LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service that was launched in 2002. The main reason a person joins LinkedIn is for professional networking.
It is an online resume database, only better!
If you are looking for a place to network with other professionals and cut out all of the “fluff” that other social networking sites bring, LinkedIn is an excellent choice.
Here’s why I highly recommend LinkedIn to be the first social media account you use:
1 | Easily develop a personal brand
An optimized LinkedIn profile is a surefire way to solidify your personal and professional brand. It will immediately pay dividends in better search engine rankings for your and your firm’s name. Don’t forget a professional headshot; it makes you 14-times more likely to be found on LinkedIn.
2 | Go where your prospective clients are
LinkedIn has over 128 million users in the United States alone. It is particularly popular among college graduates, those in higher-income households and the currently employed. It is the perfect gathering space for the types of clients you are seeking.
3 | Accelerate connections
LinkedIn is the largest Rolodex in the world. Imagine the ability to tap into the power of nearly 433 million people worldwide. With a bit of ongoing effort to grow your network, you’ll notice connections sprout from within connections. LinkedIn is a networking superpower because it is not as private as Facebook’s personal profiles, so it is easier to connect with people who are not readily accessible.
4 | Create opportunities
By consistently contributing valuable content on a particular subject, advisors will lead the conversation rather than follow. If you can post a few bits of useful information on a regular basis, you will get recognized. There is no other tool that will do this for you.
5 | Improve your SEO
A well-thought-out LinkedIn profile increases the chance you’ll be found because of search-engine optimization (SEO). Successful SEO makes it easier for people to find financial advisors such as yourself; without it the likelihood that you will be found significantly decreases.
6 | Build rapport
Anyone can search for a person on LinkedIn to see their job history and a myriad of other information. You can give and receive recommendations and endorsements from past colleagues. While financial advisors may not be able to take advantage of this particular LinkedIn function, it’s something you can do for your centers-of-influence to build a strong rapport.
7 | Reinforce your professionalism
Another good thing about LinkedIn is that you are not bombarded with annoying game requests, cat videos and drama. You can simply browse your connections and their content. With that said, be sure to keep your own content professional. Do not post anything that does not belong.
Every second, two new members join LinkedIn. As an industry professional, this is great news. After you put in the initial effort to set up a strong profile, it takes minimal time to make those connections, post useful content and watch the benefits accrue. It is like the phone book of the 21st century. Don’t miss this opportunity by not creating a profile on LinkedIn.
The use of technology and social media is always changing. For more up to date information about LinkedIn check out my more recent series Financial Advisor’s Guide to Creating Your LinkedIn Profile and Making the Most of It.