish new connections, there are several things that you can do to your profile that will make it far more effective.

Pay close attention to your profile

You should be updating your profile on a very regular basis. You don't have to devote a large amount of time each time you make and update. It will most likely only take you a few minutes at a time and the results may be astronomical for you. Every time you make an update to your profile, a notice will go out to your connections. It will keep everyone with whom you are connected on top of what you are doing and it will hold their interest in terms of your business. It isn't necessary to completely change your profile each time you update your status. Small changes go a long way in many cases.

Fill in your LinkedIn profile box

When people first land on your page, they will see a box that shows your profile highlights. This is the very first impression that people will get. Remember that you only get one chance to make a first impression. People may be interested in all sorts of details about you; however, they will most likely learn most of what they want to know from your profile box.

Provide a good level of detail

People are interested in reading your profile because they want to learn about you and get to know you on a level that is deeper than purely superficial. You should make a point of sharing enough detail so that you can start to build a relationship that will flourish and deepen over time. Each time that you change your status, you should say what you have done, why it was significant, and how it affected a positive change.

Join as many relevant LinkedIn groups as possible

The more relevant groups you join, the better your chances will be of establishing meaningful relationships in your niche. If you share the same group with other people, it is perfectly appropriate for you to connect with people with whom your connections are connected. Without the group, you have no license to reach out to the those second-tier connections. It is extremely important that you choose groups that are really relevant to what you are doing. This will make it a lot easier to eventually find appropriate people with whom to do business.

Include your educational background

People are generally very interested in knowing not only where you came from as far as former companies but also in where you got your education and training. There may be all sorts of potential connections through where you went to school. You never know what might come out of that.

Conclusion

There are many tricks that you can do with your LinkedIn profile that will make a tremendous difference to your ability to establish and grow relationships in your niche or industry. LinkedIn is an extremely powerful social media tool and you should leverage it to its greatest potential. The investment that you make will be time and effort rather than money. Before too long, you will see that the relationships that you establish and the discussions in which you take part will do a great deal of you and your business.

We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let's have coffee.

Michael Cohn is the founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of CompuKol Communications. He has over 25 years of experience in IT and web technologies. Mr. Cohn spent a significant amount of time at a major telecommunications company, where his main focus was on initiating and leading synergy efforts across all business units by dramatically improving efficiency, online collaboration, and the company's Intranet capabilities, which accelerated gains in business productivity. He also reduced company travel and travel costs by introducing and implementing various collaboration technologies.

His expertise includes business analysis; project management; management of global cross-matrix teams; systems engineering and analysis, architecture, prototyping and integration; technology evaluation and assessment; systems development; performance evaluation; and management of off-shore development.

Mr. Cohn earned a Master's degree in project management from George Washington University in Washington, DC; and a Master's degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.

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Spectacular Ways to Make the Most of Twitter and LinkedIn

Popular networking sites Twitter and LinkedIn have taken the internet fraternity by a storm. While billions of tweets are shared on Twitter every day, LinkedIn is connecting millions of job seekers with employers. Here are few spectacularly easy ways to make most of both of them.

1. Find leading authors in your niche: It is highly likely that you have a well defined niche by now, if not, zero on one immediately. Then would be the time to figure out who are the champion writers in the niche. Check out who is the most searched one on Twitter. In fact, the site will show you suggestions; make it a point to follow them.

2. Note what experts have to say, tweet or share. Try following their offerings with heart. Comment on their posts and let them know what you feel and how much you got impressed with their work.

3. Twitter Keyword search: Twitter is a mine of information, with a great deal of it getting added to the site every other moment. Refine your search to a keyword phrase such as social media, healthcare marketing or anything that concerns your profile. Make the most of the info that you come across.

4. Join appropriate LinkedIn groups: LinkedIn provides stupendous opportunities when it comes to career enhancement. People share articles, views and other useful information with others. Do some research and check out which forums on the site are more relevant to your profile. You will find plenty of information to advance your career here.

5. Meet the people who have shown interest in your profile: LinkedIn allows users to have a look on the profile of others. If someone has taken some time to view your profile, connect with them. Not only that would show that you care, it will help you a great deal in making professional connections.

Dinesh Dhiman is an SEO and Social Media Marketing expert. This article is one in a series of many in which SEO and SMM concepts will be shared. Or head for http://freerevelry.com/ or http://teoun.com/ for more such useful material.

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7 Tips To Use LinkedIn Successfully

It is your tendency to feel that whenever your wife gives you a thoughtful business advice, it has to have holes. Everyone demarcates his personal and official life and asserts himself with the theory that the two worlds are bipolar.

You may have rhythmic and working profiles on Facebook; but as it mostly caters to social life, there is a great chance that your professional inclinations won't be taken seriously. This is the reason that job seekers and employers do not rifle Facebook to find their man Friday. What Linkedin does is to stand as social networking website; only of a professional nature. If you use this tool intelligently, you can exponentially build your business. Here are seven credible ways to do the same:

1. Testimonials - If you are good in your business and get loads of worthy testimonials, you can post them on your Linkedin profile. When visitors come pouring, they are bound to read through the credible recommendations you have got. This specially works in your local area.

2. Be knowledgeable - Check the curious questions in the relevant section that are left unanswered. Make an effort to answer them genuinely and with meaning. By and by, people will begin to treat you with substance and reverence.

3. Intelligent invitations - Don't just invite somebody because he shared your sundae. Be serious and intelligent with all your invitations and send them provoking notes about how your connection with him can be beneficial for both. Merge with active members per se.

4. Using other social sites - Facebook and twitter are immensely popular, so it would be wise to open your account there as well, and fill in well-etched profiles. Remember to back-link your various accounts with Linkedin, so that an interested visitor can know more about you.

5. Be thorough with connections - Your business will take you in different territories and numerous deals. A very active connection can be useless with certain deals while his connection (that becomes your mutual contact) may just be right person in the right place. Look for the viability of far-fetched connections and negotiate logistics and discounts with them. In return, you can accord them publicity.

6. Update and inform - It helps to keep a blog site running. Always usher valuable information in your niche. Give periodic freebies to your customers and visitors (e.g. eBooks). Keep your professional profile on Linkedin and other accounts updated with every new offer and promotion you generate.

7. Join and start targeted groups - Your niche will obviously be specific; whether it is plumbing or architecture. Admix with people in your niche and be a contributing part of targeted groups. You can even venture to start your own to show your earnestness. These groups are checked with interest and thus you can always be promotional in an intelligent way.

Linkedin has come out as a widely appreciated and intelligent way to bond equal minds. When well-used, it can increase the rate of production in your niche at an amazing rate. Just show people where to be and how to start!

Shah Syed is an Internet Marketing consultant working at Marketeer Singapore. Offering Internet Marketing Solutions and Web Design services in Singapore.

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