A popular resolution for many in the New Year is to find a job that’s the perfect fit; if you are one of them, creating a flawless employment profile has become even more crucial in 2012. Resumes and interview skills are always of critical importance, but making an investment in your job references is paramount in creating the “perfect employment candidate” impression that employers are looking for today.

The response a potential employer gets from a reference can make the difference between an applicant getting a job….or losing it. Professional reference checking company Allison & Taylor says that individuals looking for employment need to be aware of the following employment trends to succeed in their quest for that new, perfect job:

1. Your references will become even more valuable
Although the job market is poised to grow, hiring managers want to know how well you performed and only your references will be able to give the inside story. Make sure that your references are an asset, not a hindrance.

2. What your peers & subordinates have to say about you counts
You may have been able to hide your lack of production from your boss, but seldom are you able to hide it from those that report to you and your colleagues. Your coworkers can be, and often are, brutally honest. The simplest solution? Do your best work, every day, and let those around you know they’re appreciated.

3. Your reference list needs to match your resume
Often treated as an afterthought, references are a key element in closing the deal on that new job. It has become critically important that your reference list is well thought out, with full contact information, and presented as a matching and professional addendum to your resume.

4. Workplace bullies are still out there, even with all of the publicity about them
Even with all the negative press about bad bosses (or coworkers), bullies still continue wreak havoc, giving bad reports (sometimes completely fabricated) that can affect current and future employment. Find out what to do if you are, or have been, the victim of workplace bullying.

5. Technology offers a great way to stay in touch
Social networking provides a great way to easily communicate with that former boss and keep them updated as your career swings to new levels, so take advantage! Get your information up on sites like LinkedIn, Ryze and Twitter.

6. Employers will do even more background research, and look at your personal social media sites
Birds of a feather stick together, so be cautious who your friends are. Also, be sure there are no off -color comments, and keep certain things private- that way there’s no a chance for a potential employer to see something offensive.

7. Technology will play a large role in giving references
Trends show that employers are moving toward electronic reference systems, which rank an employee’s performance on a scale. This movement has pros and cons- it’s very comprehensive, and factual, and can neutralize negative commentary, but it will also limit the opportunity employers have to sing your praises. Make sure that you give yourself the best possible chance for a positive reference by establishing strong working relationships and negotiating the terms of your reference upon departure from the company.

It’s a new year, a great time for a fresh start! Make sure your resume and references are in order; to find out more about the professional employment services that can help in your job search, please visit Allison and Taylor.

About the Author:

Allison & Taylor and its principals have been in the business of checking references for corporations and individuals since 1984. Allison & Taylor is headquartered in Rochester, Mich. For further details on services and procedures please visit http://www.allisontaylor.com/.

1) The press release generated publicity can provide you with instant credibility with your LinkedIn profile visitors.

For example my client Sara LaForest’s headline reads like this: “Top Management Consultant Featured in Business Week, Fast Company & WomenEntrepreneur.com – Connect and Find Out Why”. This shows readers immediately why they should trust her and why they should trust what she has to say.

Here are some of the other ways you can highlight your publicity on your LinkedIn profile:

Create a quoted media positions
Showcase your media mentions within your summary
Add the publications section to your LinkedIn profile
Create a media kit on your LinkedIn profile using Box.net

2) Showcasing your press release generated publicity will prove to journalists that you are media worthy.

On LinkedIn you should be looking to connect with journalists, editors, online radio show hosts and other media professionals.  Now for those media professionals to accept your invitation, you have to prove you are credible and newsworthy.  When your press release is published by a top publication, you have completed half the battle because you have given yourself expert status. Now, you just have to build a relationship with the media professionals you connect with and show them that your information is relevant to their audience.

3) Use press releases to promote your LinkedIn group and community.

We recently created and distributed a press release that promoted Skip Weisman’s Workplace Communication Strategies group – and it was published on CNBC.com. This helped him:

Increase his LinkedIn group membership by making more people aware of his group.

Give him a reason to re-announce his group again to his email list as well as any LinkedIn connection that were not already members of his group. Any time you have a success, you should be letting your connections know.

Give new connections a reason to join his LinkedIn group when we sent out group invites.

4) Your press release placements can position you as a thought leader in your LinkedIn group – and those other groups you belong to.

I like to create discussions around a topic and link the discussion to a press release or article I’ve written that gives more information on the topic and is featured on a top website. This automatically gives me a third party endorsement which offers more credibility than if the information was just placed on my own website or blog.

