Introduction: The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro
If you want to get the most from LinkedIn, then The LinkedIn Code
by Melonie Dodaro is the book for you. To get the most from the book, it’s important to make updates to your profile while you are reading. The book is short, but not one you can rush through, if you expect to get results from LinkedIn. Since I am reading the book as a requirement for this month on the Read the World Challenge, to save time, I didn’t do that.
However, I have since made some changes to the Summary section, and I am working my way through my profile. Some of you may remember that Ellevate Toronto hosted an event where Jennifer Urbanski, who works for LinkedIn, led a session on how to optimize your profile. I made some changes to my profile then.
If you want to get the most from LinkedIn, then The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro is the book for you. To get the most from the book, it’s important to make updates to your profile while you are reading. The book is short, but not one you can rush through, if you expect to get results from LinkedIn. Since I am reading the book as a requirement for this month on the Read the World Challenge, to save time, I didn’t do that.
However, I have since made some changes to the Summary section, and I am working my way through my profile. Some of you may remember that Ellevate Toronto hosted an event where Jennifer Urbanski, who works for LinkedIn, led a session on how to optimize your profile. I made some changes to my profile then.
One of the things that I have mentioned several times because I think is important, is that many social media experts talk about targeting your ideal clients for social selling, but they haven’t taken the time to explain how to do that. At the beginning of The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro, there are some very thoughtful questions, to help you figure out who your ideal clients are. The exercises are not easy, and that’s the point, but if you take the time to work your way through them, the information you uncover, is a goldmine that you can use to improve your LinkedIn profile, so that prospects can find you.
Have you read?
Optimizing Your Professional LinkedIn Profile
The Meat of The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro
The definition of social selling is “finding and connecting with prospects via social media to increase sales. Social selling comes down to building relationships with potential prospects.”
If you plan to incorporate social selling into your content marketing strategy, then your LinkedIn profile is about your prospects. You are using your knowledge, skills and abilities to demonstrate that you are the answer to your ideal client’s problems. With that in mind, use the language that your prospects use, else they will not find you. To succeed at social selling, you must have a professional and search engine optimized profile. In your Headline, have a statement that captures your readers’ attention.
What I liked about The LinkedIn Code, is that Dodaro offered a fresh perspective. So for instance, on your profile, in the Contact information section, you have the opportunity to link to your website and blog. Recently, I got rid of my standalone website, since all the information is where I have my blog. I now had an empty spot on my profile in the contact section. It never occurred to me that I could link to a landing page or other page. As a result, I added a link to the Facebook group for my reading challenge.
I loved the section on creating your Summary on your LinkedIn profile. By doing the exercise in the book, I was able to update that section on my profile. It’s always useful when you show and not just tell. Melonie Dodaro included her LinkedIn summary to give readers an idea of how to set-up their profile. She breaks the summary section into three subsections:
- Credibility Section
- Ideal clients – Their Problem – Your Solution
- Call to Action
In the credibility section, Dodaro talks about how she got into social media, transitioning into how she is now known as Canada's # 1 LinkedIn Expert and social media strategist. She presents problems that her ideal clients have, and how she is the solution to the problems. She closes with her contact information. If you are a small business owner or an entrepreneur, make sure that you include your contact information for clients to get in touch with you. And it makes sense to follow the 3-step process – the recommended sub-sections.
The 20 best practices for using LinkedIn is fantastic. And the many scripts to use will come in very handy. There is a script to customize when you are soliciting recommendations from people who know your work. I was very delighted when Dodaro recommends that you introduce your connections to each other. I would say that for your connections who are in the same geographic location, organize a meet-up, so that people can get to meet each other in real life. I also love the Lead Generation Plan.
Creating a Lead Generation Plan: The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro
- Prospecting
- Have a keyword optimized profile so your prospects can find you.
- Use LinkedIn's advanced search to find your prospects.
- Making First Contact
- Send a personalized connection request.
- Building Relationships
- If you have an e-book, report, or checklist that would be helpful to the connection, forward it, but do not sell.
- Taking the Relationship to the Next Level
- You can build more enduring relationships by taking the relationship to the next level – send an email, have a Skype chat, or meet in person.
LinkedIn Lead Generation Plan: The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro
- Grow your Network: Although you should check someone's profile before you accept a connection request, if you want to grow your network, it's a good practice to accept invitations to connect. Every single person expands your network. Growing your network increases your chances of being found by a prospect.
- Monitor and Engage Your Network: LinkedIn does a very good job of giving you updates about your connections. Congratulate people when they have won an award, gotten a promotion or started a new job. You can engage your network by introducing your connections to each other. If you come across an article that is beneficial to a contact, forward it with a personal note explaining why you think it is useful.
- Utilize LinkedIn Groups: You can join up to 50 LinkedIn groups. Be strategic in your choices, and do not only join industry groups. Join groups that are in your local area. If there are topics that you are interested in, join groups related to those topic.
There are quite a few new things that I learned while reading The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro. For instance, I have never used the tagging feature. You use this feature to classify your contacts, which could be very useful when sending messages to people grouped together. To be active on LinkedIn, post once or twice a day.
Conclusion: The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro
If you are interested in using social selling, you will love the detailed sections on using LinkedIn’s Advance Search features, and how to reach out to prospects.
I recommend The LinkedIn Code by Melonie Dodaro, even if you think you are an advanced LinkedIn user. There is something for everyone, and the plan she presents is straightforward.
&
&
Please take the conversation to my Facebook page. You can still join the Read the World Challenge – it’s a new kind of reading challenge.
Links are affiliate links.
