Your Profile on LinkedIn—It’s Time for an Update

If you haven’t visited LinkedIn in the last three months to review your profile, it’s time for an update. LinkedIn is now one of the most powerful social networking tools for lawyers. Consider that 80% of law firms maintain a LinkedIn presence (ABA 2016 Tech Report), 74% of those on LinkedIn use it to research companies and people, and LinkedIn drives 64% of all social media visits.

General counsel, in-house attorneys, and potential clients are frequent users of LinkedIn. It is often the first place they look to learn about you. That means your profile must be current and accurately reflect you and your practice.

Here are some suggestions.

1. Add a current photo. If your photo is four or five years old, it's time to update it. Clients meeting you for the first time and those you meet at events should recognize you. Use a professional photo, not a selfie.
2. Write a great tagline. At the top of the page, readers see your name and a tagline or headline. Make it brief and professional designed to make the readers want to click on your name.
3. Spruce up your summary. Use the summary of your profile to your greatest advantage. The tone can be conversational, instead of formal. You can use the first person to talk about your professional goals, your interests, and your passions. Try to let your personality shine through. The summary is short at about 200 words so every word matters.
4. Your experience counts. Write concise and meaningful descriptions of your professional experience. Use formatting to make the descriptions readable: short sentences, short paragraphs, and tell what you gained from each experience.
5. Add new articles. Include your blog posts and other published articles. There are multiple benefits from doing this—they add dimension to your profile and show your professional expertise. Don't forget to include speaking engagements and links to any webinars or podcasts.
6. List community involvement. Update the community events you’ve been involved with this year.

Your profile should bring your personality to the forefront. Whether you are more formal or more casual, your profile should reflect that. Be genuine and whatever you choose to share will hit the mark. Now that you’ve updated your LinkedIn profile, visit your SBM Member Directory profile to be sure it is also current.

LinkedIn is all about networking and building relationships. Join groups and check your home page for news about others in your network. Respond with a congratulatory note or information that can help them further a project. Taking a few minutes to scan your home page, respond to updates, and send comments can bring good results when you have specific goals in mind. And remember to include a link to your LinkedIn home page on your SBM enhanced profile page, in the Member Directory, and on your business website.

Roberta Gubbins has served as the editor of the Ingham County Legal News. Since leaving the paper, she provides services as a ghostwriter editing articles, blogs, and e-blasts for lawyers and law firms. She is the editor of The Mentor, SBM Master Lawyers Section newsletter.

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How to Login and Edit Your Profile
Zeekbeek For Lawyers Page—learn about all the new directory features
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