5) Use your press release placement as a springboard for discussions.

For example, I distributed a press release titled “More Journalist on LinkedIn Than Any Other Social Network, Study Shows”. I then created this discussion within LinkedIn group:  “How are you using LinkedIn to get you more publicity?

In the LinkedIn discussion summary I put “In the press release below, I reveal that 82% of journalist are on LinkedIn and that is more than any other social network.  So now I am asking you, how are using LinkedIn to build and maintain relationships with media professionals to get you more publicity?”

I then linked the discussion to my press release on Yahoo News.

This helped me:

Get more exposure for my press release

Create a discussion among publicity professionals as they provided their insights. I then responded to their feedback with other ideas and explained to them how I can help them with their LinkedIn publicity efforts

Start a discussion among small business owners and other business professionals who wanted to learn how to get more publicity by using LinkedIn

6) Getting published or featured all over the Web on top websites and blogs will give you access to more people who will want to connect with you on LinkedIn.

You will have people coming to you seeking your advice.  They will see your press release and then look you up on LinkedIn wanting to connect with you.  For example, as I was writing this article, I received an invitation to connect that said, “Hi Kristina, I just read your tips in Canadian Advisor’s Edge Magazine – I’d like to connect with you and learn more.”

Your Next Steps

Now that I have shown you how online press release distribution can help you with your LinkedIn marketing efforts, it’s time you take action and start writing your press releases. If you need help, check our my Instant Press Release Templates at http://www.40InstantPressReleaseTemplates.com

About the Author:

LinkedIn marketing expert Kristina Jaramillo helps small businesses and organizations get more publicity, prospects and profits using effective LinkedIn. Now, at http://www.HowtoGetMorePublicitywithLinkedIn.com, you can gain full access to her FREE 14-Day LinkedIn Publicity E-course that shows you how to create an expert LinkedIn profile the media will love, how to build relationships with the media plus sneaky ways to get more PR using LinkedIn.

If kids, soon-to-be-adults and millions of not-so-young adults are your future audience, then you need to have a Facebook Business Page as you need to be where your audience is. And, today, our children, teens, young adults and even older adults like my former room mates and my ex (who deny they are addicted to Facebook) can be found updating their profile, commenting and changing their status updates regularly.

The New York Times even wrote an article recently that showed kids are finding crafty ways to get around the increasing number of Facebook bans their schools are implementing. One eighth grader, who preferred not to be named, said he coached a school administrator on avoiding the ban last year. “She hated not being able to get on Facebook at work and asked for my help one day in the office,” the boy explained, more than a little sympathetic to her plight. “What could I do?”

It came as no surprise to me, and it’s speaking volumes of the need for small businesses, as much as they want to continue down that stream of FB Denial, to get on board and create a Facebook business page. It is time
for them to put themselves in front of this next generation of Facebook addicts.

Need more proof?

5 Reasons Why You Must Setup a Facebook Fan Page Fast!

1)  Kids, soon adults, and millions of young and not-so-young adults are your future audience and they are all there, “friending” Justin Bieber under their covers (like my daughter last night) when they should be asleep.

2)  With over 600 million users and almost 50% of them on Facebook daily…. stop…. think about it….., AND over 40% of existing businesses already up and running on it, you want your business to be where your customers and potential customers are going, right? If you knew that your customers were passing by one of the huge billboards in Times
Square every day and those billboards didn’t cost millions per month to be advertising there, you would want to be up there…wouldn’t you?

3)  Your Facebook business page is like the huge billboard in Times Square  except for the fact that it’s free. Your customers are there, their friends are there. And you can say a heck of a lot more on a FB page than you can on a billboard.

4)  The search engines love a Facebook Business Page. Because a business page is a public URL and not a private one, your site will have a much easier time making it to the top of a Google search than your website. That’s unless you’ve invested a lot of $ into SEO (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

5)  As mentioned earlier, your competition already has a Facebook business page, and not because they want to share about their favorite rice and beans recipe. The “like” button has become the new “link.” Many online marketers, myself included now believe that the Facebook “like” button is becoming just as significant as backlinks to a website. In other words, the more “likes” your page has, the greater the chance of it ranking high in the search engines for your specific field and keywords. So think of it as a link and encourage your customers to press it. Every time you update something on your page these customers will now see it as they have been “linked” to it.

