Rhonda Sher - The LinkedIn Diva

You Can’t Afford to Let Your LinkedIn Profile Become Stale

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:35:00 -0800

It’s important to have an accurate, updated LinkedIn profile. Here’s why.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Did you know that Forbes did a recent study that said 64% of social media traffic driven to websites is driven through LinkedIn? Did you also know that when people Google you, there’s a 70% chance that your LinkedIn profile shows up on the first page of results?

Ask yourself if your LinkedIn profile tells people who you are, what you do, and how to reach you. You should also have a third-party validation in the form of studies and testimonials.

LinkedIn is the social media site that professionals use when they want to learn about somebody. It’s a great opportunity for you to let people know the important things about you. It also gives you the opportunity to make sure you have your privacy settings set up in a way that prohibits you from sending people to your competition.

If you aren’t LinkedIn, you might be left out.

Most people put lots of time and effort into their websites. While that’s important for consistent branding, LinkedIn is certainly not something to be ignored. If you haven’t taken the time to give your profile a checkup, now is the time to do it. Make sure you’ve got a banner, professional headshot, succinct summary, and a full profile in general.

Don’t let the business slip away from you just because your impression on LinkedIn didn’t make the grade. If you aren’t LinkedIn, you might just be left out. If you have any questions in the meantime or would like me to take a look at your profile to let you know the updates you need to make, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you.

There Are Opportunities to Network Anywhere You Go

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 09:18:00 -0800

There are opportunities to connect with new people everywhere you go. Here’s my advice about how to take advantage of that.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

You might notice my background is a little different than usual. Well, actually, I’m in Cancun! And today, I’m going to talk about how you can connect and network just about anywhere. Here in beautiful Cancun, I’m on a vacation with 500 people who are all connected through something called Landmark Education.

When somebody asks what I do, I flip the script and get interested in what they do, and I ask them to tell me more about what they do. And when they start to tell me about themselves, they naturally respond, “You never told me what you do!”

So I let them know that I’m actually somebody who upgrades LinkedIn profiles and takes people who are looking for business to another level using LinkedIn. And after that, the conversation becomes amazing.

Where are you going this holiday season that you'll be talking to somebody new?

Now here I am on vacation, and I’m getting invitations from people while I’m sitting by the pool, converting those conversations into new connections, which are then going to lead to new business.

Where are you going this holiday season that you’ll be talking to somebody new? Chances are at some point, you’ll be sitting next to someone at a party or in an awkward elevator ride. Well turn those situations around and, instead of telling someone “what you do,” ask them what they do.

I heard once that it’s really a great thing to treat celebrities like regular people and to treat regular people like celebrities. What if you did an experiment where you treated everybody that you met during this holiday season like a celebrity and you became interested in who they were and were in absolute awe of meeting this person? You’ll want to know who is their center of influence, so ask them, “Are you on LinkedIn? Can we connect?”

Personalize your messages. Make sure that when you send them that invitation, you let them know where you met them. When they accept, send them a very personalized thank-you message. Then you can take it one stop further—pick up the phone and call them and send them something that is actually of interest to them specifically.

The first question you might want to ask is, “What can I do for you? Is there somebody you want to meet that I might know in my my LinkedIn circle or my world?” Be somebody that is of service.

And remember, in this holiday season, there’s an opportunity everywhere you go to acknowledge somebody, find out who they are, make that connection, and then take it to the next level. If you’re not LinkedIn, you might be left out.

Learn How to Master LinkedIn at My Upcoming Webinar

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 08:17:00 -0800

You’re invited to attend a special upcoming webinar where I will give you the LinkedIn tools and expertise you need to start 2018 with a blast.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Today I want to wish you happy holidays and invite you to an upcoming webinar I’m hosting on December 12th where I’ll share the best of the best of how to use LinkedIn so you can get 2018 off to an amazing start.

At this 60-minute webinar, I will give you the templates you need to make important connections and give you a copy of my book, “52 Ways to Boost Your Business Through Business Cards.”

I want to share all the expertise I have with you so your career can take off in 2018.

You’ll also have the opportunity to spend 30 minutes on the phone with me through a joint-screen where I will review your LinkedIn profile personally. The webinar will be live, but you will receive a full recording once it’s concluded.

All of these opportunities will be available for only $97.

You can sign up for the webinar here. If you can't make it to the live recording you will receive a recording.

I hope to see you there. In the meantime, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you, and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving. As always, if you’re not LinkedIn, you might be left out!

