There’s no denying that LinkedIn™ is a popular platform that aims to connect professionals, but did you know that you can also use it to facilitate job hunting, network, create leads and upskill your professional development?
In addition to being an effective networking tool, having an optimised LinkedIn™ profile can also help you make sales and generate leads in your job role.
Tips for finding a job and making sales on LinkedIn™
To give you a taste of what our training courses cover, here are a few tips to help you make sales and find a job using LinkedIn™.
1. Remember that first impressions count
Let your profile show all you have to offer prospective employers or clients. Write it with them in mind!
Try to keep your profile regularly updated (at least once a quarter) by showcasing your skills and knowledge, any excellent reviews from clients or previous employers, and any skills you’ve gained
It’s really easy to update your profile on LinkedIn™, whether you are job hunting for a new position or looking for leads and contacts. Make sure your profile is always primed and ready to show the best of you, your achievements to date, and all you have to contribute to your ideal employer or client.
Simple things you can update on a regular basis include: A recent clear profile picture (with your head and shoulders included), your banner (showing what you do and who for and how to contact you), your contact details, your heading, your about section, skills and recommendations.
2. Use your banner to showcase your highlights
If you are job hunting, it goes without saying that your profile should clearly convey exactly what you are looking for and what skills and attributes you have to offer.
Utilising your LinkedIn™ profile banner is a good way to showcase all of these things. If you’re designing your own, make sure to use clean, clear, and well-spaced fonts and include your brand’s colour scheme for cohesion.
And, if you want to build on your sales skills, and connect to potential customers, why not use your LinkedIn™ banner as a valuable tool to highlight your USPs and contact details? This way, you can make it as easy as possible for valuable prospective clients to reach out.
3. Know that a complete profile = an optimised profile
Taking the time to complete all of the sections on your profile is always worthwhile, whether you’re job hunting or looking to make sales.
The ‘About’ section on LinkedIn™ is great for this because you can use it to give your ideal client or employer an insightful picture of who you are. Remember to write it with them in mind – this is not a CV section or online brochure. You should highlight what you do, who for, how you help them, results and a few personal details.
Don’t forget about the ‘Featured’ section, either. Use this space to highlight your CV and previous achievements, or as a place to showcase your client testimonials and any case studies, lead magnets or relevant articles pertinent to your area of expertise.
It shows that you care about making an authentic and genuine impression and that you care about your professional development. Someone who takes the time and effort to complete their LinkedIn™ profile in full will be seen as someone who is trustworthy and pays attention to detail.
4. Optimise your profile with keywords
Another key part of completing your LinkedIn profile in its entirety is to include keywords throughout the different sections of your profile. You can do this by clearly stating your previous and current job titles, skills, and any services you can offer.
This way, when someone is looking for a sales consultant or whichever job role you’re seeking, they can easily find you via the search function.
5. Curate your profile with your target audience in mind
Your profile should clearly state the benefits of having you on board as a supplier or employee, and this can also be enhanced with what you post and re-share.
Your LinkedIn™ profile is your opportunity for prospective employees and clients to ‘meet’ you before they actually meet you, so don’t waste any chance to elevate your LinkedIn™ profile.|
This is why you should always consider whether your profile is written with your target audience in mind. Ask yourself — what do they want to hear or learn about from your perspective? Ensure that anything you share or post is relevant.
You want your posts to show that you understand your industry and have all the skills and knowledge needed to make valuable connections. This will show your next employer or client that you will be an asset to them.
One of the best ways to do this is to show that you recognise your target audience’s unique pain points and goals through your posts, as this will reassure your future employer or client that you are someone who is fully on board with their values and approaches.
Enrol in a LinkedIn™ training course with Sales Training International
At Sales Training International, we’re proud to offer LinkedIn™ training courses designed to help individuals and employees develop their sales skills and professional development.
For a more specialist insight, our LinkedIn™ Sales Navigator course is also available to drive success in B2B lead generation, mapping accounts, sourcing clients, and CRM integration.
These courses are available for either in-house or via virtual live delivery and cover a wealth of topics, ranging from basic tips to specialist techniques.
We also offer one to one LinkedIn coaching and profile optimisation.
Get in touch to book your place today.
