Here are a few statistics that I find enlightening about LinkedIn:
--It has 530 million users, with more than 128 million in the United States. (Source 1) (Source 2)
--A person who visits your LinkedIn profile is more likely to visit your website than most other social networking sites. (Source)
--Posts with questions get twice as much engagement as posts that don’t ask questions. (Source)
I found these statistics interesting because if you put them together, the conclusion that you can draw—that I draw—is that LinkedIn has a built-in audience of people who, if they engage with your content, will want to learn more about what you do, and have a greater chance of wanting to work with you than on other social networking sites.
You may interpret the data differently, of course.
Regardless, I decided to update my profile because like a pair of old shoes, I grew out of it. I read two articles (1 and 2) about how to improve your LinkedIn profile, and decided to make a change for the better. Luckily, I have also done enough work in this past year to constitute a mild overhaul, a new visage of sorts.
Here are the updates:
1. I changed the title. It can be frightening to give yourself a legitimate name because then you are held to the standards of others who also hold that title. However, I find the journey gratifying and exciting because then you have to own what you do, as well as your skill set, and continuously update like a smartphone, without slowing down as time progresses. I changed my title from “Writer/Entrepreneur” to “Copywriter, Content Writer, and Journalist | Entrepreneur.” I think that for myself and for those who view my page, this new title provides a clearer image of who I am, and what Turns of Phrase does. It is also emblematic of me taking ownership of myself, and the work I’ve done in different niches. #control
2. I rewrote my summary. The posts I read inspired me to change the post I copied and pasted from the About page of my website, which serves as the basis for my LinkedIn summary. A few changes include adding a sprinkle of personality, telling a part of the professional story that led me here, and showcasing results (which were already a part of my About page). I am also averse to large chunks of text for some web writing and only wrote a few lines at a time or less. I assume that people will be scanning this information and don’t have time to read a novella.
3. I personalized my URL. I like seeing my name instead of a random set of digits, and think that if someone wants to run a search, linkedin.com/in/obinnamorton is easier than linkedin.com/in/[random digits]. Yet my name is very unique, so “Obinna” is often times misspelled. If this person finds my name through a byline or via my business card, however, he or she should be okay.
These are the three major updates that I have made. I will be writing more posts like this one as I unveil 101 Days on LinkedIn, an ambitious project where I will share valuable content with you for the next 100 (+1) days. Also, here is to a Happy New Year.
Does your LinkedIn profile reflect your professional "face" as of today?
--It has 530 million users, with more than 128 million in the United States. (Source 1) (Source 2)
--A person who visits your LinkedIn profile is more likely to visit your website than most other social networking sites. (Source)
--Posts with questions get twice as much engagement as posts that don’t ask questions. (Source)
I found these statistics interesting because if you put them together, the conclusion that you can draw—that I draw—is that LinkedIn has a built-in audience of people who, if they engage with your content, will want to learn more about what you do, and have a greater chance of wanting to work with you than on other social networking sites.
You may interpret the data differently, of course.
Regardless, I decided to update my profile because like a pair of old shoes, I grew out of it. I read two articles (1 and 2) about how to improve your LinkedIn profile, and decided to make a change for the better. Luckily, I have also done enough work in this past year to constitute a mild overhaul, a new visage of sorts.
Here are the updates:
1. I changed the title. It can be frightening to give yourself a legitimate name because then you are held to the standards of others who also hold that title. However, I find the journey gratifying and exciting because then you have to own what you do, as well as your skill set, and continuously update like a smartphone, without slowing down as time progresses. I changed my title from “Writer/Entrepreneur” to “Copywriter, Content Writer, and Journalist | Entrepreneur.” I think that for myself and for those who view my page, this new title provides a clearer image of who I am, and what Turns of Phrase does. It is also emblematic of me taking ownership of myself, and the work I’ve done in different niches. #control
2. I rewrote my summary. The posts I read inspired me to change the post I copied and pasted from the About page of my website, which serves as the basis for my LinkedIn summary. A few changes include adding a sprinkle of personality, telling a part of the professional story that led me here, and showcasing results (which were already a part of my About page). I am also averse to large chunks of text for some web writing and only wrote a few lines at a time or less. I assume that people will be scanning this information and don’t have time to read a novella.
3. I personalized my URL. I like seeing my name instead of a random set of digits, and think that if someone wants to run a search, linkedin.com/in/obinnamorton is easier than linkedin.com/in/[random digits]. Yet my name is very unique, so “Obinna” is often times misspelled. If this person finds my name through a byline or via my business card, however, he or she should be okay.
These are the three major updates that I have made. I will be writing more posts like this one as I unveil 101 Days on LinkedIn, an ambitious project where I will share valuable content with you for the next 100 (+1) days. Also, here is to a Happy New Year.
Does your LinkedIn profile reflect your professional "face" as of today?
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