Get More Appointments and Referrals From Your LinkedIn Profile

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Fri, 3 Nov 2017 09:42:00 -0700

What can you do to get more referrals and appointments through LinkedIn? I have a few tips for you today.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

There are a few things you can do to get more appointments and referrals from LinkedIn. Did you know that one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on LinkedIn is your headline? Most people simply enter their job title: president, real estate broker, executive coach, etc. What you really want to put in your headline are the words that you want to be found for when someone does a search. For example, if geography is important to you and you want to work in Orange County, California, you’ll want to put that in your headline. You also want to let people know what problem you solve. Do you make people best-selling authors? Do you do leadership and executive coaching? Use symbols like the star, asterisk, or checkmark to make this stand out.

Add important keywords to your headline so you show up in the search results you want.

Another important section of your profile is the first three lines after your summary. After those first three lines, people will decide if they want to click to see more.

In those first three lines, address your audience. Tell them who you are speaking to, whether it’s a referral partner or a client. Let them know enough so that they want to keep reading.

Here are a few examples:

Do you want to be a best-selling author and don’t know where to start?
Is your LinkedIn profile not bringing clients to you?
Have you just been promoted and have no idea how to do your job effectively? If so, keep reading.

Starting your summary this way will encourage more people to keep reading.

These are just a few things you can do to get more referrals and appointments from LinkedIn. If you are interested in a free 30-minute conversation about your LinkedIn profile with me, you can set an appointment here or send me an email.

As always, if you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Why You Should Always Be Making Connections

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:32:00 -0700

Making more connections on LinkedIn is easy. Here’s how you can use those connections to your advantage.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

How often do you receive connection requests on LinkedIn from people who do exactly what you do? You probably have a lot of questions about them. You might ignore most of them.

However, I want you to keep in mind that not everybody is the right fit for every client. I think it’s smart to connect with others who do what you do. Why not be in the position to give these people referrals? Maybe they will return the favor.

If you don’t want people seeing your connections, you can simply go into your privacy settings and change your connection settings to “only you.”

I think it’s smart to connect with these people.

In the end, it’s a personal choice. In my opinion, connecting with those in the same industry is always a good idea. You never know when you’ll meet someone who is a good fit for someone else, or vice versa.

If you’re really wanting to increase your number of connections, I recommend LinkedIn premium. I am a big proponent of using it because it gives you a ton of additional tools, including the ability to see all the people who view your profile even if they don’t send a connection request. You can then send a connection request back to them.

If we haven’t connected yet on LinkedIn, please don’t hesitate to send me a request. If you have any other questions for me, give me a call or send me an email. Make sure you are LinkedIn so you don’t get left out!

How to Connect With Someone Over the Phone on LinkedIn

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 07:49:00 -0700

If you want someone to return your calls and open up a dialogue with you, you have to come from a place of service.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

How many times have you come across a LinkedIn profile and wanted to pick up the phone and talk to that person but were afraid of making them think you were selling them something or finding out that their calls are screened?

Well, let me tell you a secret: I call people all the time on LinkedIn, and this is what I say:

“Hi (name), my name is Rhonda Sher. I found you on LinkedIn and I just sent you an invitation to connect. The reason I’m calling you is I’m not selling anything, but I looked at your profile and I think I know someone who would be a great resource for you and I wanted to learn a little more about your business to see if an introduction might be something that would be beneficial for both of you.”

It always starts with giving.

You would be amazed at how using those words ”I’m not selling anything” opens the door to getting people to return your calls and open up a dialogue with you. You have to come from a place of service—a place where you genuinely want to help somebody.

Oftentimes, you’ll see headings on people’s profiles telling you that they’re hiring or they have a specific need. If you know somebody who would be a good referral for them or a resource that could benefit them, pick up the phone. Sure, you could send a message, but those can get lost in a sea of other messages. You don’t know if that person is a part of the 40% of people who are active on LinkedIn or the 60% who are, as I like to say, in “long-term parking.”

My challenge to you is to find one person every single day you can call who either is a connection or will be one and think of how you can be of service to them. Open up the dialogue and see where it goes. Remember, it always starts with giving!

If you have any questions opening up a dialogue with someone on LinkedIn, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

How to Turn Daily Events Into Networking Opportunities

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 6 Sep 2017 10:35:00 -0700

Networking doesn’t have to be done at an event. Face-to-face interactions you have every day can be turned into networking opportunities.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Since the introduction of LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media sites, face-to-face networking has become less popular over time. However, it is still important and very powerful.

Making a positive first impression in-person doesn’t have to happen at an event or networking conference. Networking can happen absolutely anywhere.

If you go the same place every day for lunch, go to your children’s ball games, or have any other places you frequent, you can turn these routines into networking opportunities.

