DOES YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE BUILD TRUST OR IS IT TIME FOR AN UPDATE?

DOES YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE BUILD TRUST OR IS IT TIME FOR AN UPDATE?

Companies with visible and influential leaders online are rewarded with strong reputational capital. 

They attract top clients and create industry buzz while positively impacting business growth, brand awareness, and talent acquisition and retention.

Building a brand presence on LinkedIn is the 2022 version of what face-to-face interactions and attending events and conferences used to be.

And it's what successful CEOs and executives are doing to stay connected and positively impact the bottom line. They benefit from this because:

  • Trust is established. 
  • Clients and partners want to do business with them.
  • It inspires top and diverse talent and creates a sense of belonging. 

But we still have a long way to go and some executives are missing on LinkedIn.

Some LinkedIn profiles are often half-finished and read like a resume.

This is to be expected. After all, executives are busy running the company and may not think they need to update their LinkedIn profile, so they don’t see it as a priority.

But it shows...

If you look at many of the profiles, it only represents the bare bones of who they are.

  • Their photo is dated and lacks personality.
  • The background banner is the default blue.
  • The headline just shows the current job title and company name.
  • The “about section”, if it exists, sounds like a cover letter or a bio.

No alt text provided for this image

Many will outline their accomplishments and past job responsibilities, but very few share their values, mission, and vision.

There is nothing that humanizes their brand and makes them relatable or approachable. 

Nothing that differentiates them from the competition and entices prospects to learn more.

Nothing that inspires top talent and diverse candidates to look into opportunities within the company.

I advise those who approach me for help to build a presence on LinkedIn to review and refine their profiles with every new company update. Worst case scenario, an annual update should be done. 

Executives that reach out to me understand the importance of making updates to their LinkedIn profiles, however, they lack the time and specific expertise to create a narrative that speaks to their values, vision, and mission.

They’ve spent their traditional career offline so transitioning their narrative to a digital stage creates a challenge for them.

Would you want to have a conversation with an executive or founder based on one of these intros?

  • My grandfather was raised on a small farm in Oklahoma. When he and my great-grandmother left the area, they trusted a lawyer to pay the property tax on the land. Unfortunately, the lawyer stole the money, resulting in the land being lost in a tax lien sale.
  • My work at _______ is driven by my belief that we must transform our healthcare system to maximize value for patients, and that this change is only possible at scale if supported by innovative technologies and solutions.
  • A leader's job is more than innovation. It’s about helping others see the world through a fundamentally different lens. As a servant leader, I was introduced to the world of advocacy as a very young child in the foster care system. Seen as just another statistic, I was determined to change that narrative and I did.

These are a few examples of LinkedIn profiles that I’ve had the pleasure of creating.

My LinkedIn training, workshops, and consulting solutions enable executives, founders, and teams to maximize their company’s outreach and drive awareness, retention, and growth online. It lowers marketing costs, accelerates sales, attracts top and diverse talent, and improves the online customer experience.

No alt text provided for this image

It starts by establishing an engaging profile on LinkedIn.

I have advised senior partners, CEOs, and entrepreneurs on how to market to consumers from every angle including social media, email marketing, community building, strategic partnerships, brand collaborations, and campaigns.

So, how do I help these executives create a unique story that builds credibility, creates likeability, and positions them as a trusted go-to voice in their market? 

I conduct an audit of the existing profile, use our interviews and existing assets to paint the narrative, and spend a lot of time in the editing process to build the foundation of their LinkedIn presence.  

If they wish to take it a step further, I offer customized coaching and training for their teams on how to be more effective when using LinkedIn.

The team becomes company advocates and your combined network increases visibility for the overall brand. 

OVER TO YOU

Clients, customers, recruits, and partners turn to LinkedIn to research a company and learn about the executives.

Take a look at your LinkedIn profile and the profile of your team. 

Does it properly reflect who you are and why you do what you do? Is this person someone you’d want to do business with?

If you can’t answer “yes,” or would like a second set of eyes, I’d be happy to provide you with a complimentary assessment of your LinkedIn profile and the other digital channels you use. 

Let’s create a digital identity that helps you gain a competitive advantage, positively impact business growth and attract top and diverse talent who feel more connected with the brand.

Feel free to send me a message.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF WILDFIRE

No alt text provided for this image

Deborrah Ashley is a LinkedIn Marketing Strategist, consultant, and trainer and the author of the book InSIDER- How To Leverage LinkedIn To Stand Out As The Industry Leader. 

With over 20 years of brand-building experience, she is obsessed with helping founders, executives, and their teams leverage LinkedIn to reach their organizational goals.

To inquire about working with Deborrah directly, please email dashley@thrivoo.com or complete this form: https://bit.ly/2022TRAINING

P.S. Like this newsletter? Please share it with a colleague or on your social feed!

We want to build a community of visible and influential thought leaders online!

Joaquim Leão

Management, Strategic and Business Planning, Digital Marketing, Apps, SEO, E-Commerce, Website,B2B, B2C & Sales, Entrepreneur, Org. Restructuring, Multilingual

2y
Alana Briley

Project Manager | Data Driven, Digital Marketing, & Project Management

2y

This is so helpful! Thank you for posting! It’s time for me to make an update!

Taniesha Boursiquot

Luxury Spa & Wellness Strategist

2y

This IS, a great read. Thank you.

To view or add a comment, sign in

More articles by Deborrah Ashley, MBA

Insights from the community

Explore topics