Quick Question: Is your LinkedIn profile working for you? Is it generating the traffic, leads, and revenue that you need for your business to survive and thrive? If not, do you know why?

An effective profile is characterized by the five C’s. It’s Client-focused, Compelling, Conversational in tone, Credible and includes a Call-to-Action. If your profile isn’t producing a steady stream of your ideal clients, ask yourself these questions.

• Is my LinkedIn profile Client-focused? A powerful profile focuses on the problems and challenges of your ideal clients, not on you.I’m sure you’re awesome, but to be blunt, your prospective clients don’t care. They want to know whether you can help them solve their problems, what it’s like to work with you, and the results they can expect. Remember it’s not about you, it’s all about them.
• Is it Compelling? First impressions count, and on social media, you only have a few seconds to make a positive impression. By default, LinkedIn displays only the first three lines of your “About” section. You have to make those lines so engaging to your viewers that they’ll click “see more” to open your summary. Each sentence of your “About” section should compel your readers to read the next.
• Does it strike a Conversational tone? When your ideal prospects view your profile, they should feel as though you’re talking directly to them. Establish an instant connection by addressing the most pressing problems and challenges on their minds in the words and phrases they would use. Build rapport by writing in the first person (“I” and “we”) and by keeping your tone conversational.
• Is it Credible? Does it establish your expertise by including relevant credentials such as education, certifications and licenses, honors and awards, endorsements, and recommendations? Include examples of your thought leadership such as articles, white papers, presentations, and videos.
• Does it have a clear Call-to-Action (CTA)? A successful profile drives readers to take the next step towards purchasing your products or services. Help them take that step with a clear CTA such as: “Contact me for a free consultation at yourname@mail.com,” or “Download your free guide at http://freeguide.com.”Include only one CTA in the summary and experience sections of your profile. Research shows that when you give readers a choice, they don’t choose anything at all.

With over 500 million users, it’s a good bet that your ideal clients and customers are on Linkedin. Unfortunately, your competitors are there, too. To stand out, your profile has to speak directly to your ideal clients and address their biggest problems and challenges.

Use the 5 C’s as your guide to building a profile that generates qualified prospects on a consistent and ongoing basis.

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