I read somewhere recently that it is much more important to be interested in other people than it is to be interesting. Whether it is at the gym, on the golf course, or at your child’s school, it is never a bad time to show genuine interest in the people that you meet on a daily basis.

Meeting new people and asking them simple questions is a powerful networking tool. Perhaps they’re wearing a shirt with a logo or have something interesting on. Whatever the case, start a conversation.

If it is appropriate, you can then ask them what they do for business. At that point you can send them a LinkedIn request and become a resource to each other.

Networking is not about selling, it’s about serving.

How big would your pipeline be if you set a goal of meeting three new people each day? Putting these new people into your network could be incredibly powerful. Networking is not about selling, it’s about serving.

A good rule of thumb in life is to treat celebrities like regular people and treat regular people like celebrities. This will always get you far. People may not always remember what you say or do, but they remember how you make them feel.

Think about all the people you see in a day who you could impact by simply giving them a compliment. Even a smile or a conversation can go a long way. You don’t need to have your business card, you just need to get their information. After you do, follow up with them.

If you remain constantly interested in other people, you will always only be two minutes and two people away from your next referral.

If you would like a complimentary copy of my book “52 Ways to Boost Business with Your Business Card,” send me an email at LinkedInDiva@gmail.com and put “FreeBook” in your message.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to Turn Your LinkedIn Relationships Into Revenue

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 11:20:00 -0700

So what’s the best way to build your network on LinkedIn? I’ve laid it all out for you today.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Did you know that only 40% of the people on LinkedIn actually use the site? It’s true. So what happens when you send out invitations and they’re never accepted? Do you keep sending out invitations or even take that lost invitation personally?

Here’s a way to find out if the people you want to connect with are part of the 40% that are actually active on LinkedIn: Upgrade to the Premium Business Solution or Sales Navigator. I’m a fan of both. Go out and look at the profiles of the people that you want to connect with.

These may be potentially great referral partners or clients that you want to work with, or might even be first-level connections that you haven’t spoken with in awhile. Chances are, if they also have a paid subscription to LinkedIn, they’re gonna look back at you.

What does that mean? It gives you an opportunity to note who’s looking at your profile and send them a message. There is a very cool Chrome extension called “Auto-text expander” that allows you to send a message to multiple people without having to retype it each time.

LinkedIn is one of the best tools out there.

Send each person a message that says something along the lines of, “Hi, I noticed that you looked at my profile and we share a lot in common. I would love to know more about your business and how we might network for our mutual benefit.” Personalize that message to that person and send it off. You can do this from your phone, and not just your computer.

They’ll take notice as you start congratulating your connections on work anniversaries, promotions, and birthdays. Don’t be afraid to start endorsing people for the skills that they have. An important thing to note is that the more people endorse you for your skills, the higher you get in the search engines.

Another tip is to go out and look at profiles, but don’t send an invitation right away. Send only to those who look back at your profile. You are only given 3,000 invitations that you can send, and if you send all 3,000 and only 300 are accepted, then you may be flagged for spamming. So why not wait and see if someone extends that invitation to you?

Remember, LinkedIn is one of the best tools out there, but only if you use it properly. If we’re connected on LinkedIn and we haven’t spoken in awhile, send me a message and let me know what I can do to help you. I look forward to speaking with you in the future.

How to Get More LinkedIn Connections

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:52:00 -0700

Getting more connections on LinkedIn is easy. Here’s how you should approach the process.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

How can you get even more connections on your LinkedIn? I’m here with some tips for you today.

One of the best practices for growing your LinkedIn network is by consistently sending out invitations to those people you connect with outside of LinkedIn. Maybe it’s someone you met at a networking event, or a Facebook friend. Reach out to them and ask if you can send them a LinkedIn request. Send an email that goes like this: “I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn and learn how we might be able to support each other’s businesses. Keep an eye out for my request.”

Asking in person is just as effective, if not more so. If you’re at a networking event and exchange cards with someone, ask them right there if they are on LinkedIn and if you can send them a connection request.

Each connection you make widens your network.

If you do this consistently, you will realize something. Each connection you make has even more secondary connections, and you never know where those will lead. I recently made a connection with someone who was looking for a commercial lender. I couldn’t help them myself, but I could connect them with someone I know who is in that line of work. That’s a win-win for all parties involved. It’s all about connecting the dots.

LinkedIn is one of the best places to find the professionals you want to work with. It helps you learn about them, meet them, and be a resource. I heard a quote once that goes like this: “You should treat celebrities like ordinary people and ordinary people like celebrities.” Utilizing this attitude when sending out invitations on LinkedIn is a great practice, and will really help you grow your business.

If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. Remember that if you aren’t LinkedIn, you will be left out. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What Are the 3 C’s of LinkedIn?

