Linked In Basics in Ten Easy Steps, Part 3

This is the third in a four part weekly series on how to use Linked In for business development.

5. Join and Participate in Groups – Or Start Your Own:

Search for professional organizations not only that you already belong to, but also look for ones your potential clients take part in.  Join groups in which your peers, colleagues and competitors are also members.  Join your college alumni group.  Most groups often have discussion boards or threads where members pose professional-related questions.  Join the discussion if you have a bit of expertise to offer.  Or start your own group to focus on issues, post articles, start discussions, take questions, etc. related to your practice. Add value to the group on a regular basis by starting discussions, commenting on discussion strings or sharing information. Where possible make introductions between group members and others in your list of connections or suggest groups to connections who might benefit.

6. Increase Your Search Visibility:

You’ll want to make sure that people interested in the type of law you practice can find you.  If you make your profile page public, search engines like Google and Bing will index it. Take the time to optimize your summary, using your full proper name versus “I” or “me.” You might also want to enter links to websites you want to highlight, like a personal blog or the firm’s website.  Incorporate keywords and key phrases throughout your profile that potential clients look for.  Think about what are the critical terms and phrases used in your practice area and industries. What key words would your potential client be likely to search for?  These are not necessarily legal terms, but the terms that your clients would use instead.  The more of those you include in your profile, the more likely you are to be found by potential clients.  Place these key terms throughout your profile: in your background information, your summary, your title, and your skills & experience. 

7. Interact and Engage Your Audience:

"Recommend" your connections.  When you write a recommendation for someone or endorse specific skills, they often times will do the same for you, adding to a more complete professional profile.  However, be careful to only endorse those with whom you have worked or have deep knowledge of their capabilities. The quality of endorsements reflects much more powerfully than a large volume of endorsements.

On your home page, your connections share news and information.  You can easily engage your audience by re-sharing with your own connections any posts by others that are relevant to your industry.  Share news items, awards, and articles posted about you on the Firm’s website by linking to that page.  Likewise, comment on or "like" the news, information, and commentary shared by your connections.  More points of contact make you more recognizable and "top of mind" as an expert in your field for future business development opportunities. 

If you would like help using Linked In for business development, contact Eric at eric@groupdeweyconsulting.com. You'll find that I am an eager resource and that it costs nothing to talk.