LinkedIn Top Tips for creative professionals – Saga Biz Solutions

In the world of creation, it can be quite difficult to find time to let you know. Many of us spend every waking moment of our free time just trying to get a project time in the time frame we promised.

Some of us work at home with the children and spouse often causing distractions. Some of us spend all day at work and then come home at night to our freelance work. As such, most innovative professionals have little time to spend on social media, even if it is a key way to market yourself.

That said, social media marketing is still an important part of winning new customers, make a name for yourself, and build valuable connections. You easily need to set aside time each week to social media.

And one of the most main social media accounts as a web designer, graphic designer, musician, visual artist, photographer, artist or even a craft can be LinkedIn.

While Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and other social sites are certainly important, a LinkedIn account is where you can really show your professional side. And it is important to connect with other professionals looking for your services.

Just make sure to make the most of your LinkedIn profile as a creative by following some important tips:

Choose Keywords

I hope you have a list of the best keywords with which you have optimized your name or at least your website. If not, then create a list. Note that many words as you can think that customers can use when searching for your services online. Make sure they are long tail keywords, which means they are at least two, and preferably three or four phrases. Then include those at the top of your LinkedIn profile. For example, all project descriptions or your list of skills are good places to include certain keywords.

Another great place for your top or two keywords is in your title, also known as the summary. Make sure your title does not only include your top keyword but also helps you stand out. What is your specialty? What do you do better than other graphic designers, painters, illustrators, artists, etc?

Start with a Strong Headline

Strengthen your title also includes ensure that your profile picture describes you as a professional in your field. Now keep in mind that as a creative professional, you have a bit more creative license in your photo. But that does not mean you have to use a snapshot with a beer in hand or in a swimsuit on the lake. You want your picture to show you’re serious about your career and work, not a puff freelancer who can not get enough together even download a decent picture of yourself.

Another great place for your top or two keywords is in your title, also known as the summary. Make sure your title does not only include your top keyword but also helps you stand out. What is your specialty? What do you do better than other graphic designers, painters, illustrators, artists, etc?

Strengthen your title also includes ensure that your profile picture describes you as a professional in your field. Now keep in mind that as a creative professional, you have a bit more creative license in your photo. But that does not mean you have to use a snapshot with a beer in hand or in a swimsuit on the lake. You want your picture to show you’re serious about your career and work, not a puff freelancer who can not get enough together even download a decent picture of yourself.

Get as Detailed as Possible

By completing your profile, fill as many categories as possible that LinkedIn offers. If you had the time to complete the basics when you opened your LinkedIn account, do not forget to fill it when you have time. Think of LinkedIn as a digital resume. Potential customers want to know as much about you as possible. And if you only have 30 minutes per week to spend on social media, then spend 15 minutes right now to complete your profile until you feel it is complete.

LinkedIn now has a section to view the publications. This is an excellent place for including links to all the work of your own published both online and offline. Even with offlinepublications, try to include a link such as Amazon page for a printed book.

Customize Your LinkedIn URL

Customizing your LinkedIn URL can be a pain if you have a profile for some time. However, it is a great way to help customers find you easier when they are not immediately accessible web link. As with Facebook and Google+, your URL may include your name – www.linkedin.com/in/yourname.

To customize your LinkedIn URL, click “Edit Profile” or in the drop down menu under the Profile tab top of the page or in your title box when you are logged into your profile. Once you are in edit mode, you will see your URL in a tiny font, almost indistinguishable to the bottom of your title box. Click the “Edit” link next to that URL.

Once you click this almost imperceptible “Edit” button, you will see a box on the right side of the page with “Your current URL” as one of the editable options. Click on the link labeled “Edit your public profile URL.”

Finally, a box will appear where you can enter your name as the URL of your profile.

Post Updates with Images

LinkedIn is not like Twitter. You will end connections boring if you post several times a day. Post an update once or twice a week is sufficient and will allow connections know you stay active on your account. But what should you, as a creative poster?

If you have a blog, include the title and the URL of your most popular blog. Or post a link to an article you found interesting. Just keep your professional updates, because LinkedIn is more of a social media company. Of course, this does not mean you can not include humor – just make sure that it either is a part of your portfolio, or it concerns the professional world. Keep your own up-to-date.

Above all, try to include images in as many of your updates as possible. They will help you stand out in the course of LinkedIn updates, and also encourage more clicks. The only annoying part including images is that you can download as a file – no easy image selections attached to a link like Google+ or Facebook.

Advertise Your LinkedIn Profile

One of the best ways for those in the creative industries to sell is through social media. However, social media will not do much for you if you do not announce that you have, and let everyone know that there are several avenues for them to research makes you much more available. So on your website or blog, make sure to include a button on every LinkedIn page. Do the same with your email signature – be sure to link to our LinkedIn profile (preferably with the anchor text like “LinkedIn” or “Connect LinkedIn”).

LinkedIn now has this nifty little button you can copy and paste in several different sizes. You can place it on your blog or on your email box quite easily. You may have noticed when you went to modify your URL. Just below the box on the right titled “Your current URL” you will see “Badges Profile”. Just click on the “Create a Profile Badge” to see the different sizes with HTML, you can copy and paste

Best LinkedInGroups for Creative Professionals

LinkedIn has created groups as a way to make connections that lead to customers, get feedback on your own projects, seek advice when you’re stumped, and stay updated on the latest news and technology. The unfortunate side groups is that they attract a lot of spam, which can be frustrating to go, to say the least. The design of LinkedIn groups is also not exactly intuitive. It takes a lot of time to browse through the messages and create jobs.

However, your involvement in straight LinkedIn groups can make you much more visible on Google, especially if you include your keywords. It is not a “perfect” list of occupations in the creation, but the following list will get you started. Your best bet is to keep signing for groups up to find the ones that provide you the most useful connections and information. To do this, simply select “Groups” in the search bar drop-down menu and enter the keywords related to your artistic sector.