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 12:20:00 -0700

What are the Three C’s of LinkedIn? I’ll go over each one and how they can help you today.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

What are the Three C’s of LinkedIn?

1. Connections. LinkedIn is where you want to make that connection. I recommend connecting with more than 501 people because your network is really about your net worth. Every day, make sure you send out three connection requests to people that you already know and want to connect with. Once they accept that request, send them a thank you.

Make sure you are consistent with posting content and adding connections.

2. Content. Every day, make sure that you post an update to stay top of mind with your connections. Post an update and, once a week, post something on Pulse.

3. Continuity. Be consistent. Spend 20 minutes a day to make those requests and post something. Then you can also like, share, and contribute to LinkedIn. Do this every day and you will see the results.

I hope these Three C’s have been helpful. If you have any other questions about taking your LinkedIn to the next level, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

The Best Strategies for Growing Your LinkedIn Network

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Thu, 25 May 2017 08:04:00 -0700

Growing your LinkedIn network is as simple as following a few tips. Here are some of my best practices.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

“How do I grow my LinkedIn network?” is one of the most common questions I’m asked.

One of the easiest ways to grow your network is to make sure that when you’re out and about and meet someone new, you ask them to exchange cards and if you can send them an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. You could do this anywhere, from the Starbucks line to a networking event. Doing this three times per day will get you started on building your network.

Another way you can use LinkedIn to meet new people is by searching out those you want to meet. Find out their title, where they are located, what their interests are, and reach out. If you create a search that’s tailored to find your ideal client or referral partner and you make the request to connect with them in a very specific way, watch what happens to your network.

The secret to sustainable growth is in your follow-up.

For sustained growth and consistent business, the secret really is in the follow-up. You can grow your connections in number but if you don’t do anything with them, you’ll get nothing from them. Mastering follow-up involves being consistent and courteous. Follow up with at least three people per day, tell them it was nice to meet them, and see if there is a time they want to meet up with you. Growing those relationships is the key to building sustainable success. Inactivity will lead to an empty bank account. You never know where your action will take you. It doesn’t take much, either. 30 minutes a day is a good starting point.

If you have any questions for me or want to know more about how you can use LinkedIn to find your next client or referral partner, give me a call, send me an email, or connect with me on LinkedIn. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to Get Results From Networking Events & Groups

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Thu, 6 Apr 2017 11:26:00 -0700

Do you belong to networking groups or attend networking events?
I have a few tips to help you get the networking results you want today.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Do you belong to networking groups but you aren’t getting the results that you would love to have? There are a few things you can do to take your networking to the top and get new sales, new connections, and new introductions to referral partners.

First of all, when you choose to go to a networking event, make sure that you check who will be there beforehand. Do your research. Go to LinkedIn and read up on the people who will be there. You should make a point to connect with three or four people.

I also recommend that you have your elevator pitch ready. That way, when someone asks what you do, you will have a memorable, catchy tagline that tells the person the problem you solve, who you are, and why you’re different. That’s part of what makes networking groups so successful.

Wear a name tag or shirt with your logo on it so that you stand out. Be your brand so that it makes it easier for people to refer to you because they can see what you do.

When you choose a networking group or event to go to, go online and do your homework. Find out about the group and all of the different things that they do so you’ll have interesting questions to ask people at the event. For instance, you can ask, “What was the best event this group has had? What other groups do you go to? Where do you find the best networking efforts?” You’ll notice that these are all open-ended questions.

Wear a nametag or shirt with your logo so that you stand out.

Networking should be fun, but it can be very difficult to approach people you don’t know. Instead of just asking people what they do, here’s a great opener: “What’s the best thing that’s happened to you lately?” You can also ask, “What have you been up to that’s really working for you?” When you get someone to talk about what lights them up, you’ll find out what they do. If you just ask them what they do, then you’ll get that canned elevator speech.

For instance, if someone asked me, “What is your best resource?” I would say that my best resource is using Google to do my search for someone on LinkedIn, and then I use that result to search on LinkedIn so that I don’t use up all of my LinkedIn searches. Plus, Googling them allows me to find out as much as I can about that person.

A lot of people also have difficulty finding phone numbers. I recommend that you go to Google, enter their name, their company name, and the words “phone number.” Now, if someone asks you about this at your next networking event, you have a great tip to offer!

It’s important to be prepared for your networking event. Have all of the things that you want to share that make you interesting and ready to roll.

Hopefully, these tips will help you get the networking results that you’re looking for. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you!

One of the Most Effective Ways to Be Remembered

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 11:46:00 -0700

One of your biggest business goals should always be to be remembered.
Having a clear and clever tagline is one of the best ways to do this.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

A tagline can be a great way to be more memorable with the people you meet both online and offline.

