With more than 740 million members worldwide and a reported income of $1.8 billion in revenue during the fourth quarter of 2017, LinkedIn is one of the world’s biggest and most influential networking platforms. LinkedIn can specifically be of great value to lawyers. Many find that they can forge relationships with colleagues and potential referral partners on this platform. Therefore, it’s incumbent upon attorneys to create a LinkedIn profile for themselves and their business.

But a LinkedIn profile isn’t the same thing as a Twitter account or Facebook profile. LinkedIn is primarily a site for professionals, and that means you can’t just post any picture or throw a profile together in five minutes. You need to put some time and effort into your profile to create a positive, compelling image of yourself. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Tip #1- Know What Your Goals Are and Tailor Your Profile Accordingly

Some lawyers use LinkedIn to attract new clients, while others use it for professional networking and referrals, and some use it for both. It’s important to know who you are trying to reach on LinkedIn, what your goals are in relation to those groups, and how to tailor your profile and messaging to reach your target audience. What do you want your practice to be known for? What sets you apart? Answering those questions can help you focus your profile content.

Tip #2 – Get a Professional Headshot Done for Your Picture

Your picture will likely be the first thing people see on your profile, and you want to generate a good impression. Don’t take a picture with your phone up against a wall in your office. Take the time to get professional photos done. You’ll look much better in your picture, and a professional photo conveys that you take your profession seriously.

Furthermore, make sure you use a recent photo. You want to give your clients and peers an accurate impression. Otherwise, they’ll wonder what else you may be trying to hide.

Tip #3 – Include as Much Detail as Possible

While minding your state’s rules about legal advertising, you want to include as much information as possible about what your firm does and your personal background. LinkedIn differs from other social media platforms in that people are generally visiting your profile with a specific, predetermined purpose in mind. They’re not casually browsing through photos of their friends. They either want to hire you, learn more about your firm, or connect with you on a business-to-business level.

With that in mind, be as thorough as possible in your profile while still remembering your goals and what your purpose was in setting up a profile. Highlight your specific experience that relates to your current practice and goals. Keep the tone light but professional.

Tip #4 – Connect With Your Peers and Existing Professional Acquaintances

The best way to expand your reach on LinkedIn and generate more search results is to harness the power of your connections on the site. To that end, you’ll want to make sure you connect with others in your field, as well as take advantage of your existing professional relationships.

There are many groups on LinkedIn for lawyers and other people in the legal field. These are great places to share blog posts and updates about your firm, such as recent cases you’ve won. You can also connect with other lawyers directly, which can lead to referrals for new clients.

LinkedIn is a great source of client leads and referrals, and some lawyers will connect directly with clients they find on the site. Be wary of potential ethical issues here, though. At a minimum, wait until a client has been fully signed before adding them as a friend on the site.

Tip #5 – Share Your Knowledge and Expertise

LinkedIn now allows users to share posts about their business or other matters on their profiles, and this can be a boon for lawyers. You can repurpose existing blogs and other content for your LinkedIn profile, all of which can demonstrate your knowledge of your particular field. This is a way to both attract new clients as well as forge new professional connections.

Another way to boost your profile (literally and figuratively) is to share content from other users. Provided you’re confident in the content, sharing blog posts and other items from other users can help grow your professional network.

Contact Client Chat Live for Help Boosting Your Online Presence

Once you’ve got your LinkedIn profile up and running, your next investment should be in live chat services from Client Chat Live. We can speak with potential clients and monitor your website 24/7, funneling new leads to you and creating a more pleasing experience for visitors to your site. Learn more by calling (808) 495-0231 or visiting our contact page.