Maximizing LinkedIn 
From static resume to strategic network 
Purposeful 
Strategy 
Research Educate 
Meaningful 
Connections Career 
Compelling, Branded Profile 
Management 
Relationship Management
Ann Potts 
Leadership & Professional Development Coach 
Certified Social Branding Analyst
Topics 
• Today’s Realities 
• Why a Strong Network is Critical 
• Why LinkedIn is Valuable 
• Steps to Maximizing LinkedIn 
 Plan Goals 
 Create a Compelling, Branded Profile 
 Connect with Key People
Why are 
you here? 
“A friend told me 
that I should be 
active on 
LinkedIn” 
“I need to find a job 
and I’ve heard it’s an 
important tool” 
“I have the feeling that 
there’s more to LinkedIn than 
having my profile posted but 
I’m not sure what”
Today’s Realities 
• Insiders get selected for jobs 
– Being connected to someone in a 
company helps you rise from the stack of 
anonymous resumes 
• Research occurs on-line 
– You research companies and 
individuals…and they research you
Getting Hired – 
Job 
Posted 
Apply 
Online 
Wait for 
Response 
Weakest Approach 
• Process followed by most job seekers 
• Relying upon resume to stand out when employer is most likely inundated with 
applications
Getting Hired – 
Somewhat Better Approach 
Posting Network Apply Wait 
• Find someone within your network (or 2nd degree connection) who works there 
• Discuss the job opportunity and seek their support 
• They approach HR or Hiring Manager to recommend you 
• Potentially apply through different process 
• Application prioritized
Continue to 
Build Rapport 
Solicit 
Informational 
Interview 
Getting Hired – 
Network into 
Department 
Identify 
Target 
Companies 
Strongest Approach 
They contact 
YOU re: 
opening 
• Identify companies and positions of interest 
• Network into specific department if possible (if not into company and then into 
department) 
• Solicit an informational interview – discuss their work at the organization and 
what it is like to work there; share your experiences, strengths and interests 
• Continue to build rapport over time 
• Based upon impression you have made, they alert you when an opening arises
Research On-line 
Both companies and individuals research each other on-line 
• There are over 1M searches in Google for individuals daily 
• LinkedIn is usually the first result for an individual 
• Your on-line presence needs to demonstrate that you stay 
relevant and you can solve organizational problems 
Continuously monitor your on-line footprint
A Strong Network is Critical 
Supply exceeds demand 
• No shortage of candidates 
Network locally 
• Within your business 
• Industry Associations 
• Clubs: Alumni, Social, Health 
• Volunteering 
• Neighbors and local businesses 
• Friends and family
Why LinkedIn is Valuable 
While a great place to “house” those within your local network, 
LinkedIn also gives you access to 
• Your network’s contacts 
• Other professionals in your industry 
• People inside organizations of interest 
• Information about organizations 
• Thought-leader perspectives 
Great for making contacts in order to gain 
informational interviews
Steps to Maximizing LinkedIn 
1. Plan Goals 
2. Create a Compelling, Branded Profile 
3. Connect with Key People
Build connections 
• to find a new job immediately 
• to be prepared to find a job in the future 
• to build professional relationships 
Grow where you are 
• to increase knowledge of your field 
• to connect with experts 
• to promote your organization 
• to stand out versus fit in 
Educate yourself 
• to research companies or people you’d 
like to know more about 
• to prepare for meetings or interviews 
• to better understand an industry 
• to easily follow thought-leaders 
Goals
A Compelling, Branded Profile 
What 
you have 
to offer 
What 
they 
need 
Your 
personal 
brand
What 
you have 
to offer • Your skills 
• Your professional experience 
• Your education 
• Your certifications 
• Relevant life experiences
What 
they 
need 
• What are the challenges that 
you can solve? 
• What impact has your ability to 
do this had in the past? 
(quantify where possible) 
• What proof is there of your 
abilities? (key achievements; 
awards)
Your 
personal 
brand
Be truthful in how you represent yourself
When You Open LinkedIn… 
Similar to Facebook, you 
have a Home page that 
shows you updates from 
your network 
When you make updates 
to your profile, it will 
feed the home page, 
alerting all your contacts 
I recommend you turn it 
off while making 
updates
Before Updating Your Profile 
Go to Privacy and Settings and 
turn off Activity Broadcasts 
during the time you are making 
a series of changes
Your Headline will default to 
the most current job in your 
Experience section. But you 
can personalize it. 
The Summary is where you 
want to showcase what you 
have to offer in a way that 
showcases how you can 
provide what they need. 
Demonstrate your personal 
brand here. 
LinkedIn will highlight what 
they consider to be your 
Profile Strength based upon 
how complete your profile is. 
Profile Headline & Summary
You place your jobs in the 
Experience section. 
When you select the company 
from a list while making your 
update, it will cause the 
company logo to display at 
right. 
You can also attach files, 
videos, and photographs. This 
can be an excellent way to not 
only establish credentials, but 
bring more personality to your 
profile. 