We've all heard the taglines from brands like State Farm, Allstate, and Nike (Just Do It!), but what if you had a tagline to help people remember who you are? For example, one of my past clients works for Express Blinds, so he's always looking for places with 'naked windows.' His tagline is, "I'm Bob Sole with Express Blinds and I am the best blind date you'll ever have!" before sharing his phone number.

I also have a real estate agent client who works with homebuyers and her last name happens to be ‘Moore', so her tagline is, "I'm Maryanne Moore, your buyer agent, and when you want more house for your money, call me!" before sharing her phone number.

There are plenty of ways to be memorable like this, like using a line from your book if you've written one. When I wrote "The 2 Minute Networker," I basically told people, "You're two minutes and two people away from your next referral. If you need more business, I'll give you two minutes!" And then I told them my name.

Make it easy for people to both
remember you and reach you.

Mike Glass works in real estate and is looking to recruit other agents, and he uses the tagline, "If you're looking to break the Glass ceiling when it comes to retirement, residual, and income in real estate, call me. I'm Mike Glass." And then he provides his phone number.

You want to make it easy for people to remember you and reach you. I like 800 vanity numbers because if you can tie that in, it makes it even easier for people to reach out to you. When you create your tagline, be sure to have it in your LinkedIn profile, possibly even in your byline in your email. Remember, your goal is to create that memory hook.

If you'd like a free copy of my workbook on how to create an elevator pitch, just send me an email and I'll happily send you one!

And remember, if you're not LinkedIn, you'll be left out! (That's a pretty good tagline, right?)

I look forward to hearing from you!

How Can 10 Before 10 Help Your Business?

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:21:00 -0800

Today I want to talk to you about using one of my favorite practices, 10 Before 10,
to help you get the most activity out of your LinkedIn profile.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Today I’m going to share one of my favorite practices that gets the most activity out of LinkedIn: 10 Before 10.

The 10 Before 10 practice requires you to touch base with 10 people before 10 a.m. The first thing you want to do when implementing this practice is identify the 10 people you want to reach out to the night before. Are they the decision makers or connectors? Are they the center of influence? These are the questions you should be asking when deciding who you want to have an appointment with.

Pre-plan what you are going to say. Write down the script and know what your call to action is. It could be a phone call, text message, or a connection request on LinkedIn. I like to go through my list of first-degree connections that I haven't been in touch with for awhile and send them a personal message.

Make sure you’re connecting with the right people, such as decision makers
and centers of influence.

However, an even better way to connect is to use the phone. Just give them a call and say something like, “Hi, I found your profile on LinkedIn, I’m not selling anything, and I’d love to learn how we might be able to work together or be a resource for one another.” Most of the time they’ll take your call or at least return your call.

The magic of LinkedIn is serving, not selling. If you set a goal of connecting with 10 people every day before 10 a.m. your week is going to be more productive, your bank account will get bigger, and your bottom line will head in the right direction.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be more than happy to connect with you!

How to Stay in Contact With Your LinkedIn Network Better

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:15:00 -0800

I’m always looking for newer and better ways to stay in touch with my LinkedIn network.
Here are a few of my best practices.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Have you ever noticed that when you go to the “My Network” page on LinkedIn, it tells you about birthdays and work anniversaries, and you have a few different options for how you want to reach out to someone?

You could just send them a generic “Congratulations on your anniversary” message, but what if you took it a step further and personalized the message? Something like this:

“Congratulations on your work anniversary, Rhonda. I would love to catch up and learn what’s going on in your world. Here’s a link to my calendar if you want to schedule a meeting. Let’s catch up soon. Best regards!”

“10 before 10” is one of my best practices.

Another great way to stay in touch with your network is to reach out to all of your first-level connections that you haven’t been in contact with for the last six months to a year. Just write them a simple paragraph, such as:

“Hi, I noticed we haven’t been in touch for a while. I would love to catch up and hear about what’s going on with you. Let me know how I can be a resource for you and if you’re interested, let’s set up a call. Here’s a link to my calendar.” Make it easy for them to reach out to you.

If you send 10 of those emails a day, you will be amazed at the number of appointments that you could potentially convert to business or allow yourself to be a resource so they will remember you in the future. I call this my practice of “10 before 10.” I reach out to 10 people every day before 10 a.m.

Lastly, pick up the phone. Take a look at those people you haven’t spoken to in awhile that you might be able to share something with. Maybe an invitation or an article that you came across that might interest them. Just leave them a quick message with your contact info.

