Women of Power: 3 Tips to Maximize LinkedIn for Professional Success

Day two of the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, sponsored by State Farm, continues, and attendees recently got the chance to learn insider tricks of the trade for maximizing their use of a social media platform that reigns supreme in the business world: LinkedIn.

Featured speaker S. Lynn Cooper, founder and chief social officer at Socially Ahead, shared insights on how professionals can go beyond just posting a profile and truly forge dynamic relationships and partnerships as women of power.

Check out three key takeaways from the panel:

1. Professionalism is more than vital—it can make or break your success with LinkedIn. Beyond ensuring you have a complete profile, it’s a good idea to have a professional headshot that will attract people to read and connect. “Upload a professional, updated headshot,” Cooper advised. When you have a great headshot—where you’re smiling and it’s warm and engaging—people will want to connect with you, she said. “Also, when you have a great profile picture, you’re seven times more likely to show up in search,” Cooper adds.

2. Use LinkedIn apps and other tech resources that make things easier. Tools like Slideshare, Resume Builder and polls make data sharing, transferring and gathering easy and provide for a more robust experience in engaging with your network to build solid relationships and connections.

3. Make it a priority to schedule engagement activities with your network just as you’d prioritize scheduling other important tasks in your life. As busy power women, it’s important to utilize scheduling tools such as Hootsuite, to remain engaged even when you don’t have time to update. Using a combination of organic updating and scheduled sharing will ensure you stay on the pulse of what’s going on with your network. “I have at my house what I call Social Media Sundays. After I run all my errands and make sure my kids are taken care of, I take an hour to go through all my profiles, upload my content… [You’re basically] checking in,” Cooper says.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! Join us for the landmark 10th Annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, March 2—4, 2015, at Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL. This exciting, one-of-a-kind executive leadership summit is designed to train, equip and encourage women to become industry leaders, learn career strategies, and discover proven work—life balance techniques. Register Now! https://blackenterprise.com/wps