How to Amplify SVP on LinkedIn
Social media is a powerful platform for organizations like SVP Portland to tell stories about impact and get new people engaged. LinkedIn is the most professional of the social media options and perhaps the most critical site for us to extend our reach. Below, SVP Partner Kelly Starkey will walk you through the process of enhancing, engaging, and expanding your LinkedIn presence both for your benefit and SVP’s.
Part 1: How to Build Your Profile on LinkedIn
Like many things in life, how you show up matters. Now more than ever, this also applies to our social media presence. LinkedIn is the go-to source for cultivating a professional image and giving others a preview of your background and values before you even meet. Knowing that, SVP Portland put together these simple tips to help you improve your LinkedIn profile.
#1 – It Starts with Imagery
Have you heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words?” For LinkedIn, the first snapshot people have of you is your banner and headshot. Leaving either of these blank is a missed opportunity.
To update your banner, click the pencil tool in the top corner of the banner. This allows you to select from a variety of LinkedIn banners. To make your profile standout even more, try using an SVP banner.
Here are a couple of banners that promote SVP Portland for you to use on your own LinkedIn page. Just save them to your desktop and then upload them to your LinkedIn profile.
While there isn’t universal agreement on the form your profile picture should take, a general best practice would be to have a shoulder-up headshot against a neutral background.
You can edit your photo by clicking the empty blue circle shown above or the pencil icon near it. Here are just a few examples of great profile and banner photos.
#2 – Tell Your Story
People are visiting your profile because they want to learn more about you—and LinkedIn gives you several opportunities to share. But where you add us makes a difference! When you add Social Venture Partners Portland to your “Work Experience” section rather than to “Volunteer Experience,” your profile becomes more searchable by LinkedIn and lists you on SVP Portland’s LinkedIn page as well.
Instructions: Directly under your profile picture, you’ll see a button that says, “Add Section.” Here you can choose “Background” and “Work Experience” to add this section. Then, write a little bit about how you developed as an SVP Partner over time—for feedback on what to include or help building this section, feel free to reach out.
#3 – Ask Others to Improve Your Profile
“Ask others to make my profile better? Did I hear that right?” You did! LinkedIn is a social media platform. It’s about sharing experiences and information to better the entire community. On LinkedIn, others are given the opportunity to bolster your profile and share their knowledge of your skills and expertise.
Just as you added sections above, you should also be adding sections where others fill in the information. Under the “Add Section” button, you can select “Skills” and “Additional Information (Request a recommendation).” Once added, people who follow you can endorse you for skills that you’re good at or write a recommendation on your behalf.
Not sure where to start? Simply reach out to some of your closest friends, family, and peers and ask them to endorse you for your favorite few skills or see if they’re comfortable writing a recommendation. There’s nothing wrong with offering to endorse or recommend them in return.
While there are several other profile optimization techniques, these are a good start to making a great LinkedIn profile. Still have questions on how you can improve your profile? Feel free to contact me at (435) 901-3278 or kelly@starkeyconsulting.com.
Part 2: Engage with SVP Portland on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an incredible networking tool for professionals looking to stay connected. As an SVP Portland advocate, we want to help you understand how you can use the platform to stay engaged with us and the philanthropic work we share a passion for. That’s why we created three easy tips on how you can connect, share, and support the SVP mission.
#1 – Follow Us
Never miss an update! If you type “Social Venture Partners Portland” into the LinkedIn search bar, or click here, you’ll be able to visit our page. Then, it’s as simple as clicking “Follow” to get all our updates delivered directly to your feed.
#2 – Tag Us
Have something compelling to share about your experience with us or the community we both support? Talk about it. When making a new post to your feed, type “@social venture partners portland” and our name will pop up. You can then click on our name to add us to the conversation.
#3 – Connect to Us
Just like you, there’s dozens of individuals connected to the SVP Portland mission. You don’t just need to engage with the company—engage with its employees and leaders too! Although Partners are not technically employees, LinkedIn allows us to list our Experience and be linked to the page. To find this network of engaged philanthropists, click on the “See all employees on LinkedIn” button on our page.
In addition, you can make it easier for them to find you by adding your SVP Portland experience to your “Work Experience” profile section rather than your “Volunteer Experience” section (as discussed in Part 1). By doing this, you get added to the group highlighted above and improve LinkedIn’s search for others.
Still need help? Feel free to contact me at (435) 901-3278 or kelly@starkeyconsulting.com.
Part 3: How to Expand Your Philanthropic Network on LinkedIn
For many in the philanthropic space, we live and breathe by our connections. Building a strong network matters in how much change we can affect, funds we can raise, and expertise we can share. But if 2020 taught us anything, it’s that our networks can’t just be in-person anymore.
Whether you are new to LinkedIn or have a thriving following, there are still best practices that can empower your philanthropic presence and bolster causes you care about, like SVP Portland. Here’s some easy ways to broaden your network and do more good!
#1 – Say What’s On Your Mind
Have a favorite nonprofit, charity or organization that speaks to your values? Speak about it! When you post your thoughts on a company, it improves search, LinkedIn’s algorithm, and how people find you!
Start your own post by writing what you want to say, then using the @ symbol, followed by the company name to tag them in it. It’s as simple as that. Then their followers see your content, even if you’re not connected with them.
#2 – Your Network Expands When You Engage
Who doesn’t like it when someone likes or shares their post? The great thing about LinkedIn is you can get that feeling, while increasing a philanthropic group’s online presence and expanding your network. LinkedIn gives you several avenues to engage, from posting to profiles. Utilize these so people can find you and join in on the conversation!
In just one post from a company, you can follow them, like the content they posted, comment with your own thoughts, share it with your followers, or send it to someone you think would want to read it.
The best part about the “Share” option is that you can share it as-is, or add on to the discussion for your own followers.
#3 – Follow Your Heart (and the Companies that Speak to It)
When you navigate to any organization’s page, there are options for you to follow the company and its people. Every time you do this, you’re developing the newsfeed on your home page. That’s because a “Follow” lets an organization’s posts roll right into what you see every day on LinkedIn.
If there are certain causes or people you want to hear from regularly, navigate to their page by searching for them in the search bar. Then click the “Follow.”
You can also do this with the people who work for a certain company. In the image above, just click the “People” button at the bottom, then connect with those individuals you want to engage with. It never hurts to add a personalized message when you “Connect” to let them know why you’re reaching out.
Once you’ve created a network of people and organizations that speaks to you, give yourself a pat on the back. You can also review those great philanthropic organizations by visiting your “Interests” section on your profile and seeing who is in the mix.
Expanding your network helps SVP Portland get more connected with other Investor Partners, Community Partners, and Encore Fellows. As we look to the return to in-person engagement, what better way to make more connections than to see where your network can take you!
Want more tips on expanding your network? Feel free to contact me at (435) 901-3278 or kelly@starkeyconsulting.com.