If you’re not LinkedIn, you’re going to be left out. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

How to Prepare for Upcoming Changes to LinkedIn

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 11:34:00 -0800

Microsoft recently bought LinkedIn, so change is on the horizon. Today I’ll go over three ways you can prepare for any changes to LinkedIn.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Microsoft recently purchased LinkedIn for over $26 billion, so the new year will come with some changes. Today, I’ll go over a few tips so that you can be prepared.

First of all, make sure that you have a picture of your entire profile. You can use the snipping tool or any other tool to capture a photo of the entire profile. Get everything because if something changes, you don’t want to have to go in and recreate the whole thing.

Export all of your connections
on a regular basis.

Secondly, rumor has it that LinkedIn will no longer allow you to move job positions around in any order that you want. Make sure that everything is arranged the way you want it now because you may not be able to fix it later.

Most importantly, make sure you export all of your connections on a regular basis. You can do that yourself, or you can go a step further. Under your LinkedIn photo, go to privacy settings. Then, go to the drop-down menu and ask LinkedIn to send you an archive of all your data. That way, you will have all of your connections.

We don’t know if these features will be available next year, so it’s best to stay ahead of the curve. If you have any other questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Taking Names and Conquering LinkedIn

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 13:45:00 -0800

The path to getting 501+ LinkedIn connections isn't a difficult one. You just have to know where to look and how to network.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

For many people on LinkedIn, one of the biggest challenges they have is figuring out how to get to 501 connections, because that’s what LinkedIn says makes you an “all-star.” So, how do you get there?

The first step is to look in your own backyard. Who do you know that you went to school with? That you worked with in the past? Maybe your backyard includes friends that you do business with or a distinct networking group. Go through all of your contact lists and send personalized LinkedIn invitations that state the specificity of your connection to them (e.g. “We both went to UMass Amherst!”) and your intention of being a resource for them. Create a template for those people so you can copy and paste it instead of writing it out each time.

Once they accept your invitation, send a “thank you” message with a call to action. For example, after you thank them and let them know that you’d love to be a resource for them, include a way for them to subscribe to your newsletter or any type of communication that you want to share. The point is to give before you ask and make sure you acknowledge that they’ve accepted your invitation. If they look like someone you really do want to know, pick up the phone and take it to the next level.

It’s not hard to build that list of connections. Pay attention to who you want to connect with. See if they are connected with anyone else that you should know, too. Think about the people you worked with at prior jobs, or the people in networking groups that you’ve met with in the past. Look at that pile of business cards on your desk. If you happen to be out and about—maybe at a networking event, maybe not—and you meet someone you hit it off with, ask them if they’re on LinkedIn. If they are, send them an invitation!

It’s so easy to connect with people who will actually help you grow your business and you can be a resource for. Remember, if you’re not LinkedIn, you will be left out.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me or send me an email. I look forward to hearing how you built your network.

How to Use LinkedIn to Network

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 12:59:00 -0700

There’s no better way to build your business than networking. By using LinkedIn, you can network the right way.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

Many people belong to networking groups, but a couple complaints I often hear are “I’m not getting any business” and “I’m not getting any referrals.” One of the secrets to networking groups is to make sure you’re in the right group. What’s the “right” group? It’s a group where you have power partners and people that have your ideal clientele but at the same time aren’t competing with you. How do you take advantage of these types of relationships? The first step is to get to know people. Remember—networking is not about selling; it’s about serving. Take the opportunity to meet with people one-on-one within your networking group. Connect with them on LinkedIn and find out who they want to meet and make those introductions.

If you’re not LinkedIn, you will be left out.

A networking group is a great place for you to have a memorable marketing message (or elevator pitch) so others can keep you at the top of their mind whenever they meet somebody that would be a great referral for you. By the same token, you remember theirs so you can give them referrals. Let’s take it one step further. Many networking groups are a part of larger organizations that likely have chapters either all over the state or all over the country. Go through those websites and send LinkedIn invitations to fellow members of your networking group. Once they accept that invitation, send them a thank you note and take it to the next level by going offline and having a phone call. Learn how you might be able to introduce people to them or just use the words that I love: “I need your help. Can you introduce me to (whomever you want to meet)?” Networking groups are a great place to grow your LinkedIn profile with relationships. It’s a way for you to have something in common immediately. Moreover, it’s a place to establish yourself as an expert or simply be that person who is providing referrals to others. Whatever you give comes back tenfold. Next time you meet someone in a networking group and you forget to take it to the next level, think of LinkedIn and ask that person if they’re on the site. Tell them that you’d like to connect and to let you know how you can be a valuable resource. Finally, send that LinkedIn invitation. If you have any questions about the art of networking, please feel free to reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you!

