Pulse December 2016 | Page 38

Six Ways to Build Your Brand with LinkedIn 1. Be sure you have a professional photo posted on your profile. LinkedIn reports that profiles with a photo are viewed 14 times more than those without one. 2. Write a descriptive professional headline. Unless your spa or company has a widely-recognized name, avoid “Owner of ABC Day Spa” (a common mistake made on LinkedIn). Instead, use keyword-enhanced phrases like “hospitality and wellness executive,” “director of luxury resort spa and wellness center,” “spa, hotel and fitness consultant,” or “delivering personal care solutions to hotels, spas and health clubs.” You have 120 characters in your headline—use them all if you can. 3. Publish an article using LinkedIn’s Publisher feature. This is a great way to demonstrate your expertise as a thought-leader. Offer value to viewers by publishing posts that share industry trends, health, wellness and/or beauty news, etc. 36 PULSE ■ December 2016 4. Create a robust profile that conveys your authority. After colleagues have met you at an industry conference or networking event, most often, they will search for you on LinkedIn to learn even more about and connect with you. Be sure to include a Summary section where you share who you are and how you help people—content that encourages engagement. (Tip: Write it in the first person.) 5. Participate in LinkedIn groups. Members are sharing insights and knowledge in more than 2.1 million LinkedIn Groups. Stay up-to-date on developments. Converse with like-minded colleagues who offer input and feedback in the discussions that are posted within the group. 6. Share articles you find worthwhile. LinkedIn is about engagement and building relationships. When you find an interesting article, sharing it with your network continues to establish you as a thought-leader committed to helping others.