There are so many good reasons to create one of these Facebook business pages I could blather on and on about them forever. For now, think about the math. The average Facebook page has 140 friends. When you post to Facebook, your “friends” and all their “friends” will view your post. Can you spell V-I-R-A-L? As insane as it might sound, there’s a reason why Shop Rite wants you to “like” them on Facebook.

About the Author:

Suzen Pettit specializes in designing, building, marketing and maintaining optimized websites and social media profiles for busy small business owners. By using her strategic internet marketing techniques you will ensure your business is being found and that clients are seeing what YOU want them to see on the internet about you. For even more free tips, tools, strategies and resources, read her free articles at: http://www.omaginarium.com/blog/

When you take control of your social media interactions on LinkedIn you will build, develop and have command over your own community.

For example, when Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber and I created and launched our Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates we:

1. Reached out to our LinkedIn Group members.  Eric has over 800 people in his group alone, which is a target rich environment for us to get more sales.

2. We created articles that demonstrated ways LinkedIn should be used to generate more profits for you.  We created articles that showed top mistakes people are making on their LinkedIn profiles.  At the end of all these articles we added a call to action to grab our Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates.
3. We used a simple learn, lurk and link strategy to capture other prospects that belong to other groups.  Some of these groups have more than 25,000 members.  I cannot tell you how many times we saw an order that had “LinkedIn Group” as the answer to: “Where did you hear about us?”

Here’s My Simple Learn, Lurk & Link Strategy Explained in Detail

1. Learn – Before you can create content that your LinkedIn prospects can connect to you must uncover what challenges they are facing, the latest thinking, mistakes that are being made and what questions are being left unanswered.  The best way to achieve this is to be where your prospects are. That means you should join the LinkedIn groups your prospects belong to.  Then move onto the next step.

2. Lurk – Go to the group and view the discussions. Look what kinds of questions are being asked within the group.  See what kind of content is being created and distributed.  Check out the different debates that occurring, this way you can see other points of views.  This is one of the best ways to see the latest thinking and philosophies.  Then find out how you can add value to the conversations by revealing information that has not been said before.  Offer a new twist or insight on a popular topic.  This will make people want to listen to what you have to say and learn more about what you have to offer.

3. Link – The final step is linking to these prospects.  Invite people to connect that have commented on your articles, posts or previous comments.  Reach out to prospects by asking them questions and inviting them to join the conversation.  The point of this is to get people to like what you have to say so they will view your website, buy your products, use your services, ask for your advice and so on. When you can show that you are an expert in your field others will listen.

Now try my learn, lurk and link strategies with your LinkedIn marketing and see if you can get results like Help My Website Founder Adam Hommey who received 150 new

subscribers, four new coaching clients, $6,259 in immediate profits and two media interviews!  After receiving these results here is what Adam had to say:

“Leveraging the full power of LinkedIn® has been the secret ingredient that has taken me further during the last couple of months toward achieving “authority” status as a website conversions expert than I moved in three years PRIOR.”

Now are you ready to learn, lurk and link?

About the Author:

LinkedIn marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo, the creator of the first LinkedIn marketing templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com helps business professionals network more effectively on LinkedIn so they can get more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become “the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn” by avoiding her top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

I spend hundreds of hours on LinkedIn every month researching, testing, tweaking and seeing what works and what doesn’t – and that’s on top of the hours I spend marketing my business and my clients’ businesses on LinkedIn.  So in a week’s time I view thousands of different professional profiles.

I see people who write there profile in 1^st person. Others will write in 3^rd person. Even the LinkedIn marketing experts say different things when it comes to whether or not you should write your LinkedIn profile summary in first person or third person

So, today with this article, I am putting the debate to rest. I’m giving you the definitive answer to whether you should write your profile in 1^st person or 3^rd person – along with the reasons why.

7 Reasons to Put Your LinkedIn Profile in 1^st Person And Not 3^rd Person.

Reason #1:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 3^rd person it reads like a boring a resume and seems very technical. Or, it can sound like you are writing a biography which is not very personal or interesting.   It does not give the reader a true idea of who you are as a business person, thought leader or individual.

Reason #2:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 1^st person it says to the reader that “I have character and confidence in my abilities. I’m willing to tell you in my own voice.”   It tells the reader that you actually wrote your profile on your own words and took the time to personalize it.

