Generate Business Leads with LinkedIn

Have you got a preferred social tool?

While I’m using at least five different social sites, the one that generates the most leads for my business is LinkedIn. It is primarily a B2B (business to business) platform and viewed by many as the site for professionals who want to do business

For those of you not very familiar with LinkedIn, it’s a terrific way of getting past gatekeepers and directly to decision makers. It means happily for sales people, the cold calling of old is pretty much dead in the water.

LinkedIn is also a really powerful tool with the core of that power emanating from your LinkedIn profile. However I’ve seen quite a few profiles that are not quite hitting the mark and are off-putting at best.

Common Profile Mistakes

The Cut & Paster

One of the more common mistakes is to cut and paste text from your CV. That’s only okay if you’re job seeking and your target audience is recruiters but not okay if you’re at management or CEO level.

Getting Endorsed For the Wrong Things

Something else to avoid is having skills or expertise endorsed by LinkedIn connection that are from way back in your past career and no longer relevant to you today.

Making The Right First Impression

Another very important aspect to your profile is the photo you use.

Did you know you are 7 x times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have a photo? People like to know who they’re doing business with, it instills confidence and yet very often photos are not given enough attention.

I’m pretty sure, like me, you’ve come across LinkedIn profiles with photos better suited to Facebook. You know what I mean, the ‘Selfie,’ the beach snap, or the wedding day photo. None of these are suitable in a professional environment which is what LinkedIn is.

Here’s mine as it is now