How Freelancers Should Create LinkedIn Profiles - CareerEnlightenment.com

Step No. 2: Create Experience Sections for Noteworthy WorkIf youve ever been hired by a recognizable brand or received amazing testimonials from a single client, separate those out into two or three experience sections. This strategy will help improve your chances of showing up in search results for related work. It will also help tell your story, since you can segment out testimonials and media examples for your best work.These tangential sections should each have a beginning and an end date. You want to avoid looking like you have too many pots on your stove. The only Experience section that should be set to Present should be the catch-all from Step No. 1.Think of these sections as highlight reels, to illustrate the level of work you are capable of, what you’re the most proud of and whom you rub elbows with.Be careful when putting a large brand as an employer, though. Many brands monitor the people who say they’ve been their employees. So in the Position line, really make it cl ear that this was freelance or consulting work.Here are some essential elements to include:3 to 5 recommendations as testimonials for each sectionBullets for the work you did and the business outcome you helped the companies achieveMedia, such as slides, video or images showing your workSo your final output will look something like this, times two or three:Big Brand Bob, March 2011-May 2011Title: Contractor3 to 5 bullet points showing your main activities and the results you achieved3 to 5 recommendations that would function as testimonials of a job well doneMedia entries showing your final outputStep No. 3: Your ProjectsProject sections are like Experience sections, but they don’t let you attach media or collect testimonials. They offer you a chance to share a website, add names of other people who helped you and let you associate the projects with your catch-all Experience section.You can move this entire section to the bottom of your LinkedIn profile and not let it clutter up t he flow for your reader.So if you want to collect information regarding past projects or other significant work, put it here.Step No. 4: Headlines and Summary SectionsThe basic structure of LinkedIn mirrors a newspaper article â€" the most important information goes at the top and more details are revealed the further down you read.Therefore, if you are trying to get more gigs as a freelancer, make sure your headline and current employer reflect this.Your headline might be a simple benefit statement of what you do and the results you provide. The goal here is to inspire someone who has done a search to click on your LinkedIn profile from the list of search results.Your current position needs to show the catch-all Experience section from Step No. 1.Your Summary section should function as your brochure â€" your sales pitch.A good sales pitch should have these four elements told in first-person story form:1) A description of the problem you solve2) Your unique promise in fixing the pro blem3) Overwhelming proof that you have done so before4) A call to actionThanks for Your InputI want to thank the following people for their input and for inspiring me to write the article: Lynda Bundock, Anna Camacho, Stephanie McDonald, Mark Lynch, Garrett Brown, Teddy Burriss, Lynne Cogan, Joel Renner, Kevin Grubb, Howard Fox, Jeff Stoltzfus, Pauline Foley, Sabrina Woods, Jim Brennan, Ella M. W. Kellum, Heather Krasna, Sharla Taylor, Greg Miraglia and Teresa Adams