PRO TIP : Write your profile in the first person .
5 . Be strategic in how you showcase your expertise . More than just posting your job description in the Experience section of your profile page , publish posts that serve your LinkedIn audience .“ I use LinkedIn as a business card . I showcase what I do by sharing trends , innovations , opportunities — and that increases my visibility and , therefore , my audience on the network ,” explains Lasvigne .
And McLean adds ,“ LinkedIn is a network that helps you be more productive and successful . As a result of one of my posts , I had a spa professional reach out to me about bringing a professional group to the area and using the Hard Rock ’ s spa to create incentives for their top producers .”
PRO TIP : To create what LinkedIn considers a complete profile , you should include at least two jobs in your Experience section : One can be your Current Experience and the other your
Past Experience . You can include more than two if you want to demonstrate your expertise in a specific industry . Keep in mind , however , it is easier for a reader to review a few of your positions versus 10 or 20 of them .
6 . Share articles you find worthwhile . So you don ’ t think you ’ re a writer ? That ’ s okay . When you ’ ve read an interesting article , sharing it with your network continues to establish you as a thought leader — someone committed to helping others .
“ I find a lot of good articles and interesting information on LinkedIn ,” says McLean .“ When I share some of those articles , people reach out to me . They thank me for sharing and ask me what my major takeaways were from the information I shared .”
PRO TIP : Avoid just posting a link . LinkedIn isn ’ t a fan of links that take readers off the platform . As suggested previously , include the gist of the information , your opinion or insight about the article , or two or three tips you learned from reading the article .
“ When I come across industry news , be it from Pulse or other spa publications , I ’ ll share that with my LinkedIn connections ,” said Lasvigne . “ I don ’ t just share the link to an article , I add my insight or outlook about the news . It helps me brand myself as a thought leader in the spa industry .”
Again , when someone comments on your post , be sure you respond to them . LinkedIn is about building and nurturing relationships and that means engaging with those who interact with you .“ When people engage with me , I always respond ,” Lasvigne continues .“ This results in more exposure to more professionals and the opportunity to expand my network .”
These six pointers help you leverage the power of LinkedIn and maximize your experience . If you ’ re baffled by the network , start out slowly . In just 15 minutes a day , you can review your home page to see what your colleagues are posting , share your own update or publish a post . n
In addition to being an award-winning author of Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget , DEBRA JASON is a professional speaker , direct response copywriter and multi-faceted marketing mentor . From business owners and event planners to speakers and real estate agents , she has guided hundreds of professionals in creating robust and optimized LinkedIn profiles that help them open the doors to receiving more opportunities on the network . Debra is committed to helping you increase your visibility , gain top-of-mind awareness and grow your business . Find her online at DebraJason . com and WriteDirection . com . Want to connect with Debra on LinkedIn ? Visit linkedin . com / in / debrajason and be sure to personalize your request — let her know you read this article so she knows how you found her ..
FEATURED SOURCES
GINGER MCLEAN is director of spa operations at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ’ s Rock Spa & Salon in Atlantic City
VERENA LASVIGNE is founder and director of VLF Spa Consulting
CONNECT WITH THEM ON
36 PULSE n APRIL 2023