Fifteen seconds. By the end of that those few seconds, over half of a webpage's visitors have left (according to research by digital metric tracker Chartbeat in 2014). And if you do a quick Google search on "how long do viewers stay on a webpage", you'll find a host of other stats, numbers, and figures, but they all point to a simple fact: People don't spend a lot of time reading online information. This has important ramifications for your online presence, especially with your social media profiles. If you are using sites like LinkedIn to build your brand or a client pipeline, your profile acts as your personal business website. … [Read more...]
Don’t Waste Time Worrying about Your Social Media Permanent Record
I used to have an earring when I was in my early twenties. A big, fat, silver hoop. My father had always said that I couldn't have one while I lived under his roof. That was fine. I just waited until I was 21 and living in an apartment in college. My friend Chrissie took me to the mall and I got my ear pierced. I was young, a musician, and I thought I was totally cool. And in case you are wondering, I absolutely wasn't. Who We Were Isn't Necessarily Who We Are Have I scared you away? Do you want nothing to do with me now because of what I did almost 20 years ago? Have I lost all professional credibility? My guess is that you're … [Read more...]
Is it Time to Upgrade Your LinkedIn Account to Premium?
When working with professionals on their online brand, one of the common questions that I hear is, "Should I pay to upgrade to the premium LinkedIn account?" It's a great question and one that doesn't necessarily have a clear cut answer. I don't work for LinkedIn so I don't have a vested interest in someone anteing up for the paid accounts. On the other hand, I do help people use LinkedIn and social media to improve their businesses and careers so of course I think it makes sense to engage with the platform as much as possible. In the end, my answer is usually some variation of, "Yes...eventually." Don't Upgrade to Premium Too … [Read more...]
Help! I Don’t Have Any Experience! (LinkedIn Profile Advice for Millennials)
If you are a recent college grad, have at some point been a college grad, or have ever tried to get your first job, then you've probably run into the circular trap that hits most young people when they enter the job market, "How can I get the experience I need to be qualified for this job when no one will hire me because I don't have experience?" Well, now we can add a 21st-century twist to the problem. It goes something like this: "I just graduated from college; and everyone says that my generation is totally social media-savvy so I should have a killer LinkedIn profile to help me get work. But what do I put on my "professional record … [Read more...]
Following this Old-School Rule Will Make You Better at Social Selling
Have you been completely overwhelmed by social media yet? It seems like there's a new platform popping up every day. The established sites are constantly adding features. And the experts keep telling you a new way that you are supposed to be using it. There are always new widgets, new buttons, and new functions. It would be tempting (and easier) to write off social media as a fad...if it wasn't an immensely powerful business tool. Sure, you might not need every website de jour. But underneath the sometimes confusing veneer are new and exciting ways for you to connect with your clients, colleagues, and prospects. The Foundation of … [Read more...]
How Can You Get More People to See Your LinkedIn Posts?
Updated December 2018 So I'm having an early morning breakfast at a hotel where I'm speaking that day for a group of financial advisers. I strike up a conversation with the guy sitting at the next table. And it turns out that he is attending the conference. He shares that he's been in the business for 20 years and has been pretty successful, but he actually came to the meeting to hear me speak about social media and LinkedIn, because he "...just doesn't get it. Why should I post what I'm doing? Who cares about that? Isn't it just people talking about what they had for lunch?" Create Visibility in a "Noisy" World After explaining … [Read more...]
Don’t Worry about Keywords on Your LinkedIn Profile
I'm always looking for a few good tips on improving the LinkedIn profile (and I want to keep tabs on what everyone else is talking about). So I read a lot of articles that are some variation of "X number of ways to make your LinkedIn profile work for you". Most give solid foundational tips for the profile. But I see one idea over and over again that I have to say something about. It seems like basic advice but I think it's actually counter-productive. I cringe every time I see it because it's horrible advice to give someone who is reading an article on the basics of writing a LinkedIn profile: Create a keyword-rich summary and … [Read more...]