A poorly constructed LinkedIn profile not only makes a bad first impression, it can also change the dynamic of your working relationships.

We all know the difference between working for someone who trusts us to do a good job and someone that doesn’t. When we’re trusted, our ideas are listened to and encouraged, we enjoy our work and feel respected. When we’re not trusted, we can feel continually frustrated as our efforts are questioned and blocked.

For an independent consultant, contractor or coach, it can be easy to just put this down to a difficult client, but the truth is, it can have a lot to do with your LinkedIn profile.

A good working relationship is based on trust; the belief that we can and will deliver what we promised within the agreed time frame. But as an independent contractor, where does this trust come from and can it be easily lost?

The answer is yes.

When making buying decisions today, people use a variety of methods to source solutions, and more often than not, LinkedIn is a vital step in the process. When visiting your profile your prospect will be looking to justify their decision; whether that is to commit time to meet with you to hear what you have to say, or to confirm they made the right buying decision hiring you.

If your profile is poorly filled out it can leave your prospect questioning their decision. This break in rapport can take your new client from being 100% sold and open to hearing what you have to say, to skeptical and difficult to work with.

Several months back, I purchased a coaching program at a cost more than I could afford at the time. Having spent two days in the presence of the coach, I was happy to entrust my money to him to get my result, but a few days later, wanting to verify my decision, I check out his LinkedIn profile. I quickly began questioning my decision and nearly backed out.

Your LinkedIn profile has the potential to either excite and enthuse your prospect to work with you, or undo all your hard work achieving the sale, making the working relationship difficult.

One of my clients is an independent freelancer. I asked her ‘What makes a good client compared to a bad client?’ After she told me, I asked ‘Looking at those who have been excellent and those you’d never work for again, can you tell me how you came to be working with each of them?’ Her answer said it all.

The clients she enjoyed working with had come to her via Word of Mouth recommendation, meaning that someone had vouched for her services and said she was worth every penny. The bad ones had come directly through her website. They had no one vouching for her and were still questioning their hiring decision long into the start of her work.

Her LinkedIn profile revealed why. She was highly talented and skilled, winning international awards, and was responsible from some famous work. Those that referred her knew this and told her prospect, building excitement in them to be able to work with her, while those that came through LinkedIn and her website did not know this. They had no knowledge of her prior successes and thus didn’t have the same confidence and trust in her to deliver.

Today it doesn’t really matter who you are, your LinkedIn profile will be making an impact on people’s perception of you. Your profile might feature as part of a prospect’s research process (your lead generation), or be a critical part of a new client reassuring themselves about their purchase.

Make sure you don’t let your hard work fall away because your LinkedIn profile isn’t up to standard. If constructed correctly, your profile has the potential to turn a potential stranger into your most loyal customer.

Why leave things to chance?

If you’re concerned about your profile, let’s have a chat. I’ll be happy to offer you a free LinkedIn profile review (subject to demand). Please click the link to see whether you qualify.

Apply for a LinkedIn Profile Review session valued at £125!

Order your Pre-Launch edition of “What to Put on Your LinkedIn Profile” by Naomi Johnson.

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Having conducted hundreds of profile reviews, author Naomi Johnson, knows that most LinkedIn profiles do not reflect the brilliance of the individuals behind them. In this book Naomi will delve into what separates an ‘OK’ profile from an outstanding one. Find out more.