4 out of10 B2B marketers score LinkedIn as the most effective platform for generating leads.
What’s more, B2B brands using LinkedIn experience 2X higher conversion rates than other social media platforms.
It makes sense why modern marketers are obsessed with the platform.
The challenge comes in creating a profile that actually generates leads. It’s not enough to simply have a presence on LinkedIn. You need a profile that attracts the proper attention, engages your target audience, and compels them to take action.
Today, we’ll show you how to create a LinkedIn profile that does precisely that. Following these seven practical tips can turn your LinkedIn profile into a powerful lead generation tool.
Let’s start by answering a fundamental question.
Why Do You Need a Top-Notch LinkedIn Profile?
In the early days of LinkedIn, having a complete profile was optional. People mostly used the platform for networking and sharing content.
Besides, LinkedIn was primarily a job search platform, so a robust profile wasn’t always necessary.
Things have changed.
LinkedIn is now one of the most powerful lead generation tools available. It has more than 830 million users, and it’s proliferating.
LinkedIn users are more engaged than users on other social media platforms. They’re also wealthier and have more disposable income.
Most importantly, LinkedIn is where business decision-makers hang out.
Without a solid profile, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to connect with your target audience and generate leads.
For example, members with a profile picture get 21x more exposure and 36x more direct messages than members without one.
A well-crafted profile also allows you to rank higher in LinkedIn search results. That means more people will see your profile, and you’ll have a better chance of generating leads.
Considering that your profile is the first thing people will see, making a good impression is essential.
Let’s explore how to create a LinkedIn profile that will engage your target audience and generate leads.
Related reading: Generate more leads on Linkedin
1. Templatize Successful Headlines
Many people will judge your profile based on your headline. It’s one of the first things people will see when they land on your profile.
Your headline must be exciting and compel the reader to want to know more about you. It should also be keyword-rich so that you show up in LinkedIn search results.
To write a powerful headline, study what successful people in your industry are doing. Find headlines that stand out to you and use them as inspiration.
Then, tweak those headlines to fit your brand. For example, Jackie Hermes runs a digital marketing agency. Her headline is, “Growing B2B software co’s w/ marketing that *actually works* | founder + CEO @ Accelity | built from $0 to 7-figures with no funding.”
You’ll notice that Jackie’s headline is both keyword-rich and interesting. It tells you what she does, whom she works with, and what she’s accomplished.
You can quickly adapt this approach to fit your profile.
For example, suppose you’re a fitness coach helping C-level executives lose weight. In that case, your headline might look something like, “Helping C-level execs lose weight with diets that *actually work* | Fitness coach @ HealthyCEOs | Lost 50 pounds myself.”
Of course, this is just a starting point. Play around with different headlines until you find one that accurately reflects your brand and drives results.
Daniel Doan is another excellent example. He’s a California-based copywriter who specializes in neuro-response marketing.
Daniel’s headline is clear, concise, and tells you what he does and how he can help you. It also includes where he’s located, which is vital for businesses that only work with local clients.
Whatever your case may be, make sure your headline is exciting and keyword-rich—templatize successful headlines to save time and ensure that your headline makes a strong impression.
Recommended reading; How to use Linkedin as a sales person
2. Use LinkedIn’s Recommended Sections
LinkedIn provides recommended sections for every profile. These sections are designed to help you showcase your professional brand and highlight your skills and experience.
That is a good starting point for creating your profile. You can always add or remove sections later, but starting with LinkedIn’s recommendations is a good idea.
To access the recommended sections, go to your profile and click on the “Edit public profile & URL” tab. Then, scroll down to the “Sections” section and click “Add profile sections.”
From there, you can add as many or as few sections as you want. LinkedIn recommends adding the following sections:
- Headline
- Summary
- Experience
- Skills & Endorsements
- Education
- Volunteer Experience & Causes
- Accomplishments
LinkedIn also allows you to add custom sections, a great way to showcase your work or highlight specific skills or experiences.
3. Add Credibility and Social Proof
Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the idea that people are more likely to do something if they see others doing it. It also implies that if other people are doing something, it must be good.