Experience Section
It can be helpful to look at 
People Also Viewed to 
see who else’s profile has 
been viewed in addition 
to yours to see how 
similar professionals are 
describing themselves and 
their history on LinkedIn. 
Look at Other People’s Profiles
Other Profile Sections 
You can show information 
about Volunteering 
Experience and Causes, as 
well as Publications in 
which you’ve been 
featured. 
The Skills section allows 
1st degree connections to 
flag your top skills. You 
can reduce the list and 
remove ones you don’t 
want highlighted or which 
have very limited 
endorsements.
Other Profile Sections 
If you’ve been certified 
inside or outside your 
company in a specific 
area, notate it in 
Certifications. Again, note 
the logo appears when 
you select the certifying 
company. 
There is an Education 
section. Locating fellow 
alumni is easy in LinkedIn.
Recommendations 
More meaningful than the 
Skills section are 
Recommendations. 
A recommendation becomes 
3rd party verification that you 
are who you say you are! 
Don’t be afraid to ask for re-writes 
if it’s not addressing 
what you need to be covered. 
And don’t give out 
recommendations to people 
whose work you cannot 
attest to.
Need Help with Your Profile? 
I currently support clients with… 
• Personal Brand Assessments – 60 Day program including 360° Reach 
Assessment to help you understand your brand from the outside in so 
you can meet your professional goals. 
• LinkedIn Profile Reviews – One hour session including recommendations 
to improve your LinkedIn profile so that your talents and personality 
stand out. 
• LinkedIn Profile – “Done for You” – I write your LinkedIn profile. 
Includes 4 sessions + profile.
Making Connections 
People from the Present or Past 
• Start by reaching out to those you already know 
professionally and personally 
Strategically Create New Connections 
• Join LinkedIn groups for your profession; interact 
and observe who you’d like to add to your network 
• Look at your network’s connections for people in 
industries, professions, and companies of interest 
to you 
Build relationships!
Personalize Invitations
Once Connected 
Once you are connected, you 
will have a drop down menu 
from the “send a message” 
button with different options.
Tools for Relationship Building 
Within the Connections 
menu is a section called Keep 
in Touch. 
In this area, you can see what 
is happening with your 
network and reach out with a 
comment.
We’ve Covered… 
• Today’s Realities 
• Why a Strong Network is Critical 
• Why LinkedIn is Valuable 
• Steps to Maximizing LinkedIn 
 Plan Goals 
 Create a Compelling, Branded Profile 
 Connect with Key People
In Development 
LinkedIn Passion Project 
30-day group training AND action 
Launching in 2015
Ann Potts 
Leadership & Professional Development Coach 
Certified Social Branding Analyst 
Contact Ann by phone at 847-364-1933 or email ann@executiveperformancefuel.com 
www.ExecutivePerformanceFuel.com

Maximizing LinkedIn

  • 1.
    Maximizing LinkedIn Fromstatic resume to strategic network Purposeful Strategy Research Educate Meaningful Connections Career Compelling, Branded Profile Management Relationship Management
  • 2.
    Ann Potts Leadership& Professional Development Coach Certified Social Branding Analyst
  • 3.
    Topics • Today’sRealities • Why a Strong Network is Critical • Why LinkedIn is Valuable • Steps to Maximizing LinkedIn  Plan Goals  Create a Compelling, Branded Profile  Connect with Key People
  • 4.
    Why are youhere? “A friend told me that I should be active on LinkedIn” “I need to find a job and I’ve heard it’s an important tool” “I have the feeling that there’s more to LinkedIn than having my profile posted but I’m not sure what”
  • 5.
    Today’s Realities •Insiders get selected for jobs – Being connected to someone in a company helps you rise from the stack of anonymous resumes • Research occurs on-line – You research companies and individuals…and they research you
  • 6.
    Getting Hired – Job Posted Apply Online Wait for Response Weakest Approach • Process followed by most job seekers • Relying upon resume to stand out when employer is most likely inundated with applications
  • 7.
    Getting Hired – Somewhat Better Approach Posting Network Apply Wait • Find someone within your network (or 2nd degree connection) who works there • Discuss the job opportunity and seek their support • They approach HR or Hiring Manager to recommend you • Potentially apply through different process • Application prioritized
  • 8.
    Continue to BuildRapport Solicit Informational Interview Getting Hired – Network into Department Identify Target Companies Strongest Approach They contact YOU re: opening • Identify companies and positions of interest • Network into specific department if possible (if not into company and then into department) • Solicit an informational interview – discuss their work at the organization and what it is like to work there; share your experiences, strengths and interests • Continue to build rapport over time • Based upon impression you have made, they alert you when an opening arises
  • 9.
    Research On-line Bothcompanies and individuals research each other on-line • There are over 1M searches in Google for individuals daily • LinkedIn is usually the first result for an individual • Your on-line presence needs to demonstrate that you stay relevant and you can solve organizational problems Continuously monitor your on-line footprint
  • 10.
