***How To Create A Winning Social Networking Profile

Your social networking profile will prove an old adage: first impressions are lasting impressions.

Your profile page is often the first big impression you make on your contacts and will give them an overview of whether you’re worth the effort to befriend. Of course you have other opportunities to make impressions on your followers by posting comments and participating in discussions, but the profile stands as your big chance to prove your credibility.

When on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and all the other popular social networking sites, be sure you post profiles that make people want to know more about you and your business. Here are some tips for you to create a winning profile page that makes your friends and followers take notice and want to do business with you!

1. Speak Your Expertise with Confidence
A winning profile leads with your expertise and clearly states who you are, what you do, who you work with, and the results you help create. Don’t start off with the fact that you’re a grandmother of 5 or a nature lover or else you’ll create a distraction. Lead with your expertise ALWAYS so people don’t have to dig into all the copy to find out what type of business you’re in.

2. Soften It Up With a Personal Touch
After you lead with your professional expertise, you want to round it out with some interesting personal information. Include what you feel most comfortable with, such as hobbies, marital status, family info, or fun quirky things you think others might find interesting.

3. Connect with a Great Photo
Your social networking profile always includes space for a photo of you. Choose a photo that shows your face clearly, not a distant photo of you in a big crowd. Experts say that a picture of you looking directly at the camera will create connection faster with your viewer than pictures of you looking away from the camera. Be honest with your profile picture, too… that means to use a fairly recent photo, not the old standby you’ve been using since 1995.

4. Make it Easy for People to Learn More About You
Be sure to leave links to your website, blog, and other social networking sites so people can move into your inner circle. Be sure all your links are “live” by using http:// in each web address. (Many people just use “www” and miss the traffic that can be visiting their site.)

5. Give yourself the 10 Second Test
You have no more than 10 seconds to make an impression on visitors who come to your social networking profile pages. Some experts say you have even LESS time than that, so make sure it’s easy to get who you are, what you do, and how you help others. Check your formatting and make sure all the paragraphs aren’t lumped into one big block of text.

When you have a strong profile page that makes it easy for friends to figure out who you are, what you do, and how you help others, then you have a greater chance of finding the right business connections. It’s important not to blend into the woodwork in the world of social networking. With these tips, your profile will stand out and generate more interest and visibility for your business!