Here is an example from one of my clients, Dan Janal, who took the time to pay attention to detail when writing his profile:

Imagine being featured on the front page of USA TODAY — and then being able to double your speaking fees immediately just like PR LEADS client Patrick Snow of Creating Your Own Destiny. Imagine the website traffic and sales you can generate if only you can find a way to get more publicity so you can speak to millions for free!

Now, small business owners, solo PR firms, speakers, authors and entrepreneurs can get name-brand publicity tools and publicity coaching they can afford. I’m talking about the same top-tier publicity tools that major corporations use to get mega media placements – but you can get it at a fraction of their cost.

For example, my PRLEADS.com service puts you in touch with reporters who are writing articles and need to find expert sources like you! We’re talking journalists from big name publications and media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Redbook.

You can read Dan’s entire profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/danjanal

Reason #3:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 3^rd person you create an automatic disconnect. It’s too distant and pompous. And, it automatically makes me think of the back cover bio of an author in a book.

Let me show you what I mean.  Here is a real example of someone’s LinkedIn profile summary – the name has been changed to protect the guilty:

Chris Baton is an attorney who specializes in immigration law. A large percentage of his practice is focused on immigration trials and appeals.

Chris was the former chairperson for the American Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Division, Immigration Law Committee. Throughout his career, he has served on many local, state, and federal government boards and commissions. He speaks professionally on a variety of immigration and political issues.

Many of the profiles are done this way because the user has copied a biography from their website or another source where 3rd party format is more common. This shows me that you did not put any thought or time in to creating an effective LinkedIn profile.  You need to show viewers that you care enough to connect with them on a personal level.

Reason #4:

LinkedIn is a virtual networking platform for business professionals who want to do more business. It is the first step in building a relationship with someone. You wouldn’t introduce yourself in the third person if you met someone at a networking event. – would you?  Then why would you introduce yourself on your profile in 3^rd person when writing in first person gives you a more genuine and personal touch.

Reason #5:

Your profile should be more about the reader than you. It should provide as much value as possible to the reader and it should be used to create discussions and conversations about you, your company, your products and how you can benefit others.  It should be focused on what will or can be provided to the reader should they engage with you. Your profile is a “marketing piece” not a resume. And, marketing pieces are in 1^st person!

Reason #6:

It’s YOUR profile. You are not a reporter writing a story about somebody. Nor are you putting together a press release. You have to personalize your profile to enable a reader or prospect to relate to you.  Writing in first person gives the other person more confidence and trust in you. You are telling your own story.  You need to write your Linkedin profile for the audience MOST LIKELY to read it. Remember, you write to be read.

Reason #7:

You want to sound like you are speaking directly to someone, face-to-face, and telling them a story about your background and how they can benefit from your expertise.  By writing in first person you are able to show your true character as a person and business owner.

Remember when writing your LinkedIn profile to personalize it by writing in the 1^st person.  Show your audience that you are just like them.

Now, do you still think you should be writing your LinkedIn profile summary and experience sections in 3^rd person?

About the Author:

LinkedIn marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo, the creator of the first LinkedIn marketing templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com helps business professionals network more effectively on LinkedIn so they can get more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become “the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn” by avoiding her top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

Many LinkedIn professionals simply copy their bios from their website or the back of their book.  And believe me you can tell.  For example, I recently spoke to Ted Gee about changing his LinkedIn profile.  I told him that his summary read like a back flap of a hard cover book.  His exact response was, “You nailed it!  That is exactly what I did”.

Why Your LinkedIn Profile Should Not Sound Like an Author’s Biography…

Your profile should not sound like an author’s bio because it is and old and over used format.  Do you remember anything you have read from a bio?  No, that is because there is never anything interesting or memorable in an author’s bio.  Your profile needs to entice your audience to want to learn more about you.  It needs to have strong and engaging copy.  It had to make the individual who is reading it scroll down further and eventually visit your website.  But none of this can ever happen if your profile is dull and average.

Here are 5 Secrets to Making Your Profile More Exciting and Enjoyable to Your Readers…

1) Make your profile summary in 1^st person not 3^rd person.  LinkedIn is a virtual networking platform for business professionals who want to do more business. It is the first step in building a relationship with someone. You wouldn’t introduce yourself in the third person if you met someone at a networking event. – would you?  Then why would you introduce yourself on your profile in 3^rd person when writing in first person gives you a more genuine and personal touch.

