So before you drop the question of whether LinkedIn lead generation is worth it or not, let\u2019s take a look at some stats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
LinkedIn has over 610 million users, and more than 300 million of them are MAUs (or monthly active users).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Now, imagine what you can achieve by tapping into just a few million of those active users – massive business traction, leads, partnerships – you name it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
TABLE OF CONTENTS Unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, LinkedIn gives you plenty of room to express yourself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This means the profile section is your sales<\/a> page, and this is where you get to tell your visitors who you are, what you sell, and why they should consider you over other competitors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n And here\u2019s something you don\u2019t know:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even though setting up a LinkedIn profile is so straightforward, many people shoot themselves in the foot by rushing through the process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You need to have a high-quality LinkedIn background photo and profile image, a well-optimized tagline, and a kickass summary that tells your story in an inspiring way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n These are the elements that anyone who lands on your profile notices in the first few seconds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You are your brand, and therefore your profile must reflect well on your business.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now, when a prospect visits your profile, they will use the information you have provided to discern whether you or your company could be beneficial to their endeavors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If your profile doesn\u2019t feed them with sufficient info, they will look elsewhere, and you or your decision-maker will have lost a valuable lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now that you understand the importance of personal branding on LinkedIn, and before we take a look at some killer background photo examples, let\u2019s dig in further and look at how you can create a killer LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To be the best, you first have to learn from the best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In this section, you\u2019ll learn how to create an impressive profile, and we\u2019ll use Houston\u2019s (our head of everything) profile as an example.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We\u2019ve said it a hundred times before and will say it again: if you don\u2019t have an attractive profile image, all that brand building on LinkedIn won\u2019t amount to much. Ideally, smile to look friendly and approachable. Do not be nerdy or creative about this. If you have branded t-shirts that represent your company, take the picture with them. Let\u2019s take a look at Houston\u2019s profile image:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Notice how we\u2019ve used all the elements we talked about?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Looks approachable, cute (that\u2019s Milo by the way) and branded with the BAMF Tshirt.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Since the profile image is one of the first elements that prospects notice on your profile, let\u2019s take a look at how we can edit your profile image to be the best:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Snappr uses image recognition and machine learning technologies, to determine how well your photo will perform.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Let\u2019s analyze Curtis\u2019s profile image using Snappr:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Snappr rates the photo at 72, and gives us a bunch of suggestions on how to better optimize the face in the image:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Then they give us other suggestions on optimizing the overall composition, and how to make the image look better by zooming, and positioning the image’s crop better:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n They also give you ideas on other elements like brightness, contrast, sharpness, saturation and color gradient.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Often having backgrounds can make your face looks less pronounced in profile images.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Clipping Magic is a super simple tool that allows you to remove backgrounds from images. And it works like a charm:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Optimize your tagline\/bio<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The tagline is a string of words that show up right below your name.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When you send someone a connection request, this is the first thing they notice, and it will decide whether your request will be accepted or rejected.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A catchy tagline easily piques the interest of anyone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This means you\u2019ll have higher acceptance rates. You need to put some thought into this.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Your title (CEO, Author, Founder<\/a>, etc.), what you do (growth hacker, marketer, recruiter or consultant) and any tangible achievement. You could also talk about\u00a0paid placements, but not too much.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The bio section receives a lot of exposure because it is the first thing that they see. You need to come clean about what you do, your achievements and the company you represent. Check the examples below for motivation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This section is effectively your sales pitch. Carefully crafted summaries can get you lots of leads<\/a>. You want to bring them in with a short catchy sentence that will guide them through the rest of the description. List out what you offer, what you\u2019ve achieved in the past, and how they can reach out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Go as deep as you can but stay relevant and try your best not to drone on. People want a quick overview of you, not your entire life story. At the end of your summary, upload a few samples of your work to prove your expertise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Houston\u2019s summary is an excellent example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here\u2019s a list of what should be included in the summary:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Do ensure that you do not pitch stories, products, or people. But you can mention featured stories, product reviews, or testimonials.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It is also crucial that you link to case studies\/portfolio pieces that showcase your past work. (We prefer to link to a meeting booking link and the website\/case study). Now, let\u2019s move on to some other profile elements that you need to optimize.