Article by Judy Lee
They have become household names. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Despite their popularity, many struggle to use these popular social networking platforms to their business’ advantage.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many growing businesses need some help in this regard. This month, we hope to shed some light on where and how to focus your attention in this new world of social media by providing some useful steps on how to get started.
Which site should I focus on?
Focus on LinkedIn. It is a professional network with a business focus rather than a personal one. No updates about weekend activities, cute kids, or pet peeves. Consultants and coaches alike are already using LinkedIn to engage with colleagues, clients and prospects alike. Your presence and strategic use of LinkedIn can reach over 80 million members including the movers and shakers like leaders, decision makers, and even executives from Fortune 500 companies.
With the right approach and actions, LinkedIn can garner fruitful returns such as targeted leads, business opportunities and give you a heightened reputation as a consultant. Here are some ways that you can boost your presence and engagement on LinkedIn.
Step One: Sign up!
How do you sign up? Register on LinkedIn for free.
Once you’re there, you’ll want to create your profile so that people know who you are and what you do. They’ll know you will be there to connect with them and answer any questions they may have.
Step 2: Optimize Your Profile
□ A professional picture goes a long way. This is the first thing that people will notice, and it serves as your first impression. It doesn’t have to involve an expensive photo shoot. You could even ask a good friend who enjoys photography to take your picture.
□ A title that clearly and concisely reflects who you are and what you do is crucial for others to place you in an arena of work.
□ A summary and experience of yourself is written much like a resume. Ensure that it is complete but keep it relevant and concise with keywords for online search.
□ Give yourself online credibility with hyperlinks to your other online activities like your website, blog, e-newsletter and even your Twitter account.
□ In this day and age, word of mouth is still very strong. Build your credibility with recommendations from colleagues. If someone recommends you, it’s good etiquette to write a recommendation for them.
Some great examples of optimized profiles come from a few of our very own MHS trainers:
1) David Cory, Emotional Intelligence Training Company
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- Title is descriptive and contains keywords
- Incorporates Twitter application
- Requested recommendations
- Includes links to his website
- Personalized LinkedIn URL
2) Marcia Hughes, Collaborative Growth
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- LinkedIn has a WordPress application to showcase and drive traffic to your blog. WordPress is an online journal, set up your blog.
- Participates in events
Step 3: Optimize Your Network
□ Search for groups that will add value to your business and join one or two to start off with. No more and no less for now. The reason is that while you will eventually have a collection of groups to call your own, the few groups that you initially join will provide you with a good testing ground. By focusing on a few to start, you can more easily make the time to be a strong participating member and engage with other members via discussion posts.
□ Be aware of group “size” since a larger group would have greater breadth and depth of members with greater influence for you to engage with.
□ Look for connections that have similar interests within the groups that you have joined. For example, connect with Diana Durek and Daniela Kwiatkowski to engage with some of LinkedIn’s strongest players in the EI arena.
□ Engage in discussion posts for eg. Post questions and/or contribute to the discussions to show your interest along with your expertise in emotional intelligence as applied in coaching and consulting.
Step 4: Optimize Your LinkedIn Routine
□ Make it a regular part of your routine to be engaged in the LinkedIn communities, it takes a bit of trial and error to get your footing in a new environment.
□ Employ less of a sales approach and more of a ‘I’m here to help’ approach by becoming that online leader with your knowledge and presence.
□ Include LinkedIn on your website, business card, and email signature.
□ Include a LinkedIn App on your phone to stay in touch with your new connections wherever you are.
Step 5: Join Us!
□ We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the importance of joining MHS’s newly updated Emotional Intelligence Connection LinkedIn site!
Our goal for this site is to drive conversations amongst professionals like you around the subject of EI, coaching, consulting, leadership development and more… It’s also a fantastic way for you to make new connections and hopefully generate new business opportunities. Become a member of The Emotional Intelligence Connection now!
Posted by eiinsider 
1) Join the LinkedIn group, 