2) Speak to your audience’s desires, wants and needs. For example here is part of the introduction we created for the summary for PRLeads Founder Dan Janal:

Imagine being featured on the front page of USA TODAY — and then being able to double your speaking fees immediately just like PR LEADS client Patrick Snow of Creating Your Own Destiny. Imagine the website traffic and sales you can generate if only you can find a way to get more publicity so you can speak to millions for free!

Now, small business owners, solo PR firms, speakers, authors and entrepreneurs can get name-brand publicity tools and publicity coaching they can afford. I’m talking about the same top-tier publicity tools that major corporations use to get mega media placements – but you can get it at a fraction of their cost.

Do you see how Dan’s intro speaks to the needs, wants and desires of a small business owner looking to attract media attention?

3) Reveal mistakes your target audience is making and how you are the solution to their problems.  For example, in Skip Weisman’s profile summary we revealed how one of his clients admittedly lost 5 million in ten years before working with him.  By showing your audience the types of mistakes they are making (that they don’t even realize they are doing), you will stop prospects dead in their tracks. They will automatically want to see if they are making costly mistakes themselves. The key part of this process is to provide reasons how you can help members of your audience and why they should work with you.

4) Show client results. For example, on Help My Website Sell founder Adam Hommey’s profile we included results like:

* Ross Jeffries (Founder of Speed Seduction) – For every dollar he spends on internet marketing consulting, he earns several dollars back. In fact, with one of his promotions, he made more than $60,000 in less than 24 hours!

* MaryPat Kavanagh – Saved thousands of dollars after Adam reviewed her  website and internet marketing systems. He showed her how she’s wasting money on complex solutions that are actually costing her money.

5)  Use LinkedIn profile templates.  When you use templates like the ones found at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com, you get the structure, format and organization you need to create a more audience-focused, exciting profile.   Here is just what one user had to say about LinkedIn templates:

Kristina, I wanted to thank you and recommend your products for LinkedIn Profiles. I purchased them and followed your templates and my LinkedIn profile went from completely empty to completely professional. I have had testimonials, been published and still didn’t know how to use those tools to my advantage. Your tools gave me that. Since then I have had more connections, more recommendations, and more conversations with potential customers. Always remembering to use the call to action skills I learned from your templates.

The next time you login to your LinkedIn account read your profile and see if it appeals to you as a reader.  If it does not, you definitely have to follow some of the tips you just read to improve upon the copy.

Remember you have to entice the reader to learn more about you and what to work with you or purchase your products.  One way to guarantee this is to make sure your profile does not read like an author’s biography.

About the Author:

LinkedIn marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo, the creator of the first LinkedIn marketing templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com helps business professionals network more effectively on LinkedIn so they can get more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become “the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn” by avoiding her top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

Lots of people are “different” these days. But are they really thought leaders?

1.    In most cases, you can’t tell one coach, consultant or expert in a particular industry from another. They practically use the same language to describe themselves and what they do.

2.    If you look at the articles on their blog and those they distribute within the different groups – you’ll notice that they provide the same old information as everyone else.

Now, look at your profile. Look at the content you provide. Now, take an even closer look. Then go into LinkedIn and view others in your industry.

So how different are you? Are you ready to differentiate yourself

1. Create a headline that…

a)    Grabs instant attention
b)    Proves to me your value
c)    Makes me want to know more about you.

For example, check out these headlines…

•    From Skip Weisman’s profile: Client Admits Losing 5 Million Dollars Because of Poor Workplace Communication! Could You Be Making the Same Mistakes? Notice how this headline makes you stop and think – “Wow, if Skip uncovered the reason why a client lost 5 million dollars, I wonder how much money he could stop me from obliviously losing.”

•    From Judith Lindenberger’s profile – Discover why Bristol Myers Squib, American Express & AstraZeneca invest in this WSJ featured HR expert, & Consultant – Notice how Judith sets herself apart by mentioning the large company names she works with and by showing that she is a Wall Street Journal featured expert. She is adding credibility elements.

2. Stop making your summary sound like “An About the Author” section. For example, I recently completed a Live Video Profile Review for an immigration lawyer and this was his summary…

Carlos Batara is an attorney who specializes in immigration law. A large percentage of his practice is focused on immigration trials and appeals.

Carlos was the former chairperson for the American Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Division, Immigration Law Committee. Throughout his career, he has served on many local, state, and federal government boards and commissions. He speaks professionally on a variety of immigration and political issues.

