This is an edited copy of the slides from my webinar on setting up a Linked In profile. I have removed some \'could do better\' examples.

1. Linked in overview Setting up a profile and why do it

2. “Linked In, I don’t get it” “I don’t have time to use social networking” “It’s just a waste of time, why should I be on Linked In?” “Linked In isn’t for the type of business I run” “Isn’t it just for recruiters and job hunting?” “I’ve been on for a year and haven’t got anything out of it” Linked In?

3. 100 million+ users worldwide 1 million new members per week 6m+ members in the UK There were nearly two billion people searches on LinkedIn in 2010. As of January 2011, LinkedIn counts executives from all 2010 Fortune 500 companies as members. Largest self maintained database of professionals

4. Keep in touch with business contacts Get questions answered Recruit Find Angel/Venture capital Test product improvements Target networking or selling Check out competition Marketing campaigns Lead generation/sales acceleration And more… (FREE!) Yes, but what can I do?!

5. Travel to London = 3 hours each way? Surfing the net to find competitor information? Googling the answer to a tricky question..? Crowdsourcing…? (self selected experts to solve problems, develop technology, product) Keeping Rolodex/Palm/address book updated? Sounds like hard work!

6. Getting an account

7. Complete profile Jobs past present Education connect to old university buddies Add web sites relevant business one or personal interest or even other business sites Add title this is what comes up with your name (in FULL) searchable not webmeister not people placer not pole climber not Creative Web Stuff Go for 100% completion!

8. Always add photo Good Not as good but better than You decide People are more likely to connect with you if they recognise you and feel like they are connecting to a real person.

9. Skills You complete this, ideally with recommendations to back up the skills.

10. Websites, interests, groups…

11. Even books People will decide whether to connect (do business with/engage with/employ) you based on the information you provide

12. Personalise your URL Also known as a vanity URL Will rank higher on SEO because search engines look for relevant keywords in the URL. Much easier URL to remember and share with others as you meet them.

13. Vanity URL – Click Edit Profile

14. Click customize your public profile URL Click here

15. Find an available vanity URL Job done!

16. By customising the anchor text on these links, you can rank higher for certain keywords because search engines look at the text of links to understand more about the content of pages they link to. Change to More Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

17. Click on Edit Profile

18. Drop down and select

19. Write in something relevant

20. Optimize keywords in your summary section. This is a full text section which is indexed by Google. Including your favourite keywords in your summary helps you rank higher in search engine results for these keyword searches. More SEO

21. My key words – (could be better) Copy to Word for spell check!

22. Get Recommendations Click here This will add to your credibility and confirm your expertise

23. Decide who to ask Up to 200 people at a time

24. Always personalise the text

25. Return the compliment if possible

26. Profileis complete!