Why Every Professional Should Have an Effective LinkedIn Profile

I will be the first to admit that, when three years ago I received an invitation to LinkedIn.com, I joined without a clue as to what I was joining or doing.

Three years later I know that any professional who does not take the opportunity of a free and well-written LinkedIn profile is "cutting off his/her nose to spite his/her face."

And this is true whether the professional plans to ever actually make connections on LinkedIn.

Why is this LinkedIn profile so important?

Let's say you are a lawyer. You have written many legal articles for print publications (some with online sites) and you have served on various bar association committees.

If a prospective client were to "google" you, some of these legal articles and some references to you on bar association committees would appear in the search results.

Yes, if your firm has a website your firm profile will be there. But most of these firm profiles are one very long paragraph with rather stilted language.

None of the above provides a well-rounded look at who you are as a legal professional.

What you need is a well-formatted LinkedIn profile that people are used to reading for others and would be able to easily read about you.

By setting up an effective LinkedIn profile, you can offer a range of professional information that will enable prospective clients to quickly learn about you – and hopefully do business with you.

And the good thing about a LinkedIn profile is that you can always add to it and revise it whenever you want. (In fact, if your law firm changes its name – due to a loss or gain of a partner, for example – be sure to change the firm name throughout your LinkedIn profile.)

Be sure to include a good headshot of yourself and choose the option of your whole name appearing on your profile – this is a professional site after all.

Introducing our new "LinkedIn Professional Setup:



If you need help with creating or expanding an effective LinkedIn profile and activity on LinkedIn, consider our brand-new two-hour Linkedin package.



Using gotowebinar.com Phyllis or Yael will actually work on your LinkedIn account while you watch online and discuss what is being setup.

And even if you are not a book author, you might get ideas for expanding your online presence by reading this new guest post at The Cuckleburr Times: "10 Ways for a Book Author to Share Free Content on the Internet"



© 2010 Miller Mosaic, LLC

Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) and her business partner Yael K. Miller (@MillerMosaicLLC on Twitter) are committed to taking the mystery out of social media so that individuals and companies can utilize the power of social media to attract more business.

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