This sounds like it should be on the back of a hardcover book in an about the author section.  The only thing missing is “Carlos lives in New York City with his wife and two dogs.”  It does not make me want to learn anything more about him as an individual or businessman.  It’s even in third person which does nothing to help the reader relate to him on a human level.  How can you make a connection with some like that?

3. Stop making your experience section sound like a resume. Use this area as a way to show prospects exactly what you can do for them. For example instead of just saying HR Consultant (which resembles a boring resume that no one wants to read), here are some of the positions we created for Judith Lindenberger…

- HR Expert Specializing in Helping Companies & Global Corporations Avoid Million Dollar Lawsuits

-HR Expert, Consultant and Trainer Now Offers 25+ Training Solutions for HR Executives & Leaders
We didn’t just put a listing of current and past jobs along with a basic description of some accomplishments. We made sure that the position headline and the copy that followed it drew in the reader and enticed them to read more about her. We focused on what Judith is doing right now to help clients – because that’s what your prospects want to know.

4. Get testimonials that show specific results – Yes, you should get happy when you get testimonials like:
“You guys are my secret weapon and you deliver BIG results which is why I keep coming back.” — Robert Smith, Author of “Million Dollar Press Releases: Guide To Boosting Profits Using Free Publicity”

However, does a testimonial like this differentiate you? No! It doesn’t describe the big results. It doesn’t get specific. When you get testimonials and LinkedIn recommendations like the one above, you need thank the client and then ask questions that lead them to a more specific recommendation. This way, you can get testimonial like this:

“150 New Subscribers, Four New Coaching Clients, $6,259 In Immediate Profits, And Two Media Interviews!” Leveraging the full power of LinkedIn® has been the “secret ingredient” that has, in just the past 5 months, taken me further toward achieving “authority” status as a website conversions expert than I moved in three years PRIOR.” Adam Hommey – Founder, Help My Website Sell

5. Create content that sets you apart. For example, you’ll find controversial articles on Skip’s LinkedIn profile and blog like:

Debate 1: Teamwork Is A Myth And That There Must Be A Focus On “I” In Team

Debate 2: The Communication Model Taught During The Last 40 Years Is A Bunch Of Crock!

Notice how Skip is not following the generally accepted model. He’s differentiating himself. If your want to be a thought leader then you need to stop following every one else and make yourself stand out from the rest. You cannot be afraid to do something different or go against common thoughts, philosophies or mindsets. You have to let loose and share information that others keep hidden from others unless they pay thousands of dollars.

Now, start differentiating yourself and make yourself the thought leader in your industry.  If you need help, check out these new Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates and Instant Article Writing Templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com

About the Author:

LinkedIn Marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for small business owners and executives who want to become the trusted source in their industry. Now, you can learn how with her new free special report revealing the top 14 mistakes professionals make on LinkedIn and the opportunities they are missing. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

As people realize we like them and respect their opinions, they share information about themselves that can be helpful in analyzing whether they can use our products or services.

So says Canadian businessman Michael J. Hughes, who is known as “THE Networking Guru.”  Hughes runs a highly successful Ottawa, Ontario-based consulting business that works with Fortune 500 companies and international associations across North America.

The most interesting thing about Hughes’ business? He built it using networking as his sole marketing vehicle.

Networking is simply one of the most important activities in which professionals engage. As Hughes says, the opportunity to create, nurture and develop relationships is one of the most rewarding processes of human activity. If we capitalize on networking opportunities properly, they can be quite profitable for us while making the world a better place for everyone else.

The problem with networking is that too many professionals don’t do it very well. What’s worse is that some people are terribly intimidated by the process.

That’s where Hughes comes in. He breaks networking encounters into six logical steps. To succeed in networking, you need to master all parts of the process:

1. The first five seconds

2. The next 20 seconds

3. The next two minutes

4. The last five seconds

5. The next 24 hours to seven days

6. The final outcome

At the beginning of the networking encounter, Hughes believes the key is to make your discussion partner comfortable. After all, most people are stressed by networking events. You will make a great impression if you take charge, smile, listen carefully and “pretend you’re the host.”

In the next 20 seconds, the key is to build rapport and make your networking partner feel “safe.” Active listening is crucial, because “wanting to know more about a person is one of the biggest compliments we can pay,” Hughes says.

The most important part of the networking process occurs in the next two minutes. Hughes says this is where the real test occurs for both partners. The more you structure the discussion around your partner, the more earnest interest you show in him or her, the more you develop trust.

