What is LinkedIn? Why should you be on it? How do you set up an interesting profile? These topics are covered to help new LinkedIn users become acquainted with the network.

1. Getting Started on LinkedIn
Dr. Don Roy
October 5, 2015

2. What We’ll Cover
1. Why LinkedIn is important to your
professional brand
2. Building out the most important marketing
asset: Your profile
3. General LinkedIn etiquette

3. LinkedIn: More than
“Facebook for Business”
• More than 380 million users (>100M in US)
• 1 out every 20 profiles belongs to someone in
a recruiting role in their organization
• 40% of users log in to LinkedIn daily
• Removes geographical barriers to networking

4. Anatomy of a LinkedIn Profile
• Headline
• Photo
• Summary
• Experience
• Honors and Awards
• Skills
• Endorsements
• Recommendations

5. Headline
• 120 characters maximum
• Writing an effective headline:
Avoid “fluff” words (“guru” or “expert”)
Don’t be boring (Avoid “Student” or simple job
title)
Don’t sound desperate (even if you are!)
• 10 headline examples that break the mold

6. Photo
• Minimum size = 200 x 200 pixels
• Maximum size = 500 x 500 pixels
• Dress in attire appropriate for your industry
• Use a professional-looking headshot
• Use a photo of you… and only you

7. The Least Interesting Man (or Woman)
in the World
• Users are 11 times
more likely to view a
profile that includes a
photo.
Source: Craig Smith (2015), “By the Numbers: 100+ Amazing
LinkedIn Statistics,” January 16,
http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/by-the-numbers-a-
few-important-linkedin-stats/.

8. Summary
• 2,000 characters
maximum
• Your autobiography-
Communicate the
value you have to
offer
• 3 Questions to Ask:
 What do I want to
communicate (to what
audience, what should
they learn about me, how
should they feel)
 What content will tell
story of my values,
accomplishments?
 What multimedia content
could enhance visual
quality (video, photos,
documents)

9. Experience
• Tell your story using the PARS method:
P – What is a problem you addressed?
A – What actions did you take to solve problem?
R – What were the results?
S – What skills did you develop or strengthen to solve
problem?
• Include relevant work and volunteer experience in
your list

10. Skills
• You can list up to 50, but start with a “top 10
list”
• List should match your capabilities (greatest
strength listed first)
• Employers review Skills list to screen
prospective candidates for match
• Can be validated by others via endorsement

11. Endorsements
• Acknowledgement of your skills by others
• “Give” to increase chances that you will “get”
• Not obligated to keep endorsements received
on profile
• Viewed skeptically by many because of low
effort level required to endorse

12. Recommendations
• “Permanent” references provided by others
• Quality more important than quantity
• Only ask connections who know you well to
write recommendation on your behalf
• Give to get

13. LinkedIn Etiquette
1. Do not use LinkedIn’s template for making
connection requests- tailor request to the
person
2. Do not connect with people you do not know
3. Do not use LinkedIn’s template for requesting
a recommendation
4. Sharing, liking, and commenting on others’
content are ways to build influence

14. The Next Steps
• How to Customize Your LinkedIn Public Profile
URL
• 12 Resources to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile
• How to Write a LinkedIn Summary
• 7 Tips for Writing a Great LinkedIn Invitation
• Requesting an Introduction

15. Questions?
• Email (Don.Roy@mtsu.edu)
• Phone (615-904-8564)
• Office (BAS N429)
• LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/donroy)