How to Create LinkedIn Professional Profile?

LinkedIn should be your primary focus when focus on social media marketing and leads generation.
LinkedIn is the preferred social network for professionals and people trust on Linked much more than any other social network what they read on LinkedIn.
Your LinkedIn profile is the foundation of success on LinkedIn and you need to make sure that your profile should reflects you and your business.
Before you start making connections and networking, it's very important for you to take the time to completely fill out your profile in such a way that it speaks directly to the type of clients and prospects you're looking to attract.

Here are some of the ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile:

1. FIND CONTACTS

Use LinkedIn search to find your existing business contacts and connect with them. Though it seems time consuming at the startup but this effort has worth that you feel with time therefore start sending connection requests one-by-one.
TIP: Don't send connection invitations via email. Always search contacts through LinkedIn website and send connection requests through the site instead of importing your email contacts to send invitations because most of the contacts in your email list don't have worth for your business and if your do so then you will waste your limited amount of LinkedIn invitations (3,000 total), so avoid this practice.

2. SEACH PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED SEARCH

Once you've added all of your existing contacts, start finding contacts outside your network and advanced search will help you to do this. Though certain features are only accessible to LinkedIn paid accounts, you can still access key features from the free account like filtering by industry, relationship and location.

3. NURTURE CONNECTIONS

Always strive to reach out to your connections. For example if software engineer are part of your target network, make the effort to send them relevant articles they might find helpful. It gives you a simple reason to connect in a way that isn't self-serving or promotional.

4. JOIN RELEVANT GROUPS

Joint the LinkedIn groups relevant to your specific area of industry. Please note that you can join maximum 50 groups therefore Search for local groups if you typically advise clients in your area, and always search using keywords relevant to your business and industry.

5. ENGAGE YOUR LINKEDIN GROUP(S)

Once you've joined a group(s), you need to start relevant discussions to engage the group members. You discussion topic show your expertise and relevance area.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations also boost your connections and profile. The best way to get recommendations on LinkedIn is to give recommendations to others. Please be aware, if you give recommendations to non-desrving people, it will harm your credibility. Always be positive.

7. CONNECTIONS STATUS UPDATES

Take advantage of every good opportunity to connect with your contacts by watching status updates on the LinkedIn homepage. Whether it's a great post or a promotion announcement, make sure to quickly comment on status updates. You'll remain top of mind and your clients will know you care.

8. SEND PERSONALIZED FOLLOW UP MESSAGES

Whether someone is connecting with you and vice versa, you should always follow up with a personalized thank you message via LinkedIn.

9. LINKEDIN ENDORSEMENT

Use this feature to give a one-click credibility boost to your connections. Similar to recommendations, you'll receive more endorsements if you're open to giving them.

10. POST ON YOUR PROFILE

Send post about new happening to your specific area of industry.

11. CONNECT OTHER PEOPLE

If you find contacts that could create a strategic alliance, connect them. By actively promoting your existing connections, you'll position yourself as a viable referral partner. And the more you promote others, the more they'll promote you and your services.