Everyone has a personal brand whether they want one or not. The question is, are you leveraging your personal brand to monetize your expertise?
For many people, their personal brand is the very thing that launches their career. It could also be the thing that secures the dream job. Here’s how to do that very thing on LinkedIn:
Create a killer headline
The best online identities are… identifiable. Focus on what makes you stand out from the pack and avoid the common cliches that riddle many profiles. Words like “creative” are ironically not creative. The same goes for “team-player”, “self-starter”, and “result-driven”; you get the picture. Good headlines are 3 C’s: clear, concise, and confident.
Provide value
The thing that will provide the most value to others is the thing you spend most of your time doing. We all have something that is of value to others. We aren’t all living out the same human experience, so whether you’re a professional in a niche industry, a manager for a team, an entrepreneur, or an up-and-coming professional, we all have something that we can share with the world. If you want to really put yourself out there, you can host a LinkedIn Live. If you’re looking to take a more subtle approach, you can curate daily content for people within your industry. Here are some other things you could offer your audience:
- Webinars
- Free e-books
- Free worksheets
- 1-on-1 Coaching sessions
- Free consultations
Build brand association
You are who you associate with. One thing that many people forget is that your network can see your LinkedIn activity outside of your posts. They can see what you like and comment on, as well as the people that whom you are connected to. If you’re liking political posts, you can guarantee that at least one person in your network is giving you the side-eye. Try to avoid connecting with people that could potentially damage your brand and DO comment in spaces where potential connections exist. If you have a particular company you would like to build a partnership with, make sure you’re hitting their LinkedIn.
Comment consistently
This brings us to the next point: comment all the time! You build a reputation from the thoughts you share with others. There is no better way to do that than by commenting on other people’s posts. When we post on our own pages, we hit our network. When we comment on other people’s content, we hit our network AND their network. It’s also incredibly easy to do, as you don’t hold the weight of responsibility in generating the ideas.
Personalize your connection requests
When you REALLY want to connect with someone, you should leave them a personalized note. If you’ve never met them before, introduce yourself and explain how you found their profile and your reason for connecting. This will show that you have a genuine interest in the person you’re connecting with and you are FAR more likely to get accepted.
Did you know Joseph David International has one of the largest networks available as well as being regarded as one of the top executive recruiting companies in senior living and hospitality? For more information about our placement services, click here.