3 Best Tips For Using LinkedIn!

I started using LinkedIn about a year ago. Probably like most people I set up my profile and did nothing with it. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what else I should do.

You do need to build up your connections. Check your friends ‘connections’ too and ask for the introduction to like minded people.

It is a valid networking and lead generation tool and I’ve generated 1 hot lead through it already so I’m good with that. A friend even had a job offer last month too!

Here’s the share on a few tips and tricks that will help.

First up is your Public Profile URL… Edit it.

The default link looks something like this – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/XX/xxx/XXX which is pretty ugly and random.

What makes a lot more sense is to use the word or term you want to ‘rank’ for with the search engines. So change it to something like this http://www.linkedin.com/in/thepeterbutler but it could be your business name if you like.

It will help in Google World. Your name should still appear in the search results regardless but if the text link contains the actual words, like your name or business then that’s all the better for the search results.

Increase Your Public Profile!

I’d also recommend placing this as a link on your website. The more links on your site to other sites about you will increase your overall profile on the internet.

A point to consider, when people click on that link and they’re redirected to your LinkedIn page the sexier URL will appear in the address bar, much more professional rather than some generic random line.

It’s easy to edit. Just hit ‘edit my profile’ and click on the text. Your name might be taken already so be prepared to slip in something that sets it apart. You can use a digit or perhaps ‘the’ as a differentiator.

I have both my LinkedIn and my Facebook profiles as links under a category link ‘social media sites’. My take is this, people want to do business with people and this shows them that humanness side. You should have decent profiles set up on both Facebook and LinkedIn.

Your Own Personal Built In Website Feature!

This is huge. Click on ‘Applications’ in the left navigation bar and you have 10 applications at this point ready to ‘plug in’ to your profile.

The biggest for me was the WordPress plug-in. This feature means as I make a post to my site it appears in my profile automatically. So my last 3 posts are sitting in there with no effort, getting more exposure and all the while telling my story and adding to my credibility. That is a very cool tool.

Yup, it has a Built In Slide Show Presentation too…

The Slide Share Presentations will be my next set up – this will be a real boon for a lot of people too. I show my wares via Power Point so this will work particularly well for me.

What plug-ins will suit you?

Depending on the nature of your business as to which other plug-ins will be most useful to you. This is the short list of other tools – Google Presentations, Blog Link, LinkedIn Polls (cool), Trip-It, Reading List by Amazon and some online collaboration tools.

It seems the issue for most people is time, to learn how it all works or committing to ‘building that network’. It’s the same for me so my take is to do this stuff in my ‘slow’ time or at least not my ‘peak’ productive time. I’ve even sat there with my laptop while I catch a TV show to get through it.

So, go to it and get LinkedIn!

While your there let’s get connected too. The more ‘connections’ we all have the better.

Here’s my public profile link:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/thepeterbutler

See you on LinkedIn!

Committed to Generating “Highly Qualified” Leads and Making You More Commissions,

Peter B Butler.

Finally: A lead generation and marketing system that runs alongside even the best referral systems and generates an independent stream of “highly qualified” clients for brokers that’s self managed so they ‘own’ it and positions them as the experts in their area and ends all those lame, frustrating and sometimes costly prospecting methods.

All those in favour of that say ‘AYE’!

To find out more go to Smart Mortgage Marketing or go here to get your FREE Marketing and Website Audit! valued at $350.

“Build It and They Will Come”

In the movie “Field of Dreams” Kevin Costner as Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer hears a voice in his cornfield telling him, “If you build it, they will come.” Ray interprets this as a message to build a baseball field on his farm.  When the voices continue, Ray seeks out a reclusive author to help him understand the meaning of the messages and the purpose for his field. We all remember how the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series appear.

Then the miracle of the masses appearing to watch the game and how that was the saving grace for Ray financially. This was one heck of an inspirational, touching and goose-bumpy movie. The ‘vision’ was fulfilled and in a sense that’s probably worked for you, up until recently!

So many mortgage brokers we speak to have the “Build It and They Will Come” thinking.

Like most brokers you have a few good affiliations with some real estate agents, insurance brokers and accountants and the like so you have that steady stream of new deals coming through.

The trouble is that your business is dependent on someone else’s business… and you’re in a vulnerable position.

When you first went into business you probably thought your specialised knowledge and skill was all that you really needed to be successful. You knew that your expertise and professionalism will be the keys to your success in your mortgage broking business and once people heard how good a broker you were you knew that your business would simply flourish.

You knew there were some areas where you would need specific help such as – accounting, taxation, bookkeeping and the like. That’s par for the course in business. You can’t know everything about everything.

Marketing and Advertising? That’s not rocket science. What’s to know?

Surely it’s simply a matter of running a few ads, maybe some ad campaigns, get in the Yellow Pages maybe and oh, we come up with a really cool logo and stuff too so that people will get to know who we are.

We are really good at what we do, people will talk about us and we will be fine. Once people know how good we are…

Your business is growing, albeit a bit slower than you visualised but the momentum is picking up. Or is it? Cash flow is becoming a bit of a issue, but you’re confident you’ll squeeze through. Things might be a little tight right now but you know it will improve… you hope!

And it may improve, for a season, but …..how successful do you want to be in business?

Do you want an ordinary business or an extraordinary business?

So, why isn’t this going according to plan? Is it our location? Is it our staff? Is it our service? Our referral structure?

It has to be them – the clients! Right! Uneducated gits.

No… we doubt if this has anything to do with your clients, gits or otherwise … or your location… or your staff… or your service.

You need a Mindset Shift!

Maybe you are the best in your field. Maybe you’re right, maybe nobody can do it quite like you but until you shift your mindset it is doubtful that your business will reach its full potential and be as profitable and successful as it can be.

So what do I mean… Mindset Shift?

You are not in the business you think you’re in… your real business is in the Marketing of Your Business!

You are really in the business of marketing. Well, that is how you should be thinking about your business. It is this mindset that will take you to the next level and make you more successful than you ever imagined.

If you’re serious and want to transform your existing business into an extraordinary business then you need to have an open mind on this.

If you’re don’t agree or are struggling with this then the next post “New Millennium Marketing” will open to eyes to a healthier “Entrepreneurial Mindset”. To find out what our members know that you don’t go to our Mortgage Broking Lead Generation on Auto-Pilot System NOW!

Smart Mortgage Marketing is born.

Months in the pipeline and many a long day and night but final exposure is here. Mortage brokers rejoice. Gone are the days of lame lead services and sad marketing pieces.

You will have the power to cut through the crap and market with such sharp shooting market specific accuracy that you’ll be blown away at the ease of the marketing and the quality of the leads.

Your website will become a practical tool instead of just a gorgeous looking piece of art on the net. Gone are the days of the ‘dead’ glossy corporate brochure style of website…

Well, gone for Smart Mortgage Marketing members anyway.

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