Once you have trust, your discussion partner is open to your ideas. This is when you present your message, your unique selling point. But don’t get preachy, because as Hughes says, “the objective of networking is to create a relationship, not make a presentation.” The value comes over time.

Trust is especially important if the purpose of your networking efforts is ultimately to make a sale and land a deal. “Selling is a people business, not a product business,” Hughes says. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

When the networking encounter is coming to an end, Hughes recommends you take control in order to transition out of the conversation and help the person bridge to another conversation. In the last five seconds, try to create an opportunity. An offer to keep in touch or a scheduled appointment makes the conversation much more productive.

Finally, be sure to thank the other person for conversing with you and for giving you their precious time.

Lest you think you are done, remember that networking is a process. Follow up with the person or you will eventually be forgotten. That kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it? Find a legitimate reason – one that benefits the other person – to stay in contact. Not only does follow-up keep you front-of-mind, it makes an impression in other ways. After all, “following through on commitments and promises goes against the grain of how the world works today,” Hughes says. In other words, you will shock people if you’re one of those rare professionals who actually returns email and voice mail messages.

When it’s all said and done, good networking can lead to career-long relationships. This means you might take care of clients together, create referral opportunities and find complementary products. Gaining exposure to others’ networks will increase your opportunities.

By the way, if you would like to learn more about Michael Hughes, go to NetworkingForResults.com.

About the Author:

Jeff Beals is an award-winning author, who helps professionals do more business and have a greater impact on the world through effective sales, marketing and personal branding techniques. As a professional speaker, he delivers energetic and humorous keynote speeches and workshops to audiences worldwide. You can learn more and follow his “Business Motivation Blog” at JeffBeals.com.

Recently I read a LinkedIn article for small business owners that stated, “You should think of your profile as an online resume.”  I could not disagree more. And, when you are done reading this article, let me know what you think!

Now, while you think whether or not your LinkedIn profile should be regarded as a resume, let me ask you: When was the last time you read an interesting and intriguing resume?

Most resumes tend to be boring and bland.  Now, how is this going to help you attract viewers and prospects?  Simple, it can’t.

As a small business owner or a business development executive, you have to start thinking of your profile as a marketing tool and not a resume.  Since you have to change your mindset about this, I have developed six distinct reasons why your profile should not look like a resume.

Why You Should Not Think of Your LinkedIn Profile as Your Resume

Reason #1:  A resume is not personal enough.

The goal of LinkedIn is to connect with people and build relationships. The only way you will connect with prospects is to personalize your profile.  To do this you need to tell stories and share information that gives a better scope of:

¨      Who you are.

¨      What makes you tick.

¨      How you can help the prospect.

¨      What new and exciting information you have to offer them.

Make viewers want to learn more about what you and your business can do for them.   Be creative and use all the applications that LinkedIn provides you can show videos, presentations and documents.

Reason #2: Remember LinkedIn is a social human network.

Most resumes lack that human touch that LinkedIn can provide if used correctly.  You need to make your profile interesting and enjoyable to read.  You have to keep in mind that if you want others to read it, you should want to read it too.  Here is an excerpt of my summary to give you an idea of what I mean.

With over 80 million professional members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn offers small business owners and internet marketer’s unlimited opportunities to build, and nourish profitable relationships online.

However, out of the 80+ million people on LinkedIn, only a FEW successful companies and internet marketers are using LinkedIn to its’ fullest profit-making potential.

Do you want to know some of my top secrets on how to get more business using LinkedIn? As a Social Media Expert (not a self-proclaimed expert, the New York Times called me that) who specializes in LinkedIn, I’ve uncovered…”14 Underground Secrets to Making Money And Taking Complete and Total Control Of Your Industry and Niche on LinkedIn” Here I reveal mistakes that other LinkedIn experts are even making.

Reason #3: The goal of LinkedIn profile is to get people to connect with you so that you can funnel them back to your website.

Your profile is a way to tell prospects what you and your business can do for them. Your LinkedIn profile allows you to show the different areas of your business and then lead prospects to the appropriate webpage to get even more information. The goal of a resume however, is to list accomplishments, achievements and jobs held. It simply lists your job descriptions, past and present.  A resume does not mention the kind of person you are and why someone should connect with you. And, a resume doesn’t allow you to focus on the here and now and what you can provide your potential clients today like your LinkedIn profile should.

Reason #4: Resumes are usually limited to 1-2 pages while a LinkedIn profile is not.