Adding social proof to your profile is a great way to build credibility and show potential clients that you’re an expert in your field.
For example, take a look at this screenshot from copywriting expert Daniel Doan’s profile:
Notice how he’s included testimonials, clients, and results in his profile. These are all examples of social proof that help to establish his credibility as an expert in his field.
If you have any media mentions, awards, or other accolades, add them to your profile. These are all great examples of social proof that can help you build credibility with potential clients.
It’s important to note that this isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s an ongoing process that should be done as often as possible. This is because many factors can affect how search engines see your site, so it’s always good to keep an eye on those factors and ensure they all work in your favor.
Recommended: How does social proof works?
4. Use Your Bio Wisely
LinkedIn provides you with 2,600 characters for your bio, which is more than enough space. But don’t get overwhelmed and try to pack too much information into your bio. Keep it concise and focus on the most critical information.
Your bio should briefly summarize who you are and what you do. It’s also great to include any relevant keywords you want to target.
For example, here’s the bio of Guillaume Moubeche, founder of Lempire:
Guillaume’s bio is short, sweet, and to the point. It tells you exactly what he does and how he can help you. Guillaume has also included relevant keywords, like “automation platform” and “sales automation.”
Avoid stuffing too much information into your bio. Use the “Summary” section to share more details about your experience and what you can do for your connections.
Need help? See our Social Selling Services.
5. Speak to the Right People
One-third of decision makers use LinkedIn to research vendors, so you must set up your profile to target the right people. “When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one,” says the adage, which is definitely true regarding your LinkedIn profile.
For example, let’s compare these two profiles:
These headlines are well-written and give a brief overview of the person’s experience. However, the first profile is targeted to a specific audience, while the second is not.
Hormozi’s headline is much more likely to appeal to someone looking for marketing help because it’s specific and relevant to their needs.
To ensure you’re speaking to the right people, start by identifying your target audience. Then, look at your profile and ensure that the content is relevant to your target audience.
For example, if you’re targeting small businesses, ensure your profile reflects that. Share information about the types of clients you work with and the problems you help them solve.
If you’re targeting larger businesses, on the other hand, you’ll want to focus on your experience working with big brands and the results you’ve been able to achieve for them.
Remember, your profile should be relevant to your target audience. You’ll more likely attract your audience’s attention and generate leads by speaking directly to them.
6. Feature the Right Content
Roughly 60% of LinkedIn users actively look for content, according to Buffer.
An even more surprising study reveals that LinkedIn accounts for 50% of all social traffic to B2B websites and blogs.
In other words, your profile should be a goldmine of helpful resources. When crafting your content strategy, consider what kinds of information would be most beneficial to your target audience.
For example, if you’re a B2B marketer, you might want to share blog posts showcasing your thought leadership. Or, if you’re a salesperson, you might want to post helpful guides that explain the product or service you sell.
The trick is to ensure that the content you share is high-quality and relevant to your target audience. Curate content that will help you build relationships, generate leads, and close deals.
7. Add a CTA
When someone visits your profile, you want to make it easy for them to take the next step. Include a call-to-action (CTA) on your profile, and make it as specific as possible.
If you want people to download a white paper, for example, include a link to it and a brief description of what they can expect to learn.
You can also use your CTA to invite people to attend an event, sign up for your newsletter, or request a consultation. The possibilities are endless, so get creative!
Just remember to make your CTA as specific as possible. Vague CTAs, like “learn more” or “contact us,” won’t do you any favors.
Instead, use strong action words that clearly state what you want your visitors to do. “Download our white paper to learn the five secrets of lead generation” is much more effective than “learn more about lead generation.”
Your turn!
Creating a solid LinkedIn profile is the first step to generating leads on the platform. By following these simple tips, you can create a profile that will help you build relationships, drive traffic to your website, and close deals.
Ultimately, though, the best way to create a profile that generates leads is to experiment and see what works best for you. Test different types of content, experiment with your CTAs and see what works best.
Eventually, you’ll find a profile formula that generates the leads you need to take your business to the next level.
Ps. Want to grow your Linkedin company page? Check out Talos Growth.