I recently tailored one of my workshops to the creative, sole business owner audience to help them refocus on LinkedIn as part of their business networking and marketing strategy.

1. WORKSHOP
How solo business owners and freelancers can use
to their advantage!

3. Why bother?
• Online reputation + social proof
• Provide credibility + context for your business
• 467 million global users (Oct 16)
• SEO
• Referrals
• Information
• Communication

4. Be seen and be found
• Free options - building and keeping relationships
• Premium account features – connecting to decision
makers
• Company pages + paid advertising
• Targeted paid advertising
• Market research
• Unique URL

5. The Basics
• Getting over that icky sales/corporate/networking feeling.
“HELP”
• Have a presence
•Engage with new people
•Let people find you
•Prove yourself over time

6. The Basics
• Photography.
• Profiles with photos are 7 times more likely to be visited
• Invest!
• Smile
• Consider your background image too
• A great headshot is clear, high quality, free of distractions
and cropped to the face and neck
• No hard and fast rules for creatives!

7. The Basics
• Define your LinkedIn goals
• Decide which keywords you will use
• Test your keywords periodically
• Commit to setting yourself up well

8. The Headline
• Not your title
• 120 characters
• Open your story
• Define your market

9. The Summary
• One of the most important and most neglected sections.
• 2000 character limit
• Tell your story
• Use a basic format if you’re stuck: who, what, why?
• Provide a call to action
• Provide your contact details
• Use the first person if you can
• Use bullet points for your skills or other lists
• Use the active voice
• Cut jargon

10. The Experience Section
• Link back into your company profile page. Let people know what your
business does, how you offer value and who you work with
• Add relevant past positions and a summary of your role
• Include key achievements and weave your story’s loose ends
• Include your keywords
• Ask for recommendations

11. Recommendations
• Key for taking your profile up
a notch
• Be strategic
• Provide recommendations
• Invaluable for social proof and
credibility
• Show your unique value and
people skills
• Adds to your profile’s
‘personality’

12. Using search functions

13. LinkedIn Etiquette
• Personalise connection requests
• Add who you know, follow up with
new connections you haven’t
personally met
• Accept legitimate connection
requests
• Post professional content
• Offer value

14. Building your profile
• Add contacts: the magic 500+
• Join groups
• Comment (thoughtfully)
• Publish content: quick updates + long form content

15. Question and Connection time!
• Let’s get connected.
• Feel free to contact me with any questions about your
profile
Beth Barrett
info@linkmein.net.au
0413 457 714