[INFOGRAPHIC] Why Are Some QR Codes More Scanworthy Than Others? by Charlie White

Charlie White is senior editor for Mashable, where he is responsible for gadget news and reviews and oversees the site’s weekend coverage.

FEATURE: LinkedIn Marketing: 12 Powerful “Must Do” Tips for Setting Up Your LinkedIn Profile! By Bill Crosby

Over the last year between professional networking and job searching I’ve found that LinkedIn has become the quintessential Social Media platform for doing just that.  In this easy to follow read article by Bill Crosby you will be taught how to completely optimize your LinkedIn profile with just a few tweaks.  I hope you find Mr. Crosby’s tips as helpful as I have.

A version of this article was featured on billcrosby.com on April 6th, 2011. 

My LinkedIn Profile

Many of you will hopefully already have some of these “Must Dos” in your profile. Others are probably really incomplete. Here’s what I think you must be doing and why (*note: if for some reason any of this violates LinkedIn’s terms of service, I’m not aware of it- so feel free to correct me):

Top 12 LinkedIn Profile Setup Tips

1. Understand Your Keywords: Understand what keywords you want to rank for first before completing your LinkedIn profile. Once you know the keywords you want people to find you from, you will be using these extensively throughout your LinkedIn profile. This is how people will find you in the search. Tip: LinkedIn is one of the only sites I know of that still ranks the density of keywords in your profile to where you appear in their search results, so the more you use your keywords throughout your LinkedIn profile, the higher you will rank for that term in the search results. If you want to get an example of what other people are searching for, just use the search bar on LinkedIn. If no one is searching for the keywords you think are good, find one they are search for and use that.
2. Complete Your LinkedIn Profile: Make certain you complete your entire LinkedIn profile! LinkedIn will tell you what percentage your are complete and exactly what to do. Not completing your LinkedIn profile is a guarantee your LinkedIn profile will not rank high in LinkedIn search.
3. Use Your Main Keywords in your Headline: Your headline, the line just below your name, is one of the most important factors in search. Make sure you use your keywords there!
   LinkedIn Profile Heading
4. Select the appropriate industry: How do you know where best to put yourself? Look at what other people have used that rank high for the terms you want to be found for and use what they used (don’t recreate the wheel if not necessary)
5. Fill your profile with interesting facts about you: Use real captivating words up front, not like “works at XYZ company”, but instead, like an advertisement for you, because that’s what LinkedIn is!
6. Add Multiple Current Jobs: Current jobs is another way you will be found for your keywords on your LinkedIn profile. Don’t worry if you really only have one job since all of us wear multiple hats nowadays. If you have a blog (or multiple), use it. Then in each job description, use your keywords (I hope you are starting to get the point of keyword importance in your LinkedIn Profile about now)
   
   LinkedIn Profile Current Jobs
7. Add Multiple Previous Jobs: The same rules apply from the above LinkedIn profile Tip.
8. Add your email address to your last name: For someone to connect to you without directly knowing you, they need to know your first and last name, as well as a valid email address. Make it easier by turning the last name field of your LinkedIn profile into your last name and then your email address (example: LastName myname@myemail.com). This gives people an easier way to connecting.
9. Complete Your Summary: Make your LinkedIn profile summary section complete and really easy to read. I suggest using your main keywords by section and breaking down each section using simple headers for each with a colon afterward (example: Internet Marketing Strategist:).
   LinkedIn Profile Summary
10. Use Your Keywords in Specialties: In your specialties section, use all of your keywords followed by a line break to make it easily readable.
11. Solicit colleagues and friends for recommendations: People love to read reviews. And there is no better review then someone else talking about YOU. Make sure you’ve got some great recommendations for the work you have done. Don’t be afraid to solicit recommendations. I always recommend in return for every one written about me. The trick is: write what you truly feel about the person in the nicest possible terms, and never oversell someone you don’t recommend. That can come back to bite you.
    LinkedIn Profile Recommendations
12. Add plenty of passion: People who are going to bother to read your profile want to know who you are. If you merely put down that you’re an operations manager at XYZ company, that’s all they have in their minds about you. Add that you’re passionate about Cub scouts and that you play guitar and sing in the shower. Make sure people know about YOU, not just your job history.

The trick of setting up your LinkedIn profile is spending a little focused time upfront to reap the benefits thereafter. If you put up a LinkedIn profile that poorly covers the details, and barely populates the profile with much of interest, you will likely not get connections beyond former coworkers looking to make a lame connections. Should you be seeking to cast a net, develop relationships, and eventually find other opportunities through your LinkedIn profile, you’ll want to put a little more effort in and use these LinkedIn profile tips.

How are YOU using your LinkedIn Profile?

Has LinkedIn opened doors for you? Do you have LinkedIn profile or LinkedIn Marketing tips I didn’t cover that you’d recommend to other LinkedIn users? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments, and let’s open the discussion to better understand the ways to change/use your LinkedIn Profile for building opportunities for you in the future. Also, you may want to take a look at other relevant articles on this site to help you with your social media marketing.