    A Strong Networkis Critical Supply exceeds demand • No shortage of candidates Network locally • Within your business • Industry Associations • Clubs: Alumni, Social, Health • Volunteering • Neighbors and local businesses • Friends and family
  • 11.
    Why LinkedIn isValuable While a great place to “house” those within your local network, LinkedIn also gives you access to • Your network’s contacts • Other professionals in your industry • People inside organizations of interest • Information about organizations • Thought-leader perspectives Great for making contacts in order to gain informational interviews
  • 12.
    Steps to MaximizingLinkedIn 1. Plan Goals 2. Create a Compelling, Branded Profile 3. Connect with Key People
  • 13.
    Build connections •to find a new job immediately • to be prepared to find a job in the future • to build professional relationships Grow where you are • to increase knowledge of your field • to connect with experts • to promote your organization • to stand out versus fit in Educate yourself • to research companies or people you’d like to know more about • to prepare for meetings or interviews • to better understand an industry • to easily follow thought-leaders Goals
  • 14.
    A Compelling, BrandedProfile What you have to offer What they need Your personal brand
  • 15.
    What you have to offer • Your skills • Your professional experience • Your education • Your certifications • Relevant life experiences
  • 16.
    What they need • What are the challenges that you can solve? • What impact has your ability to do this had in the past? (quantify where possible) • What proof is there of your abilities? (key achievements; awards)
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Be truthful inhow you represent yourself
  • 19.
    When You OpenLinkedIn… Similar to Facebook, you have a Home page that shows you updates from your network When you make updates to your profile, it will feed the home page, alerting all your contacts I recommend you turn it off while making updates
  • 20.
    Before Updating YourProfile Go to Privacy and Settings and turn off Activity Broadcasts during the time you are making a series of changes
  • 21.
    Your Headline willdefault to the most current job in your Experience section. But you can personalize it. The Summary is where you want to showcase what you have to offer in a way that showcases how you can provide what they need. Demonstrate your personal brand here. LinkedIn will highlight what they consider to be your Profile Strength based upon how complete your profile is. Profile Headline & Summary
  • 22.
    You place yourjobs in the Experience section. When you select the company from a list while making your update, it will cause the company logo to display at right. You can also attach files, videos, and photographs. This can be an excellent way to not only establish credentials, but bring more personality to your profile. Experience Section
  • 23.
    It can behelpful to look at People Also Viewed to see who else’s profile has been viewed in addition to yours to see how similar professionals are describing themselves and their history on LinkedIn. Look at Other People’s Profiles
  • 24.
    Other Profile Sections You can show information about Volunteering Experience and Causes, as well as Publications in which you’ve been featured. The Skills section allows 1st degree connections to flag your top skills. You can reduce the list and remove ones you don’t want highlighted or which have very limited endorsements.
  • 25.
    Other Profile Sections If you’ve been certified inside or outside your company in a specific area, notate it in Certifications. Again, note the logo appears when you select the certifying company. There is an Education section. Locating fellow alumni is easy in LinkedIn.
  • 26.
    Recommendations More meaningfulthan the Skills section are Recommendations. A recommendation becomes 3rd party verification that you are who you say you are! Don’t be afraid to ask for re-writes if it’s not addressing what you need to be covered. And don’t give out recommendations to people whose work you cannot attest to.
  • 27.
    Need Help withYour Profile? I currently support clients with… • Personal Brand Assessments – 60 Day program including 360° Reach Assessment to help you understand your brand from the outside in so you can meet your professional goals. • LinkedIn Profile Reviews – One hour session including recommendations to improve your LinkedIn profile so that your talents and personality stand out. • LinkedIn Profile – “Done for You” – I write your LinkedIn profile. Includes 4 sessions + profile.
  • 28.
    Making Connections Peoplefrom the Present or Past • Start by reaching out to those you already know professionally and personally Strategically Create New Connections • Join LinkedIn groups for your profession; interact and observe who you’d like to add to your network • Look at your network’s connections for people in industries, professions, and companies of interest to you Build relationships!
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Once Connected Onceyou are connected, you will have a drop down menu from the “send a message” button with different options.
  • 31.
    Tools for RelationshipBuilding Within the Connections menu is a section called Keep in Touch. In this area, you can see what is happening with your network and reach out with a comment.
  • 32.
    We’ve Covered… •Today’s Realities • Why a Strong Network is Critical • Why LinkedIn is Valuable • Steps to Maximizing LinkedIn  Plan Goals  Create a Compelling, Branded Profile  Connect with Key People
  • 34.
    In Development LinkedInPassion Project 30-day group training AND action Launching in 2015
  • 35.
    Ann Potts Leadership& Professional Development Coach Certified Social Branding Analyst Contact Ann by phone at 847-364-1933 or email ann@executiveperformancefuel.com www.ExecutivePerformanceFuel.com