Though it frequently becomes an afterthought, a well maintained LinkedIn profile can be a powerful tool for lead generation. Too often users overlook the value of LinkedIn. It is the most successful social network to specifically target a professional demographic. Reaching an older audience has its benefits. For one, users have more professional experience under their belts.  The average income of LinkedIn users is higher than that of users of any other social networking platform.

These are the kind of people you want to connect with. Not all social media strategies are created equal. You will not be reaching the same audience through LinkedIn that you would through Twitter or Facebook.

• There are proven effective strategies that will maximize your efforts on LinkedIn.

Complete Your Profile

First and foremost, complete your personal profile. LinkedIn is littered with abandoned or half-finished profiles. A profile is more than just an online résumé, and while your instinct may be to be overly formal on LinkedIn, it is important to inject some personality into your profile.

This does not mean posting photos of your weekend BBQ or divulging your favorite sports teams. It means presenting yourself as an expert in your field, and then expressing your voice, injecting your opinion. It is your perspective that makes you unique, and that is what will ultimately endear you to potential clients.

Speak Your Mind

Don’t be offensive. But it is okay to be polarizing. Not everyone is going to share your opinion, and that is not a bad thing. Your goal should be to cultivate an audience of like minded individuals. People who value your opinion will become your client base.

Use Keywords

Obviously, to have your voice heard, you will need to be found, that means optimizing your profile for easy searchability. Users search LinkedIn for people, people with specific skills, it is important to give yourself a title and to be consistent. Starting with you headline, this the first information anyone will see on your profile. Where applicable, use the same title in your past work experience. If you are new to your field try to find any kind of special projects that you may have completed that relate to your current position. The more you times you reuse keywords the more searchable your profile will be.

Be Selective

It is important to foster real connections. Have a strategy with whom you want to connect with and who you allow to endorse your skills. Friends and family are not relevant on LinkedIn. Keep those connections on Facebook. You are looking for endorsements from satisfied clients, someone who will attest to your expertise and give tangible examples of how your service helped them. These endorsements will increase your ability to connect with potential clients.

• Once you have made connections you need to maintain them.

Engage by posting pertinent content. Not just news, but issues relating to your industry that will generate discussion. Daily updates, no matter how small, add up and make a lasting impression. Your most valuable connections you will want engage on a more personal level; utilize @ mentions, and personalize messages to further these connections.

There you have it, a quick guide to generating leads and boosting your presence on LinkedIn. If you need further help with all things social media we can help.