LinkedIn is one great place to acquire high-paying clients and network with like-minded people who ultimately will convert into inbound leads.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen so many LinkedIn profiles and realized that even though freelancers know what they write or create, their LinkedIn profiles do not shout about their work, resulting in poor networking and a lack of inbound clients.
I spoke with several freelancers and gave them suggestions; upon implementing the same, they saw a massive change in their overall LinkedIn engagement, impression, and client retention. A few of the freelancers even got multiple projects (1-2RPW), and few of them got clients on retention. Isn’t it great?
Now, it becomes hard for me to review every profile in detail and give separate feedbacks to improve them. So, I have compiled a list of important activities that you have to implement on your LinkedIn profile for it to grow as per your niche, your short-term/long-term goals, and what kind of client you need to approach in the weeks/months to come.
The Correct Name: I have seen several freelancers using the name First Name Content Writer or First Name Copywriter — is this how your friends, family, and colleagues call you? Is this how you would like to call yourself in the first place? You have an identity that goes beyond your work — be proud of it. Also, stop using emoticons in your name. It might look pretty, but the search engine does not cover it up and puts your profile to the bottom of the pit.
The Right Display Picture: Remember, LinkedIn is not Instagram, so your cute picture with your friends will do you no good. When you upload a picture on LinkedIn, ensure your face takes up around 60 percent of the entire place, choose the clothes appropriately (as per niche, interest, and network), and do not forget to smile with your eyes!
The Cover Picture: Most freelancers do not utilize the power of a great cover picture. Images resonate more about our work, ethics, deliverables, experiences, and personality. It grabs people’s attention, sets the context, and shows a little more about what matters to you.
- If you are a writer: The content of your cover picture should be catchy.
- If you are a marketer: The content of your cover should be analytical and aspirational
- If you are a freelance writer: The content of your cover should do justice to your experience
Remember, the cover picture, the display picture, and NAME should reflect WHO you are as a person. These three things work as a landing page for your LinkedIn profile, and you should use them as much as possible!
Work on Your Headline: Instead of writing:
Freelance Writer | SEO Writer | Content Writer | Technical Writer
Start writing:
SEO-Content Expert | 5+ years of Experience | Helping eCommerce Increase Revenue by 3X With Creative Copies
OR
Finance Writer | Creating Economic & Investment Reports | Helping FinTech Brands With Analytical Content
As you see, there is no correct way to describe your LinkedIn bio, but remember that it should say a bit more about how you see your role, why you do what you do, and how you help different brands.
Work on LinkedIn URL: Most freelancers and full-timers overlook working on their profile’s URL when they start optimizing their LinkedIn profile. As I stated in my previous LinkedIn posts, you can edit that URL to be clean, like your first name, last name, expertise, or niche with expertise. Changing the URL is super easy and helps you rank your profile on the search engine.
There are around 20+ ways to implement your LinkedIn profile that I share during my sessions. If interested, DM me, and I will share more information. Meanwhile, improve your LinkedIn profile with these suggestions, tag me in your recent post, and I will provide you feedback on your updated LinkedIn profile.
Until next time!
– V