With more than 500 million users, LinkedIn is the world's go-to site for professional networking, job searching, and corporate branding.

It's also the ultimate platform for high-level marketing, lead generation, and thought leadership.

Fully 92% of B2B marketers prefer LinkedIn over other social networks,44% of LinkedIn users earn more than $75,000 per year, and 41% of millionaires use the platform.

That's why LinkedIn is a prime platform for lead generation.


Image from LinkedIn Marketing Solutions

" Social media platforms as a whole aren't scoring high on the lead awesomeness scale," asserts Kissmetrics, "But among the low-scoring social sites, there is one that stands out as a success marker. You guessed it: LinkedIn."

Nearly 80% of marketers consider the platform the most effective social media source of lead generation.


Image from Business2Community

You know the potential, but are you struggling to make the most of LinkedIn? If you are, chances are you've been putting the cart before the horse.

Aaron Orendorff, a veteran online marketer and co-initiator of the recent #LetsGetHonest LinkedIn campaign, shared critical questions every LinkedIn marketer must answer to move from "Oh no!" to "Yes, I made it."

Let's have a quick look at three key questions to ask when using LinkedIn.

1. Who are you?

LinkedIn success depends heavily on personality. The first thing that defines you—and your personal brand—is your profile picture. That ordinary headshot says a lot about you.

With the right photo, marketers can create an impression that wins over high-profile contacts, helping you generate more leads and close more deals. The opposite correlation is true as well.

Check out Aaron's profile picture. It's not exactly off-putting, but there's something wrong with it. Thanks to Jacob Warwick for pointing it out: "Great headshot—but lacks emotion. Feels like you may have a big ego, especially when combined with 'Forbes Top 25.'"

Read that again! That review couldn't be more right. It reminds me of Ryan Holiday's candid philosophical submission from his book Ego Is the Enemy—that the greatest opponents to success are ego and self-absorption.

As a marketer, having a profile picture that portrays you as approachable and welcoming can unlock doors. You have to be discerning about the picture and the message it implies.

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A Winning LinkedIn Profile: Three Questions to Ask and Answer

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

image of Shakir Akorede

Shakir Akorede is a writer, a content marketer, and the founder of 501 Words. He's an agenda contributor to the World Economic Forum, focusing on Millennials and business.

LinkedIn: Shakir Akorede

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Twitter: @akorive001