How to Write a Sexy LinkedIn Profile
How much effort do you put into your online dating profile? It depends on what you want to get out of it right? If you want easy come, easy go, you just half-ass it; if you want something quality, you give it more depth, add a few funny quotes, list a few serious tomes you may have read in grad school, mention that you’re an awesome salesperson who uses Spiro’s AI Powered sales automation CRM, and, of course, that drop dead sexy profile pic.
Well, why the hell aren’t you doing the same with LinkedIn?
What Makes A Good LinkedIn Profile?
LinkedIn is an insanely popular place for both prospects and recruiters to see who’s on the scene. Just like online dating, you want your professional profile to reflect all those good things about you that’ll make them want to take you home to mama (so to speak).
My head explodes when I hear that nearly half of all salespeople aren’t on LinkedIn – for everyone else who has a clue, crafting the perfect profile may seem like a challenge. Here are some of my tips for creating a sales profile on LinkedIn that’ll make them swoon:
- Keep your audience in mind. Your profile is there for all to see, so remember that it’ll likely be visited by customers, prospects, and recruiters alike. While it may seem challenging to address all these audiences, it really isn’t. Find a happy medium by highlighting specific accomplishments that reflect your relationship to both your employer and your customer. Be sure to include a call to action to further the conversation – something like, Connect with me if you want to talk about xyz.
- Have an objective. Having an objective makes it crystal clear to your audience what you’re all about. The salesperson who starts out with “I want to be number one in my district” and lists all the things he’s done and is working on to get to that goal is painting a picture. For a great example, see my friend Niels Heemskerk’s profile:
- Be personable. My friend Mike Ice, a top sales exec at Accenture, strikes just the right tone in his profile by rounding out his list of very impressive accomplishments with a list of volunteer work that he does in his local community. He also manages to write in a style that’s energetic and playful:
- Name names. If you’re proud of your work with a company, don’t be afraid to name drop! If you want to ask for permission ahead of time, go ahead, but my philosophy is that you’re not obligated. Letting your audience know who you’ve worked with, on what, and with what results will help flesh out your expertise in the industry.
- Use keywords. Keywords help the right people find you in search results. Choose three keywords based on your industry and position, then choose three more based upon your specific expertise. Incorporate these keywords in your professional headline, your URL, your professional summary, and in the experience section.
- Have a great headshot. People make snap judgements based on appearance, it’s a fact. Choose a photo of you that’s current, professional, engaging and appropriate – and for Christ’s sake, don’t take a photo in the bathroom mirror. Don’t be like this guy:
Follow these tips on your LinkedIn profile and you should have prospects and customers knocking your down your door in no time. Go get ‘em, tiger!