How to Effectively Message on LinkedIn

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 11:45:00 -0700

Sending messages on LinkedIn is a great way to stay top of mind.

I’ve got some expert tips to share to help your messages become more effective.

Book an Appointment with Me
Connect with Me on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s messaging feature is one of the most effective ways to stay top of mind with your target market. There are a number of different strategies that I’d like to share with you today to help you use this feature more effectively. Have you noticed that when you click the connections button before your connections actually pop up, all of the info about them shows up? This includes birthdays, anniversaries, and promotions. You can click right there to send a happy birthday greeting, a congratulatory message, and more. Sending one of these messages is a great idea because it lets the person know you’re thinking about them. Make sure to personalize the message so they know that it isn’t some canned response. Include their name and ask them out for a cup of coffee to celebrate.

“

Make sure to personalize each message.

”

When it comes to sending messages to your connections, make sure you have a headline that will catch somebody’s attention. There are several extensions for Google Chrome that will allow you to test your headline and see if it’s good enough to get your message opened. Instead of using the message to try and sell to someone, suggest something that might be of interest to them like an invitation to an event or webinar, or a quick reconnect message to talk about how they have been. Genuine messages usually get genuine responses. I suggest that you make a habit of sending three messages a day to current connections in your network, as well as connecting with people on their anniversaries and birthdays. When you do this on a consistent basis, watch what happens to your business. When you are constantly interacting and providing value, you will see more and more business. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out by giving me a call, sending me an email, or connecting with me on LinkedIn. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Tools to Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 12:56:00 -0700

I’ve got some simple tools to share with you today that will undoubtedly make your LinkedIn profile better and more effective. If you’ve wanted to make your profile pop with photos in the background, you can do that for free with LinkedIn. The dimensions are 1400 x 1425 pixels, and you can create custom graphics by hiring someone on Fiverr or doing it yourself with PicMonkey. Be creative with your background, but make sure you include some important information like your website, phone numbers, and any areas you specialize in. If you happen to be a real estate agent, add specializations like short sales, REOs, or luxury homes. This is how you optimize your profile.

“

LinkedIn has so many different tools.

”

The other tool I love to use is Subject Line. When you’re sending out emails, wouldn’t you like to know in advance if your subject line is going to get the attention of people you are sending it to? This website tells you just that. LinkedIn has so many different tools that can help improve your profile. Want to put videos on it? Try making your own on Jing. If you have any more tools that I should be aware of, be sure to let me know. If you have any other questions for me about Linkedin, give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you.

Put Your LinkedIn Summary on Steroids

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:29:00 -0700

If you’re on LinkedIn, you’ve probably noticed that most profiles are missing a summary. That is a huge mistake because the summary is the most important part of your profile. Your summary allows you to tell people who you are in first person. Here are my best tips to put your LinkedIn summary on steroids.

First, ask about the pain point your clients need you to solve. For instance, my summary might say something like, “Are you on LinkedIn but are unsure of how to use it to find more clients?” Someone else might say, “Are you an attorney who needs help with witness preparation?”

Doing this sets the stage for the problem you solve with your business. After that has been established, go into your background, why you are different from your competition, the areas you specialize in, and who you are. Be sure to include all of the information you want your clients or ideal referral partner to know about you.

Make sure the summary looks clean. Use characters and bullet points so that the summary is easy to read and appealing to the eye. You should also list all areas of specialization to optimize your summary.

“

You’re 11 times more likely to be viewed with a professional profile picture.

”

Most importantly, include your contact information in your summary. That means putting your email address and phone number on your profile. A lot of people say, “I don’t want to put my cell phone number or business phone number on there.” In that case, go to Google Voice and get a Google phone number. Only list that number on your summary. That way, you know anyone who calls that number has found you on LinkedIn and you can screen your calls.

Now, here is the secret sauce: include a line in your summary that says something like, “Don’t take my word for it. Click below to hear about my results from former clients.” You can even have past clients make a testimonial video for others to watch. I use a company called Vyral Marketing to put these videos together. Video is a powerful way for potential clients to hear from others about what working with you is like.

Finally, include a 90-second video of yourself in the section right below your summary telling people who you are, what problems you solve, and three top tips for your client. Vyral Marketing can help you with that as well.

In short, when it comes to your LinkedIn summary, ask yourself, “Would I hire myself based on this profile?” If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Make Yourself 11x more Likely to Be Found on LinkedIn

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Fri, 5 Aug 2016 11:53:00 -0700

There are a number of keys to getting found on LinkedIn.

My first tip is to take advantage of what LinkedIn has now allowed everyone (not just premium users) to do, and that’s having a background photo. It’s a powerful way to put your areas of expertise, contact info, and website on display.