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There is no need for your profile ID to include unnecessary numbers in them. Remove them when you can. If you click on your profile, you will see a section where you can tweak your URL :<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some examples of good-looking profile links:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Your experience section is yet another section on your LinkedIn profile that you can use to build trust and showcase expertise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Make sure you mention only the institutions that have a logo. For those without one, you either need to add a logo or do away with the company\/institution. LinkedIn also allows you to mention some of your top skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While it is okay to mention as many as possible, just provide a few that you would like to rank for (like growth hacking, lead generation, marketing<\/a>; in Houston\u2019s case). Put down a few things that you are confident in or generalizations of a group of specific talents that fall under one category. If you have to get particular, make sure it’s in a saleable context.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You\u2019ve just learned how to spruce up your LinkedIn profile to impress potential clients.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now let\u2019s take a look at one of the most important and noticeable elements on your profile – your cover image or background photo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Like Facebook, Linkedin gives you an option to have both a profile photo and a cover image.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s surprising how many people leave that space unused, and the ones that use it aren\u2019t exploiting it fully.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The key is to project thought leadership and associate yourself with prominent brands that build trust.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can use your background photo to show yourself in action. You could be delivering a speech or discussing something with a group of people. If you run a company, then you definitely have a staff that needs to be seen. It also indicates to your prospects that you have a team, this means you can take on bigger tasks and that you lead people forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another strategy – for people who are aiming to hyperlocal – is to use the location that they are trying to target as the backdrop of their cover photograph. Upload a picture that shows all of you smiling while wearing branded T-shirts. Such an image shows your clients that you\u2019re a team player and that there are adequate hands to handle work in your organization.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you don\u2019t have any of these, you can use Canva<\/a> or Designbold.com<\/a> to come up with impressive custom images that perhaps display your logo, mantra or the services you offer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here are some good examples of cover images for your inspiration:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Now let\u2019s take a look at some killer Linkedin background photo examples and how they work with the overall profile to communicate a consistent brand message and portray thought leadership.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 1. Houston Golden<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Houston\u2019s cover photo is super professional and contains all the elements of a superbly optimized profile image.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The BAMF team can be seen in the cover photo wearing branded Tshirts (We have a badass team \ud83d\ude42 ). The tagline below his photo clearly states his position at BAMF, what he does, and his string of accomplishments. 2. Carla Johnson<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Carla is a keynote speaker, author, and storyteller. She uses a high-quality, professional profile picture that displays a warm, and inviting smile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n All her professional information can be seen in the tagline while the background shot shows a picture of her in action at a gathering – where she\u2019s speaking – ties into what her offering is – she\u2019s a keynote speaker. As a social media marketer, Jason obviously understands the importance of LinkedIn in gathering leads.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The profile photo gives a nice close-up view while the background one shows him delivering a speech at the Social Fresh conference. When you are famous like Neil, you probably would still get clients even if your LinkedIn is inadequately optimized.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However, he has a fine-tuned LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Neil\u2019s LinkedIn background photo is extremely clear and taken on a plain background.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Notice how the profile image and the cover image work well with each other?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Neil starts to sell right from his background image. And the call to action \u201cWant more traffic\u201d stands out so well that you can\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n He goes ahead to list his main services in the very cover image! This chap really knows how to use LinkedIn\u2019s prime real estate – the cover photo. He doesn’t have to say much in his bio because of this. You gotta love Andrea\u2019s profile. She\u2019s got a complete Linkedin profile that is well optimized with a magnificent profile and cover photo. Notice how she boldly displays her services on her background photo?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In the summary section, she lists out all her services and backs them up with links to her previous achievements.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But that\u2019s not all. There is something Andrea has included on her profile that others haven\u2019t – customer testimonials. She literally copy-pasted several of them on her profile with client credentials. This is a great way to boost the confidence of anyone reading your profile. You should look into this underutilized tactic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 6. Marcus Sheridan<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Thumbs up to whoever took Marcus\u2019s cover image. It\u2019s awesome because he was caught right in the middle of the action. Rather than sell directly in the summary section through calls-to-action, Marcus takes a different turn by simply talking about his greatest achievements as recorded by top platforms like Forbes and Mashable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can adopt this approach if you have a glamorous track record and solid PR coverage. One of the core features of personal branding is to tell a story and Mari Smith does just that in her summary section.