Update: Where Did I Learn This Great Information About LinkedIn Profile Setup?

A few people have asked where I learned so much about LinkedIn Profile setup. Well, my good friend Lewis Howes gets the credit on this one. He is a total whiz on LinkedIn and has a complete training program on using LinkedIn HERE(affiliate link). Check it out if you want to really master everything about using your LinkedIn profile effectively for marketing on LinkedIn.

Job Seekers: Why YOU Need to Ask the Right Questions by Jerry Rizzo

When it comes to interviewing for your potential dream gig, as an interviewee you tend to invest tremendous amounts of energy into preparing to WOW! the interviewer(s).  You never forget to brush your hair, rehearse your responses and chew an extra stick of Trident for good measure, but often you may forget that there are two sides of the interview table.  Then the recruiter asks, “Do you have any questions for me at this time?”

DON’T BLOW THIS OPPORTUNITY BONEHEAD!

It’s easy to ask vague questions in attempt to seem engaged, but recruiters can tell when you are truly interested.  This is a chance for you to really explore what employment with a company fully entails.  It’s not practical to think that every position will be a fit for you or that you will find a way to adjust to any company’s culture.  To an extent your main objective is to seek employment at a company that best fits YOU!

ASK THE INTERVIEWER ABOUT THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW!

If you don’t really care about what the interviewer likes about the company, don’t feel inclined to ask them about it.  If you are concerned about the amount of travel you will be required to do, ask questions about that.  Tap into what you really want to know about working at the company.  This part of the interview is ALL ABOUT YOU!

In a recent article on Cachinko.com, Heather R. Huhman listed some great question for interviewees to consider asking when the question “What questions do you have for me?” arises.  Check it out below!

1. How would you describe the ideal candidate?
2. What are the goals of this department?
3. What successes has this department had in the last 5 years?
4. What main challenges will I encounter at this position?
5. How big is the team I’d be working with?
6. Can you tell me about the culture and environment here?
7. How often should I expect to receive a performance review?
8. How would you define “success” at this position?
9. What do you like best about this company?
10. What do you like best about your job?
11. Can you describe a typical day or week for this position?
12. Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to within the company?
13. How do you envision this position supporting you?
14. What are some challenges I might face working in this position?
15. Can you describe the typical client/customer I might be working with and their expectations?
16. What are the opportunities at this organization for training and further education?
17. What happened to the person who previously held this job?
18. How much travel, if any, is involved in this position?
19. What’s the biggest challenge facing the company today?
20. What are the next steps for the interview process?

Recent Grads: Tips for Your PR Job Search by Jerry Rizzo

Let’s face it, searching for a job is no fun.  Job searching requires ample attention that we sometimes do not have to give.  There is no easy way around job searching, but there are a few things we can do to assure our efforts are worth the while.

First things first.

Have all of your materials (resume, cover letter and professional references) on stand-by and ready for submission to online applications.  Having your materials ready will save you lots of time.  I personally keep my materials saved to my desktop for easy access.

Make it a habit.

Shower. Coffee. Search. Repeat.  Job searching and applying daily is key in landing interviews and potentially your first PR gig.  Create your personal “search circuit” or your go-to PR job posting sites.  Be sure to visit these sites and tap your social networks daily for the most recent posts.  It’s easy enough to browse postings over a cup of joe at the kitchen counter.

Try these top sites: www.prweekjobs.com www.prsa.org www.prcrossing.com www.talentzoo.com

Try these hashtags on Twitter: #PRJobs #PRIntern #PRCareers

Be first.

StartWire has recently released a study emphasizing the importance being one of the first applicants to a job posting.  StartWire reports that among those hired 27% applied within the first two days after a job was posted. Nearly 50% of the hires were applicants who applied within the first week and approximately 75% of all hired candidates applied within three weeks.

When it comes to applying to a job there should be little debate and lag time.  The longer you wait the further the opportunity drifts to sea.  Be sure to search the most recently posted positions in order to increase your chances of getting hired.

Slim your search.

There are lots and lots of positions out there on the world wide web, but it’s not conducive to your job search goals to apply to each and everyone that appears.  Take into consideration the nature of the work, your skills, company culture and your short and long-term career goals.  There is no doubt in my mind that we can all find jobs, but our challenge is to find the position that best suites our skills in an organization that will allow us to develop professionally.

Environment and attitude.

Tackle each job search session with a headstrong, positive attitude.  A positive attitude will transpire into a more concise job search and it will allow you to be more effective when addressing a potential employer about a position.

Set yourself up in an environment that grants you clarity and focus for your search.  In your space you will be able to better map out, monitor,  and further develop you job search.

• Find a private room or an area in a room that you can devote solely to your job search.
•  Grant yourself plenty of desk space to keep organized with.
• Keeping your space neat and clear will keep your brain the same.