LinkedIn Profile Secrets - No 1 Reason Why Your LinkedIn Profile Fails to Attract More Prospects

LinkedIn Profile Secrets - No 1 Reason Why Your LinkedIn Profile Fails to Attract More Prospects

Right under your name, does your LinkedIn profile headline look like this...

* CEO & Founder at XYZ and Associates?
* Business Owner at ABC Consulting?
* Speaker at YourName.com?

3 Reasons Why Your Profile Should Not Be the Same as Your Position

1. Think of your headline as your first sales pitch to people who want to connect with you. If I am unfamiliar with you or your company, how does mentioning your company name and your position show me what you do and why I need to connect with you? It doesn't! These headlines are too general, simple and straight forward. They are too vague and too broad. In order for your headline to be effective, it needs to grab my attention. It needs to make me want to read the rest of your profile. As a potential client or potential referral source, I need to see right away how you can help me or my clients.

2. When I am invited to connect with someone, I view their profile before I choose to accept. The first thing that I look at is their headline to see if there is any possible synergy between the person who wants to connect with me and my business. By doing this I can see if it is worth my time and energy to view the rest of their profile. Make your headline enticing so I will want to read your profile and connect with you.

3. If someone is going through people search or through the groups to see who they should connect with, they are looking at hundred to thousands of opportunities. You need to make your business stand out to entice others to want to click on your name to read your profile and learn more about you.

Now that you know that you need to drastically improve your LinkedIn profile headline in order to attract more clients, the question is, how do you fix it?

4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself When Creating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline

1) What can you say in your headline that will give your instant credibility?

One of the easiest ways to gain that instant credibility is to use any media attention. For example, I was recently called a "Social Media Expert" by the New York Times. Look how I use this media mention in my new LinkedIn profile headline to give me instant credibility:

"Read my profile now and discover LinkedIn secrets from the woman the New York Times called a social media expert".

2) Does your LinkedIn profile headline command action?

The best way to get someone to read your profile further is to tell them to do so. Just look at my example above. Notice I'm giving you a call-to-action. By stating read, view or learn more by reading my profile, you are instructing the reader to do so. And, guess what - chances are they'll listen. You just have to tell your prospects what to do - and why they need to take the action.

3) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show why you are different?

Go to people search on LinkedIn and type in your career description. Look at how many people match your description. For example, when I type in "internet marketing consultant" into people search it gives me 139,041 results. The phrase "life coach" gives me 83,847 results. The phrase "business coach returns" 224,274 results. In your headline if you show how and why you are unique chances are your prospects will explore your business further than that of your competition.

For example Article Marketing Experts Eric Gruber's profile headline was: See how we can get you published on websites like About.com - instead of just article directories like our competition.

4) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show a benefit to the reader?

By implying there is an advantage to your reader by viewing your profile you are telling them that there is a benefit of using your products or services. The reader needs a reason to accept a connection with you. By giving them a benefit you are instilling confidence in your business. For example:

* Help My Website Sell Founder Adam Hommey's headline is: Top internet marketing consultant and expert webmaster reveals how to make your website sell more products and services

* The Global Institute of Visionary Executives Founder Carrie Jacobs has this as her headline: Read my profile and learn from a champion visionary executive coach how you can profit from your own brand of success.

Just by fixing your LinkedIn profile headline, you will begin to attract more prospects and referral sources. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in my free special report, I reveal 14 mistakes that most internet marketers and small business owners make - and the opportunities they are missing. I invite you to get this free report at http://www.getlinkedinhelp.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristina_Jaramillo

How Networking Can Attract New Business for You

Even in this day and age of hi-tech solutions and web-based applications, networking is still one of the best ways to attract new business. Whether offline or online, networking is a valuable tool that all small businesses need to take advantage of.

In two plus decades of business experience, I can honestly share that networking has proven to be one of the best methods I've used for business development. It has allowed me to make connections and contacts that otherwise would not happen through my other marketing and sales efforts.

Networking can put you in touch with many different people and enable you to build credibility, plus gain exposure. It can also be utilized as a way for your business to grow and expand.

Here are several ways that you can Network and get the Ball Rolling:

On the Web, you can use social media sites and services for free. In exchange for a little bit of your time, you get valuable exposure for your business while creating connections and establishing relationships. Online you can build your credibility through forums, blogs and sites related to your business or industry. Using online networking as a way to be helpful and informative is best. Being intrusive will damage your credibility, so be careful with your comments. Remember, you're looking to build relationships, not tear down walls.

Offline Networking is a great way to get exposure. Again, you exchange your time for free publicity. As one example, you might volunteer as a guest speaker on a radio program. Radio shows are often looking for various experts to go on air and answer questions that callers may have. You could be that expert. On the radio show, you would be answering questions with confidence and based on your areas of expertise pertaining to the topics being discussed. In some cases, you answer questions for the show host and receive free publicity in return. The radio station is grateful because you volunteered to be their guest speaker, you've connected with new people and hopefully the information you shared proved to be valuable to the listening audience.

At other offline events, you can also build trust between you and your community. By giving your business a face you help build the rapport between you and potential clients. People in general can be exposed to dozens of advertisements and articles every day, depending on what they read, listen to and view. You can use networking to really establish yourself as a competent expert. So look for ways that you can participate in communities both on and offline.

Networking can also be a way to improve your small business as it can get you in touch with similar individuals. Through networking, you can meet prospects, new business partners, a mentor and even establish connections with other successful business owners.

If you are looking for a different angle to promote and expose your business then you might consider adding networking into the mix. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.