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While others stick to a reporting voice, Mari speaks directly to you as her audience. She narrates her journey on how she transformed herself from a shy child to becoming one of the best public speakers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Apart from her spellbinding story, Mari\u2019s profile photos seem to match colours in an interesting way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She is wearing blue in both pictures, and surprisingly the background in the cover photo is also blue. And no – it\u2019s no coincidence. The colour blue portrays trust and dependability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n And the consistency makes her profile stand out from the rest. Goldie is a personal branding expert with a knack for social media, storytelling, and LinkedIn videos. Given her professionalism, you would expect her profile to serve as the finest example, and yes – it does.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Her LinkedIn background photo is a perfect example of minimalism. It\u2019s just a photo of her edited image and her achievements as one of the LinkedIn top voices in 2018.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She does highlight more of her accomplishments in the tagline and summary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The best part about her profile is that for every experience she listed out she went ahead to mention her duties and appended evidence of her work. Neal\u2019s profile is a good example of exhaustiveness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n He uses LinkedIn\u2019s tagline and summary to explain to prospects what he does and why he could be their best pick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n His cover and profile photos already meet the recommended standards. He boldly outlines what he does in the background image – and it\u2019s very noticeable. In fact, he even promotes his products right in his cover photo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An Overview of LinkedIn Lead Generation<\/a><\/strong>
How To Create A Supercharged LinkedIn profile<\/a><\/strong>
How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Background Photo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn Overview of LinkedIn Lead Generation<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How To Create A Supercharged LinkedIn profile<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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The profile photograph that you use needs to be what you would look for if you went on a meeting with them or ran into them at work on a normal day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Don’t go out of your way to take the most creative photo ever, but do take the most sensible one you can take.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"linkedin](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-at-Jan-20-17-33-23.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s take a real LinkedIn profile for example:<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat should I put in my Linkedin bio?<\/em><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image13-opt.jpg\")
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People who are drawn by your title will naturally be curious about you and will want to find out more about you. This is where you can lead them in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Alternatively, you could start by placing your contact information right at the top for people who are in a hurry to get ahold of you. (Check out Houston’s bio below. He does a bit of both)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image16-opt.jpg\")
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You could also link out to a landing page, make sure that your landing page has some elements thanking your visitor for coming in through LinkedIn. This adds a whole new level of personalization.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A great way to create a URL is to simply append your name to it. Good profile URLs can be read quickly. This speeds up memorization and adds to the professional nature of your URL.
Make sure that you apply proper SEO to your URL as well, if you’re using your first name before you last name in other social profile URL, do the same for LinkedIn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image3-opt.jpg\")
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People tend to subconsciously think that companies without logos aren\u2019t good enough or legitimate. Also, keep in mind that it shouldn\u2019t have a sales-y pitch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Once you put too many skills down, it makes you seem like you’re doing one too many things. People like seeing focus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow to Optimize Your LinkedIn Background Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Some people use a group photo that they took with a celebrity or an influencer within their niches – a strategy we’ve used to build trust.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For example, you could get a staff photo behind a famous landmark in a city you’ve opened a new branch in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image19-opt.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/1_image1.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHere are Some Good LinkedIn Profile Examples:<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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The summary further below contains his contact information and expounds further on our mission and the companies we\u2019ve worked with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image23-opt.jpg\")
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Also, Carla used the summary section to succinctly sum up how she can help various businesses utilize the power of storytelling to drive up sales.
You’ll notice that she chose to describe herself in the third person which is a nice touch if you want something different.
3. Jason Keath<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image25-opt.jpg\")
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His tagline is pretty short (CEO, Social Fresh) but in the summary section, he comprehensively talks about all his services, contact information, and his other social media handles.
4. Neil Patel<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image26-opt.jpg\")
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5. Andrea Jones<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image27-opt.jpg\")
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It’s social proof integrated into a LinkedIn summary!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"12](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image28-1-e1557116332410.png\")
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And the smiles on his audience\u2019s faces can tell you that this guy has a good sense of humour and that he\u2019s providing value.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
7. Mari Smith<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image30-opt-Copy.jpg\")
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8. Goldie Chan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2_image8.png\")
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9. Neal Schaffer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bamf.lovelacecreative.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/image9-opt.jpg\")
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