While it’s usually not a good idea to submit a resume that is more than 2 pages long, you don’t have that kind of restriction with an online profile.  You can include more information, more details, more accomplishments, more strengths and more keywords.  The more information you include the more credibility you will gain, the more connected to your prospects you will become. Once you gain their trust, it will become much easier to sell your products, services or even the idea of joint venture relationship.

Reason #5: A LinkedIn profile enables you to brand yourself much better and much easier than a resume ever could.

Everything from yourself, your company to your products and services can be branded on your profile.  For example, if you are the best at selling widgets, then make sure your profile clearly articulates that – and reinforce your brand throughout the profile. LinkedIn recently added some new sections that will further enhance your ability to sell yourself to potential clients. What resume will allow you to include postings about your publications, certifications or skills.  Those sections usually get edited out due to space.

Now, do you think of your LinkedIn profile as your online resume?

Do you now realize the marketing potential LinkedIn gives you – if only you’d change your mindset?

Great! Now, I invite you to check out what other LinkedIn marketing mistakes you are making and opportunities you are missing. Grab my free special report at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

About the Author:

LinkedIn Marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for small business owners who want more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become “the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn” fast plus learn how to avoid the top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

3 Reasons Why Your Profile Should Not Be the Same as Your Position

1. Think of your headline as your first sales pitch to people who want to connect with you. If I am unfamiliar with you or your company, how does mentioning your company name and your position show me what you do and why I need to connect with you? It doesn’t! These headlines are too general, simple and straight forward. They are too vague and too broad.  In order for your headline to be effective, it needs to grab my attention. It needs to make me want to read the rest of your profile. As a potential client or potential referral source, I need to see right away how you can help me or my clients.

2. When I am invited to connect with someone, I view their profile before I choose to accept. The first thing that I look at is their headline to see if there is any possible synergy between the person who wants to connect with me and my business.  By doing this I can see if it is worth my time and energy to view the rest of their profile. Make your headline enticing so I will want to read your profile and connect with you.

3. If someone is going through people search or through the groups to see who they should connect with, they are looking at hundred to thousands of opportunities. You need to make your business stand out to entice others to want to click on your name to read your profile and learn more about you.

Now that you know that you need to drastically improve your LinkedIn profile headline in order to attract more clients, the question is, how do you fix it?

4 Questions You Must Ask Yourself When Creating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline

1)  What can you say in your headline that will give your instant credibility?

One of the easiest ways to gain that instant credibility is to use any media attention.  For example, I was recently called a “Social Media Expert” by the New York Times.  Look how I use this media mention in my new LinkedIn profile headline to give me instant credibility:

“Read my profile now and discover LinkedIn secrets from the woman the New York Times called a social media expert”.

2)  Does your LinkedIn profile headline command action?

The best way to get someone to read your profile further is to tell them to do so. Just look at my example above. Notice I’m giving you a call-to-action. By stating read, view or learn more by reading my profile, you are instructing the reader to do so.  And, guess what – chances are they’ll listen. You just have to tell your prospects what to do – and why they need to take the action.

3) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show why you are different?

Go to people search on LinkedIn and type in your career description. Look at how many people match your description. For example, when I type in “internet marketing consultant” into people search it gives me 139,041 results. The phrase “life coach” gives me 83,847 results. The phrase “business coach returns” 224,274 results.  In your headline if you show how and why you are unique chances are your prospects will explore your business further than that of your competition.

For example Article Marketing Experts Eric Gruber’s profile headline was: See how we can get you published on websites like About.com – instead of just article directories like our competition.

4) Does your LinkedIn profile headline show a benefit to the reader?

By implying there is an advantage to your reader by viewing your profile you are telling them that there is a benefit of using your products or services.  The reader needs a reason to accept a connection with you.  By giving them a benefit you are instilling confidence in your business. For example:

• Help My Website Sell Founder Adam Hommey’s headline is: Top internet marketing consultant and expert webmaster reveals how to make your website sell more products and services
• The Global Institute of Visionary Executives Founder Carrie Jacobs has this as her headline: Read my profile and learn from a champion visionary executive coach how you can profit from your own brand of success

About the Author:

Written by Kristina Jaramillo. Just by fixing your LinkedIn profile headline, you will begin to attract more prospects and referral sources. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, in my free special report, I reveal 14 mistakes that most internet marketers and small business owners make – and the opportunities they are missing. I invite you to get this free report at http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com