With an industry steeped in consumerism, advertising space is of critical importance. Companies know the importance of getting their message out. You are the owner of YOUR BRAND and YOUR IMAGE. You own the advertising rights to YOU. In a competitive landscape, the message around your skills and capabilities is important. LinkedIn offers the ability for you to have a BILLBOARD that represents YOUR SKILLS and YOUR capabilities. They are giving you FREE ADVERTISING space to advertise your skills. Why not take it? Why not create a profile that showcases your skill-sets? Why not use the free access to position yourself for jobs, promotions, and additional pay?
Recruiters are surfing LinkedIn. They are looking for people to fill openings. Customers are searching LinkedIn. They are looking for people that they know and want to reach out to again. Prospects are searching LinkedIn. They want to buy services from you. There is a sea of people that could be looking for you. Your own employer may be looking at the resources within his company because he/she has an open position for a new initiative.
WHY? Commonly we hear this question. Why would you spend the time to create a profile? You would if you wanted to position yourself within your company or open yourself up for other opportunities. Selective companies have loaded profiles for their senior leadership to appeal to a generation of buyers, prospects and consumers that are looking for a personal touch in a world dominated by social media.
People are getting jobs without ever handing over a resume. Their online profile says enough to get them in the door. A great online profile has testimonials. Reviewers can see the profile of the person that has vouched for you. The words lift off the page when they are displayed with the picture, title and organization of the person that has recommended you. It is more than words on a page.
Spend some time surfing around LinkedIn. Find profiles that grab your attention. Challenge yourself to create a profile that communicates the message that you would like delivered. You can stand apart from the crowd by creating an advertisement that is uniquely you. Go build a great billboard!
by Bethany Williams
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