I have a client who really took advantage by putting specific areas of expertise here; she works with attorneys helping them prep their witnesses. Her background photo actually says “Witness preparation for attorneys” and “Body language expert” as well as her phone number, website, and contact info.

If you want to take advantage of this but don’t know how to make that photo, my tip is to go to fiverr.com, where you can find someone to do it for you inexpensively.

“

You’re 11 times more likely to be viewed with a professional profile picture.

”

My second tip involves your name. Instead of putting your first name in the first name box and your last name in the last name box, put both your first and last name in the first name box. Then in the last name box, put your title, in quotation marks. Use the title that you want to be found for.

Finally, make sure your profile photo is a professional photo. You’re 11 times more likely to get profile views if you use a professional profile picture! If you don’t want to spend the money to have one done by a professional photographer, go to Sears or JC Penny for a bunch of photos. It’s that simple!

Next time, we’ll talk about putting your LinkedIn summary on steroids. Remember, if you’re not LinkedIn, you will be left out!

If you have questions, send me an email soon!

Are You Using LinkedIn’s Most Powerful Feature?

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 09:55:00 -0700

Most people don’t even know about Pulse, but it’s one of the most powerful features LinkedIn has. Why? Because it gives you a free platform to write articles, include video, and give information that your audience will like, share, and respond to.

In addition to allowing video in the article, Pulse lets you tag that article with the words you know your target market is looking for. When I do an article on Pulse about videos or LinkedIn tips, I use the tag words LinkedIn allows me to use so that people will find me.

“

Make sure you include a call to action in your post!

”

Here’s the secret sauce: include a call to action! If you want someone to call you or access your website for a free report, include that information in your byline. If you are promoting an affiliate program, disclose that information. I’ve seen it many times and, whenever I know someone is an affiliate, I’m okay with it because they told me about it up front.

You should write regularly, whether it’s once a month or twice a month. Be specific about the tags you use, write original content, and include some sort of rich text media: audio, video, or a slideshow. Include links. Put yourself in the position of your reader and ask yourself, “Would I want to share this? Is this valuable?”

If you have any questions about using Pulse, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Tips for Using LinkedIn to Improve Your Business

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 08:59:00 -0700

Today, I’m here with my top tips about how to maximize your LinkedIn account:

“

Use first person when writing your summary.

”

1. Your picture. We all know that a picture is worth 1,000 words, so make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is a professional one. Don’t use a selfie or a picture you took with your kids. If you can’t afford to have professional photos taken, go to Sears or JC Penney and get a package of pictures done.

2. Your name. There are two boxes for you to enter your name. In the first, write your first and last name. Use the second to write your occupation. For example, if you’re a real estate agent in Orange County, you would use quotation marks and write, “Orange County Real Estate Broker.” It’s pretty simple and you will pop up in search results more often.

3. Your summary. Use first person, not third. Add a question that your clients ask often. I would say something like, “Do you know how to use your LinkedIn profile to get more clients?” The next part is letting people know how you can solve that problem. Then, include a link to client testimonials so they can hear from others how you solve that problem.

4. Use key words. Let people know how to find you. I would use words like LinkedIn specialist, marketing, branding, or training. Put those words and your contact info in the summary portion of the website. If you don’t want to use your cell phone, add a Google phone number.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out to me via phone or email anytime. I'm here to help you!

How Do I Establish Credibility on LinkedIn?

RhondaLSher@gmail.com (Rhonda Sher) — Mon, 23 May 2016 09:30:00 -0700

If you want to establish credibility on your LinkedIn profile instantly, use an expert video. What do I mean by that?

Imagine right below your summary, you have an expert video hosted on YouTube. In this small presentation, you introduce yourself, just like I’m doing in my video! After briefly introducing yourself, include the three most common questions you receive within your industry. Ideally, these questions should be ones they likely already have in mind. Go ahead and answer them within 90 seconds.

For instance, as the LinkedIn Diva, one frequently asked question is, “How do I endorse someone for their skills?” If someone is going to recommend you, they need to know who you are. What is your expertise? This little sample gives them a glimpse of what you do.

“

Mention how someone can follow up with you by phone or email after connecting on LinkedIn.

”

Additionally, this resource lets people know how to reach out and connect with you. At the end of the video, you should mention how someone can follow up with you by phone or email after connecting on LinkedIn. If you have a tagline, sign off with that!

Here are some previous examples. Vyral Marketing is an excellent resource for setting this up!

Again, you can create this independently with your computer to gain instant credibility, earn referrals, and share a resource about you with your network.

If you’re curious about LinkedIn, feel free to reach out by phone or email. I’d be happy to answer your questions, which could end up as future video topics!