I want to share a story with you that got me thinking about the importance of having a good LinkedIn profile. Recently, a colleague of mine said to me “This guy is making a bucket load of money. I don’t feel so bad about my profile now if you say his is bad!”

This raised the question – can you really get away with a bad LinkedIn profile?

But when I tried to do some research on this person, I quickly realized that his LinkedIn profile was, in fact, not very helpful. His website URL was outdated, there was no link to watch the webinar that my colleague had mentioned, and I couldn’t learn anything about his services from his profile. The profile was mostly just his life story and a lot of talk about having a nomadic lifestyle.

While that might be interesting, it didn’t tell me anything about how this person could help me.

Now, you might be thinking, “So what? If this person is making a lot of money, why does his LinkedIn profile matter?”

And it’s true that if someone’s sales funnel is already overflowing, they might not care if they’re frustrating potential leads or missing out on recommendations. But every interaction you have with people leaves an impression, and a bad impression can be hard to shake.

When I saw this person’s profile, I didn’t feel negatively about him, but I did feel confused and indifferent. I didn’t know what his services were or how they could help me, and I didn’t feel motivated to continue researching. And even though I didn’t end up becoming a lead or a referral for him, I still think of him frequently because I’m still looking for a solution to my problem.

This is why it’s so important to have a good LinkedIn profile, no matter what your strategy is.

A good profile makes sure all your leads stay within your funnel and reflects a well-organized, well-established, and successful business. And while you might see someone who’s successful without a good profile and think, “Well, if they can do it, so can I,” it’s important to remember:

👉 LinkedIn isn’t the only social media platform people focus on.

👉 Social media isn’t the only way to advertise.

👉 No two businesses, nor their strategies, are comparable.

👉 We all have different personalities and approaches to life, so the drive and tenacity that has made one person successful may not be sustainable for you. 

So don’t neglect your LinkedIn profile or copy someone else’s approach just because it seems to be working for them.

Take the time to create a profile that accurately represents you and your business, and make sure it includes all the information that potential leads and partners might be looking for.

You never know who might be looking at your profile and deciding whether or not to do business with you, so make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Curious how well your LinkedIn profile stacks up? Ask me for a LinkedIn Profile & Strategy Review.