Articles From the Team

The Power of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is by far the largest platform for professional networking, with almost 800 million users worldwide. Any Solicitor who hopes to attract new clients/opportunities can benefit from having a strong LinkedIn presence. For example, LinkedIn revealed that professionals using a quality head shot photo are 14 times more likely to get found on the platform.

Here are some tips and best practices to help you improve your LinkedIn profile and reach All-Star status:

Know your audience

Whether you’re interested in finding new opportunities, promoting your practice or whether you’re hoping to better position yourself as a leader in your area, so that you can speak at conferences or on podcasts, think who you’re hoping to reach. From there, you can better tailor your profile so it speaks to your target audience.

Make your headline more than just a job title

The description at the top of your profile doesn’t just have to be just a job title. Use this to give prospects an idea of who you are, what you do and what you bring to the table. Try to make it catchy without being gimmicky, and be clear about the legal specialties and expertise you offer.

Add a background photo to make your profile stand out

Your LinkedIn background banner photo should reinforce who you are and visually support your profile. Some people skip this step, but an interesting background picture can add a lot to your profile.

Remember, LinkedIn is all about branding. With the right messaging, both visual and text, you can create a better impression to clients, prospects and referral sources.

Make sure people know how to get in touch with you

Add plenty of contact info. You can include your work phone number, but also add items like social handles, a link to your personal blog, and your firm’s website. The easier you make it for people to get a hold of you, the more likely they are to do so.

Highlight your expertise

Be clear and concise, as you would be on a CV but be sure to include any experience that is relevant to potential clients. In today’s digitally driven world, where pretty much anyone can post anything online, it’s more important than ever to establish credibility. Highlighting your past accomplishments and areas of expertise is one way to do that.

The summary section of your profile is likely to be the most lengthy, so follow these best practices: break up text with bullets and basic formatting, so that it’s easier to read and include keywords and phrases to better help you be found online.

Ask for recommendations

Let your network speak on your behalf! LinkedIn offers the opportunity to feature recommendations and you should take full advantage of this. Ask clients or colleagues to write a brief review of your work together, or endorse you for particular specialties. Its best if you can return the favour, so be considerate about who you ask to help in this area.

Make sure you can be found

You can customise your LinkedIn URL to a shorter and more accurate link. This makes it easier to add to your email signature or business cards, as well as more natural for people to remember.

There are currently over 2 million active groups on LinkedIn. There is something for everyone, which makes it easy to converse with people in your industry, share content, and learn new things. Join relevant groups and share insights or links to interesting content on your profile.

Ultimately, it’s best to experiment with different methods of engaging to find which work for you and feel natural. Why not create blog posts or start discussions by posting compelling articles on your profile page? There are lots of different ways to be active on LinkedIn and doing so will ensure you’re top-of-mind when people need your services.