More Related Content Similar to LinkedIn for Independent Consultants: 5 Steps to Enhance Your Profile and Bring in More Clients (20) More from MBO Partners (20) LinkedIn for Independent Consultants: 5 Steps to Enhance Your Profile and Bring in More Clients2. 2
MODERATOR
STEVE ARHANCET
Director of Consultant Services
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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WEBINAR CONTROLS
The full screen icon
maximizes the
presentation area.
The chat box allows you
to send a question to the
presenter.
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LIVE TWEETING
Follow our hashtag on twitter during this webinar for live tweeting!
#mboweb
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ABOUT SPEAKER
Melissa Washington
LI member since 2004, id 1,408,083
Sacramento, CA| Professional Training
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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STEPS
1. Write a compelling headline
2. Communicate your skills
3. Gain great recommendations
4. Make the right connections
5. Take networking to the next level
BRING IN MORE CLIENTS!
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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TODAY’S TOPICS
Headline
Connections
Skills
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LINKEDIN FACTS
➤ LinkedIn is worlds largest online professional network. Over 160
million members.
➤ Enables you to network with other companies and professionals.
➤ Excellent way to stay on top of trends, best practices and
business/industry specific news.
➤ Stay in front of your current customers and future customers
➤ 12 million small business professionals
➤ 81% of business to business marketers are using LinkedIn –
B to B magazine
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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HEADLINE: WHAT IS IT?
➤ Your headline is your
“calling card”
➤ It is the first thing
people read when they
click on your profile
➤ Searchable in LinkedIn
advanced search
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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HEADLINE: BEST PRACTICES
➤ Typical Example:
• Independent Consultant
• Program Manager
MAKE IT COMPELLING AND ENGAGING
➤ Example:
• Certified Internet Marketing Consultant | Get you more results | Author
• Independent Consultant | Internet Technology Guru | C++ Certified
• Creative Marketing Machine | Social Media Fanatic | Polished Presenter
Tactical Take-Away Tips
• Differentiate yourself from the rest by being specific and descriptive versus generic.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
• Think outside the box by writing something other than your job title and company.
• Make yourself memorable by adding interesting facts.
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SKILLS: WHAT IS IT?
➤ Promoted throughout
profile
➤ Search Engine
Optimization (SEO)
friendly
➤ A way to describe your
expertise and paint a
picture of yourself
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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SKILLS: BEST PRACTICES
➤ Integrate Keywords ➤ List them in:
• Example • Summary
• Consultant • Skills
• Independent
• Current and past positions
• Specialization (Biofuel
expert, C++) • Top to bottom on your profile
• Certifications (PMP, Series 7)
• Software Expertise
(Oracle, Salesforce)
• Familiar industries (IT, auto)
• Clients
Tactical Take-Away Tips
• Research a variety of way to express your expertise and include them in your skills.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
• Be as specific as possible.
• Use keywords throughout profile, not just “skills” section.
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STEP 3:
RECOMMENDATIONS
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RECOMMENDATIONS: WHAT IS IT?
➤ You can both give and
receive
recommendations on
LinkedIn
➤ You can only give and
receive
recommendations
from your contacts
➤ You must have the
position listed on your
profile that you are
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
getting the rec for
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RECOMMENDATIONS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
➤ Validates competency, certification, knowledge
➤ Prospective clients will research your reputation
➤ Professional testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing
tools
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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RECOMMENDATIONS: BEST PRACTICES
➤ How to request a recommendation
• Personalize your message
• Ask for specific recommendation on a project
• Spell check your writing
➤ Write recommendations for others to get your own
➤ Be strategic about who you ask for a recommendation
• Timing
• Position-level
• Type of relationship
Tactical Take-Away Tips
• Try to garner a variety of recommendation – from C-level execs to colleagues.
• Be generous in providing recommendations for people, it will give you exposure.
• When requesting a recommendation, be specific about the project you want highlighted.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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HOW TO GET A RECOMMENDATION
Tips:
• Personalize
• Spell check
• Be specific
• Remember to
say “thank you”
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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CONNECTIONS: WHAT IS IT?
➤ A way to connect
professionally with
your network
➤ A way to stay in touch
with former colleagues
➤ A way to meet new
people (through
mutual contacts)
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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CONNECTIONS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
➤ Leverage to increase productivity
• Find, Connect, Collaborate with your connections
➤ Can lead to new project opportunities
• Your name/profile will appear as “connected to” on all of your
connections profiles
• More visibility
➤ Keeps past colleagues updated on your professional status
• Communication tool
• Keep in touch
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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CONNECTIONS: BEST PRACTICES
➤ Connect with people you already know
• Import your email address book
• Personalize your message
• Spell check reminder
➤ Use as a follow-up tool when you meet someone new at a business
event
➤ Consider your contacts when you post updates on your profile
Tactical Take-Away Tips
• Consider timing, personal and professional relationship - will they remember you?
• A smaller number of solid contacts will serve you better than a lot of mediocre contacts.
• Provides a way for new audiences to find you.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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NETWORKING: WHAT IS IT?
➤ Bringing two worlds together
• Online networking via LinkedIn
• Offline networking via events
➤ Meeting new business contacts to further your “brand” awareness
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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NETWORKING: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
➤ Source of new clients and projects
➤ New connections help you grow your business
➤ Societal expectations
➤ Technology advancements are making it easier than ever
• Connect with people over the internet
• Meet with people in other locations via Skype
IF YOU DON’T PARTICIPATE,
YOU’LL GET LEFT BEHIND.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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NETWORKING: BEST PRACTICES
➤ Build connections online and offline
• LinkedIn Groups
• Networking Events
• Find on LinkedIn Events
• MeetUp
➤ Smartphone app
➤ CardMunch
Tactical Take-Away Tips
• After meeting people in person, connect with them online via LinkedIn.
• Don’t be shy when networking, everyone does it and it may be the key to success.
• Stay up-to-date on social/professional networking trends.
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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NEXT STEPS
1. Write a compelling headline (120 characters or less)
2. Put a list together of at least 10-12 skills
3. Make a list of 2 people to give recommendations to and 2 to request
recommendations from
4. Add contacts from either my gmail, hotmail, yahoo or outlook
5. Expand my networking next month by adding an event
BRING IN MORE CLIENTS!
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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CONTACT SPEAKER
➤ MELISSA WASHINGTON
• www.SmartNetStrategies.com
• melissa@smartnetstrategies.com
• P: 916.253.7357
©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
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WANT TO LEARN MORE?
➤ EMAIL US!
info@mbopartners.com
➤ VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.mbopartners.com
➤ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
@mbopartners
➤ SIGN-UP FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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• Sign up for new Independent Consulting Brief at
newsletter@mbopartners.com
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THANK YOU
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©2011 MBO Partners Inc.
Editor's Notes How can we incorporate networking here? What is it? Why is it important? Best practices. 120 characters- it is what differentes you- tag line, brand statement Melissa, feel free to add more info in the 2nd column Expand upon the language “give to get”We should use a graphic on this page Melissa, please make the circle red here.-Done Talk about the benefits of these connections? Why is it important to connect with everyone I know? How does this benefit me?People might be concerned about spamming people they know, how would you address this concern? Is there a screenshot here that would work better for consistency? This worksNote: This image is from an actual networking even MBO held, our CEO – Gene Zaino is the man on the left. Edit these to be tactical steps to take now that they’ve seen the webinar – one for each topic.