Even before I left my 9-5 career, I had already secured freelancing clients, all thanks to my strong personal brand on LinkedIn.
If you stumbled upon this blog through a Google search, then Hello, I am Jagriti, a banker turned Personal Branding Strategist. Today, 90% of my clientele, which amounts to a six-figure monthly income, is a direct result of my presence on LinkedIn. In this blog, I’m excited to share the insights and strategies that can help you achieve the same level of success.
I’ll guide you through 10 simple steps to turn LinkedIn into a powerful money-making machine. Let’s get started!
Benefits of having a strong personal brand on Linkedin
It is no news that Linkedin is a cash printing platform if used correctly. Here’s why: Having a strong personal brand on Linkedin
- Puts you on the professional digital map.
- Gives you an edge over the other competitors in a job hunt.
- Helps you gain credibility in the online world.
- Get new business opportunities
- Leaves a lasting impression that can open doors to new connections.
How to Create a Personal Brand on Linkedin in 10 Easy Steps?
Your LinkedIn profile serves as your digital identity in the online world. Say you’re a leadership coach aspiring to speak at prominent corporate training events. Your primary goal on LinkedIn is to connect with decision-makers at these institutions, and when they visit your profile, they should not only be compelled to hire you but also gain a basic understanding of your coaching sessions. This is where personal branding on LinkedIn comes into play.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, coach, founder, or corporate professional, LinkedIn is a cash-minting machine for each of them. The first step is to create a LinkedIn account if you don’t have one. If you already have an account, let’s work together to set it up and optimize your LinkedIn profile for maximum impact.
Start with Profile optimisation
Your profile is like a landing page. So make sure it reflects your personality.
Step 1: Use LinkedIn SEO to make your profile easily searchable.
- Shorten the URL: A shorter, cleaner URL not only looks more professional but is also easier to share and remember.
- Use industry keywords in the headline: Your LinkedIn headline serves as your professional tagline. You can boost your profile’s visibility and relevance by strategically using industry keywords in your headline.
- Attach relevant hashtags: To show what you’re all about on LinkedIn, use relevant hashtags. They showcase your expertise and connect you with the right audience.
Step 2: Tips for a professional LinkedIn profile picture
- Opt for a plain background to avoid unnecessary distractions.
- Look straight into the camera to establish a connection with your audience.
- Ensure it’s up-to-date, and steer clear of side profiles or overly stylized shots.
- Keep the focus on you; exclude others from the frame.
- Align your colour palette with the banner for a polished look.
Step 3: Your banner should convey your aspirations and what visitors can expect from your profile.
Step 4: Tips for Effective LinkedIn Profile Summary
- Your profile summary is your introduction; it should answer who you are and what you do.
- Highlight your key achievements and milestones.
- Incorporate relevant keywords for your skills and experiences. (Use Google Keyword Planner for this)
- Treat it like a 30-second trailer of your existence; keep it concise, to the point, and brief.
- Don’t forget to reveal the human side behind the screen; showcase your personality to connect on a personal level.
Once the profile has been set up, it is time to up your game with these
10 easy steps to start creating your personal brand on Linkedin:
Step 5: Share your story via content, we all know content is king.
On LinkedIn, everyone is a storyteller. Sharing your story on LinkedIn is more than just content; it’s a chance to connect with your professional community on a personal level. Your experiences, challenges, and triumphs are what set you apart in this digital landscape.
Everyone here is informed and smart, but what sets you apart is your unique narrative. It’s the authentic, real-life content that truly resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.
Bonus: Every now and then, write longer posts like LinkedIn articles (but not too long) if you have something important to say. Use keywords, images, and links to make it better.
Step 6: Enhance your content with visuals.
One thing that works like a charm on LinkedIn is visual content. While the algorithm keeps updating, visual content never goes out of the picture (quite literally). Enhance your content with visuals, including infographics, short videos, and carousels.
Use as many pictures in the initial content as you can because it helps create a face value for your account. This is a classic personal branding strategy.
Step 7: Tips to host podcasts and webinars
If you enjoy live conversations and have the time to host podcasts and webinars, it can give your LinkedIn profile a significant boost. History has it your audience engagement will go up a notch!
Here are a few tips for hosting podcasts and webinars:
- Ensure your topic interests your target audience.
- Choose experts in their field to join you on the webinar.
- Keep the format engaging and interactive.
- Ask questions, take polls, and allow for Q&A at the end of the webinar.
Step 8: Engagement drives engagement.
Engaging and interacting with others isn’t just about likes and comments, it’s about showcasing empathy and character. When you actively participate in conversations, offer insights, and connect on a personal level, you’re not just boosting your professional image but also displaying your human side.
And engagement is a fantastic strategy to draw more attention to your content. The more you engage with others, the more likely they are to engage with your posts in return. This way you can tap into their connection’s feeds. How cool is that?
Step 9: Send connection requests the right way.
Do not go on a spree to blindly send connection requests. LinkedIn might temporarily block your account. Yes, that’s right. While the number of connection requests you send on LinkedIn per day still hasn’t been confirmed by LinkedIn, talks from other sources reveal that it’s best to stay under 80 connections a week.
Here’s a free template to send connection requests that increase your acceptance chance:
Hi [Name],
Your name popped up in my network suggestions and I noticed your impressive background in [mention field]. I’d love to connect and learn more about your domain.
Step 10: Endorsements and Recommendations.
Endorsements and recommendations serve as your online character references. They provide valuable insights into your professional attributes and skills.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to those you’ve worked with to recommend you for your attributes and endorse you for your skills. For an onlooker, this serves as a credibility certificate for your work.
How to build an employer brand on LinkedIn? (Company branding on Linkedin)
While the concept of creating a personal brand on LinkedIn has become quite clear, building a company or employer brand here requires a unique approach. When building an employer brand on LinkedIn, the goal is to tell a story about what potential employees can look forward to when they join your organization. You can do it by incorporating these in the content strategy:
- Highlight work ethics, culture and mission vision statements.
- Tell employee stories.
- Company updates.
- Client testimonials.
- Problems solved within and outside of the company.
For a deeper understanding of your company’s LinkedIn strategy, stay tuned for our upcoming blog!
My 2 Cents
A conversation with the MD of a highly reputed company (that also happens to be my client) led to him asking me what is my sustainable competitive advantage. While I recognize that my work isn’t entirely unique, it’s my working style that truly sets me apart. I don’t just assist in creating your personal brand on LinkedIn; I help clients save precious hours.
As a personal branding strategist, one constant problem everyone faces isn’t the lack of strategy or understanding. With most folks busy running their offline businesses, I want to take the load off your shoulders and build your online presence for you.
If you’re looking to sell a story, a dream, a vision or simply trying to find your space on the internet, let me be your helping hand. Get in touch NOW!