JILL CHITTY

27 Cardinal LinkedIn Rules To Never Forget

Unsure what’s acceptable or not on LinkedIn…The Professional Platform?

Here are the do’s and don’ts you should know as a LinkedIn member

THIS ISN’T FACEBOOK – IT’S THE PROFESSIONAL PLATFORM.

Place a professional photo in your profile

Customize your invitations and connect with people the right awayALWAYS PERSONALISE EVERY CONNECTION REQUEST YOU MAKE.

NOT EVERY MEMBER IS ON LINKEDIN REGULARLY SO DON’T KEEP RE-SENDING A CONNECTION REQUEST – UNLESS YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A CRAZY STALKER!

Send an invitation request once (maybe twice)

DON’T JUST CONNECT…ENGAGE THEM!THANK THEM FOR CONNECTING AND ADD VALUE TO THEM AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

Send A Welcome Message That Provides Value

WANT TO CREATE CLIENTS FROM LINKEDIN? LEARN HOW TO NURTURE EACH OF YOUR NETWORK REGULARLY.

Regularly Nurture Relationships in your network

STAY TOP OF MIND TO YOUR NETWORK AND SHARE USEFUL CONTENT.

Post once a day on the Home page

KEYWORDS WILL ENABLE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE TO FIND YOU. WHAT TERMS WILL THEY USE TO SEARCH FOR YOU?

SEO Your Profile

MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR CLIENTS TO RECOMMEND YOU BY GIVING THEM SUGGESTIONS OF THE ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK TOGETHER THAT YOU’D LIKE THEM TO SHARE ABOUT.

Send An Awesome Recommendation Request

ONLY CONGRATULATE OTHER MEMBERS WHEN THEY GENUINELY HAVE A NEW JOB/OPPORTUNITY NOT WHEN THE SIMPLY UPDATE THEIR PROFILE.

Congratulate People When They Update Their Positions With a Personalised Message

THIS ACTIVITY ALONE KEEPS YOUR NETWORKED INFORMED ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE UP TO AND HELPS TO STAY TOP OF THEIR MIND

Regularly update you profile

IF YOU DON’T YOU WILL NOTIFY YOUR NETWORK EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A SMALL CHANGE GIVING THE IMPRESSION YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING.

Turn Off Your Activity When Updating Your Profile

TAKE TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, ENGAGE WITH PROSPECTS AND GET TO KNOW THEM.

Take it slow . . .

ENDORSE THOSE YOU GENUINELY KNOW AND CAN ENDORSE THEIR WORK.

Give Endorsements When You Can

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO A SALE

Ask members to jump on a call or meet face to face

IT CAN LOOK A LITTLE DESPERATE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE MEMBERS!

Don’t give too many endorsements.

BE TRANSPARENT IN VISITING OTHER MEMBER’S PROFILES. IT’S OK TO BE INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE!

Don’t go dark.

FIND A BALANCE IN ENDORSING THOSE YOU KNOW IN YOUR NETWORK.

Don’t be stingy with endorsements either.

BE TRANSPARENT IN ENGAGING ON LINKEDIN BUT ABOVE ALL BE GENUINE AND MAKE REAL ENDORSEMENTS.

Don’t feel like you have to return endorsements

YOU WILL BUILD TRUST AND CREDIBILITY FAST WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH YOUR NETWORK.

Don’t be shy to share the mountain of value you sit on with your network

PEOPLE HAVE SPENT TIME WRITING YOU A RECOMMENDATION SO MAKE SURE YOU THANK THEM.

Don’t forget to thank people who’ve recommended you

LEARN TO SPOT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GENUINE NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY AND SIMPLY A PROFILE UPDATE.

Don’t congratulate people when they’re updating an out-of-date profile

INVITING MEMBERS TO CONNECT IS ABOUT FINDING SOME SYNERGY BETWEEN YOU BOTH SO YOU MUST RESEARCH THAT ON THEIR PROFILE.

Don’t try to connect with someone when you’ve never visited their profile

AVOID LOTS OF SPAMMY-STYLE POSTS AND ENGAGEMENT BUT DON’T GO A.W.O.L. EITHER. HOWEVER FREQUENTLY YOU CHOOSE TO POST BE CONSISTENT.

Don’t post too much…don’t post too little

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR NETWORK BUT HOW QUALIFIED THAT NETWORK IS AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THEM.

Don’t play the numbers game

UNLESS THEY HAVE A ‘FRIENDS ONLY’ POLICY MOST MEMBER WILL BE HAPPY TO CONNECT IF YOU GIVE THEM A GOOD ENOUGH REASON.

DON’T be afraid to reach out to 2nd degree connections

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR PROFILE CLIENT FACING AND ABOUT SOLVING THEIR PROBLEMS.

Don’t ‘make it all about you

YOU WILL ONLY TURN THEM OFF!!YOU DON’T LIKE TO BE SOLD TO BEFORE ANY ONE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED SO DON’T TO IT TO OTHERS – ENGAGE AND BUILD.

Don’t sell on your first message

Thanks for reading and let me know how you get on… but…

You can talk to Jill about gaining clients through LinkedIn. Email her atgrow@jillchitty.co.uk

‘’It’s not farewell… just bonjour!’’