When you become an Accounting Entrepreneur, it won’t take you long to realize you have to present yourself a little differently than you used to. One step to starting to build your brand online, is to optimize your LinkedIn profile so you can be found and remembered. What is LinkedIn? LinkedIn has been the “professional” social media for over a decade.
If you want to attract clients and build your brand, your LinkedIn profile needs to be a sales page, not an outdated resume.
First let’s go over the basics of your profile. You want to get the basics right before starting to build your network.
Use a professional headshot
Invest in professional headshots. Since you are opening your own accounting business, these headshots are a great investment. The same pictures can be used on your website, social media platforms, business cards, and much more!
Claim your unique URL
Having your own customized URL only takes a minute and makes you look professional and unique.
Click “Edit public & URL” on the right sidebar and click on the pencil icon to edit your profile URL.
Your Headline
“What do you want to be remembered for?”
This is what you need to think about when crafting your Headline.
The Headline is a short blurb that appears under your name stating who you are and what you do.
Your headline is critical to being found on LinkedIn. Include the keywords that your target audience or clients use when they’re searching for people with your skills, products or services.
Share — in one short sentence — what you do and who you do it for.
This is your first opportunity to intrigue a client and have them further check out your profile.
Your Profile Summary = Your Sales Letter
Your Profile Summary is NOT your Experience/Education section. I mention this, because I didn’t have a Profile Summary for SO long!
One of the biggest mistakes LinkedIn users make, is not writing anything on the profile summary. Having one is crucial not only in getting found, but in increasing the chances that a profile view will lead to an opportunity.
Your profile summary gives you an opportunity to talk to your target clients or audience. Tell them how you can help solve their problems. Yes, write your profile summary with your target clients in mind, and simply answer the question, “What’s in it for them?”
Write in first person (it makes you more personable), and write this knowing this is your sales letter. I know being creative and personable is not always a strong suit of accountants. Enlist the help of a family member or friend if needed, because this part is important.
Below is my Profile Summary. You can make yours in any format you would like, as long as its sales oriented.
Fill Out Your Contact Info
This is another area that is sometimes easily overlooked. Make sure any potential client has a way of reaching you! This means filling out your Contact Information with an email and phone number. Building your online presence and getting interest from clients is enough work… make sure once someone is interested they can easily contact you or they will move on to the next person!
Get Started on Your Profile
With the basic, easily missed things out of the way, you are ready to start building your profile. For accountants, it is especially important to fill out the Experience, Education and Skills sections. But really, you do want to spend the time to make sure your profile is as complete as possible.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is a very powerful tool in achieving your career and business goals, and the first step to leveraging its power is to optimize your profile.
With a top-notch profile, you can attract opportunities and connect with like-minded people who can help accelerate your success.
If running an accounting firm or freelancing sounds like something you would be interested in but you don’t know where you start, go ahead and download my FREE Firm Quick Start Guide below.
Also make sure you check out my Inclusive Firm Course.
In this course I teach the exact steps I took to start my own business, all the best technology and sales techniques out there, and much much more! You will be able to go out and start signing clients comfortably after going through my course.
If you prefer one on one consulting, we offer that as well! Click here to schedule a strategy session.
Do you have any other questions on what it is like to be a freelance accountant? Leave a comment below and I will get back to you!
The best guide for me, love to use some tips and optimized my profile.
Awesome I’m so glad you enjoyed it!