Six Ways to Pimp Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to be just an online resume. Yes, it’s important to have information about your current position, experience and education; however, there’s so much more that can help you build business relationships through LinkedIn. You can pimp your profile with numerous apps and other items. Here are six tips for enhancing your personal LinkedIn profile:
I. Vanity URL
LinkedIn assigns each profile with a random string of numerals at the end of their profile URL. You can easily customize your URL with your name and/or personal brand. Here’s how:
Click on “Edit” link show in image below.
II. Blog Feed
You can easily add your blog feed through one of the many applications offered by LinkedIn. Depending on the type of blog you have (e.g., WordPress, TypePad, LiveJournal, etc.), you will either use the WordPress application, or the BlogLink application. Because our blog, www.expertSEM.com, is on WordPress, I will use that as my example below. However, adding any of the LinkedIn apps is super simple—LinkedIn walks you through each step of the process.
First, go to the applications page. You’ll find an “Add Applications” link under your summary (if you have one, if not, it will be located near the bottom of your profile):
Next, you simply need to find the application of your choosing. Look for WordPress or BlogLink in the list.
The WordPress application allows you to select specific types of feeds. If your blog has numerous authors or different categories, you can choose to show only your blogs or only those in a specific, relevant category. For example, this is the feed I use on my LinkedIn profile:
III. Twitter Integration
You can add your Twitter feed in two ways: 1. through an application or 2. in your settings. If you do this, however, remember that your tweets will be automatically posted as your LinkedIn status. Be sure not to double-post by clicking on your LinkedIn account within HootSuite or whichever Twitter client you use.
To add the Twitter app, follow steps above, find app and follow directions.
To add through your settings, click on “Settings” in upper right-hand corner. Find the Twitter Settings” link.
Edit settings to display your Twitter account and share tweets in LinkedIn status.
IV. Share Presentations
You can add presentations and documents that you have created to your LinkedIn profile with the SlideShare application. You must have a SlideShare.net account to import documents.
Follow the steps above for adding an applications, then look for the SlideShare app and follow directions.
V. Share Documents
Although you can add PDFs to your profile with SlideShare, you are limited to three documents. We recommend using SlideShare for your three most recent presentations, and using another app for PDFs or other documents.
Again, follow steps for adding applications, find Box.net Files and follow directions.
VI. Strategic Anchor Text
LinkedIn allows you to add three website links to your profile. These links should direct to your corporate website, corporate blog, personal blog, corporate Facebook page or other relevant sites that you own and control. The key to these links is using strategic keywords. For example, I’ve used “interactive marketing agency” to link to the Location3 Media website on my profile.
Click on the “Edit” link beside your websites. You will be taken to a page with this section:
That’s it. Easy as pie! Follow these six tips and you’ll be well on your way to an enhanced LinkedIn profile—a living, breathing representation of your professional life and an interactive avenue for establishing new business relationships.
~Angie
on May 5th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Thanks for these reminders – these are things I already know but have procrastinated implementing (particularly integrating Twitter and blog feeds).
Would like to note, however, that you can get 2 do-follow links on your public profile page if you select “My blog” and “My website.” You will lose out on the custom anchor text, but will get the link love. For details, see http://www.christycorrell.com/social-media/get-two-do-follow-links-from-linkedin-in-under-five-minutes/.
on May 5th, 2010 at 11:28 am
They’re pretty simple tips, it’s just a matter of actually doing them all. It’s sometimes hard to do these things for yourself, when your busy handling client projects. We’re often guilty of treating ourselves like cobbler’s kids, too!
Thanks for the tip about the do-follow links. I wasn’t aware of that. I guess you have to decide which is more important–link juice or custom text. I think link juice will win in most cases.
on May 5th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
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on May 7th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Great tips! I’ve just started using my Linkedin account, and I have yet to peruse and use their existing features! I might just start by editing my current personal url address.
on May 9th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
That’s a very useful article, Angie, with some great tips. The one about using strategic anchor text is the most important one, in my opinion.
on May 10th, 2010 at 7:04 am
Paul and Social Tool, Thanks for the feedback! Glad you found it useful!
on May 11th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I agree, Angie, in most cases link juice wins. And TOTALLY agree with you re the case of us being like cobblers’ kids with our own websites and profiles!