LinkedIn for Lawyers: How to Get More Out of Your LinkedIn Profile
In the modern marketplace, it’s essential for every legal professional to establish a strong social media presence. And while Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have their benefits, LinkedIn is easily one of the best social media platforms for attorneys.
There’s a good chance you already have a LinkedIn profile. But just setting up a barebones profile isn’t always enough. While many attorneys are on LinkedIn, most aren’t taking full advantage of the platform’s potential.
To get the most out of your LinkedIn, you have to implement the right strategy. Here’s how to get started.
Optimize Your Profile
On LinkedIn, your profile will be your home base. Use it to attract attention and speak to your target audience.
Start by uploading a quality profile picture and background photo. People notice profile images first, so use these to attract attention and showcase your professionalism.
Next, add a catchy headline that explains what you do at a glance—and gives users a reason to keep reading. Once they get to your “About” summary, make a compelling pitch. (And don’t forget to include keywords that are relevant to your legal niche!)
LinkedIn also provides several sections to list your qualifications, including:
- Experience
- Education
- Licenses & Certifications
- Skills
- Honors & Awards
- Organizations
Be sure to fill these sections out with anything that might show how your skills will benefit those in your target audience.
Grow Your Network
No matter how polished your profile, it won’t do any good if no one sees it. Fortunately, LinkedIn is the perfect place to connect with prospects and grow your professional network.
Send some connection requests to friends, colleagues, clients, and anyone else you already know. Then, consider reaching out to other users who might offer value to your business, especially potential referral partners.
Join Groups
One of the best ways to make new connections on LinkedIn is by joining groups. LinkedIn offers thousands of groups targeted at various communities, industries, or interests.
Look for groups relevant to your practice, whether related to your geographic area or legal niche. This will help you meet like-minded professionals, attract fresh leads, and keep up with industry trends and news. It’s also a good way to learn from your peers.
Seek Testimonials
Nothing builds credibility like a series of glowing reviews. LinkedIn allows users to “endorse” each other’s skills and write testimonials. To add a dash of social proof to your LinkedIn profile, ask clients or colleagues to leave a brief review of their experiences with you and to endorse you for your relevant skills.
(Of course, you’ll want to return the favor whenever possible.).
Create Content
LinkedIn is the ideal platform for publishing content. You can create posts and articles in LinkedIn itself or link to content you’ve published elsewhere, such as on your own blog. This lets you share valuable information with your target audience while establishing yourself as an authority in your legal niche.
Make sure to include some hashtags, too. (No, hashtags aren’t just for Twitter anymore.) By including relevant terms such as #personalinjuryattorney or #virginialawyer, you can make it easier for more prospects to find you.
Engage With Other Users
Social media should always be a conversation, not a monologue. Engaging with other users will help you learn more about your target audience and stay top-of-mind.
So keep an eye open for any opportunities to jump into the conversation by commenting, replying, or messaging someone directly. In some cases, simply liking a post can be enough to put you on someone’s radar.
Be Consistent
When it comes to running an effective online marketing strategy, consistency is key. Keep your content on LinkedIn consistent with your brand voice. That means anything you put in your profile, in posts, in articles, or even in direct messages should fit with your other social media profiles and represent your brand accurately.
This is vital to building authenticity—and even helps with your SEO rankings.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of LinkedIn for Lawyers
By putting these tips into action, you can take your LinkedIn strategy to the next level.
However, maintaining a strong presence on any social media platform takes time and effort. And as a busy professional, your schedule is probably airtight already. Between managing your practice and serving your clients, there often isn’t a lot of time left over.
Plus, the internet can be complicated. Even if you have plenty of experience navigating social media, it’s easy to make a mistake.
How about a little help?
At Let America Know, we give lawyers across the nation the support they need to get the most out of their social media and email marketing campaigns. Just contact us, and we’ll be happy to help you strengthen your online presence, reach your target audience, and increase brand visibility.
Click here to check out our done-for-you social media program for trial attorneys.