Structure Your Writing For Easy Reading

debbie mccormick linkedin 1.jpg

Last time we talked about the second Essential for a magnetic LinkedIn profile, Optimizing Your Keywords in Your LinkedIn Profile. 

Recap: 

Essential #1: Know your keywords, which are the search terms describing what you do. 

Essential #2: Optimizing your keywords means that they must be in the right places in your LinkedIn profile for the search engine algorithm (I call it the “spiders”) to easily match your profile with someone searching for what you do. If your keywords are non-existent or not in the places the spiders primarily search, you won’t show up as one of the first results in that person’s search. 

Today we’re talking about Essential #3: THE BEST STRUCTURE FOR WRITING YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE 

We all know that everyone’s busy, right? Often, a profile reader will not have time to read from top to bottom, all the way through. After noticing the photo and the banner, many will read the About section, thinking it’s a good summary (and it should be). 

Many will go directly to the Experience section because they want to know about what the profile owner is currently doing. 

In each case, both the About and current Experience should be written in a form that’s easy to skim. A big block of black type is intimidating; the reader may just think it’s too much to consume. 

® Writing in short paragraphs and bullet points solves this problem.  

® No paragraph should be longer than three lines, preferably two. 

® All important information should be emphasized in bullet points. 

Let me show you the About section in Cathy Alessandra’s profile: 

====

About Section, Cathy Alessandra 

 ✥ TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE WHILE REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR BUSINESS ✥ 

I’m known as the YES I CAN Coach. Why? Because I’ve “been there” and “done that.” 

❦ Entrepreneur for 25+ years 

❦ Started, grew and sold a 6 figure business 

❦ Founded the YES I CAN Women community 

❦ Founded and published two magazines 

❦ Written four Amazon best-selling books 

❦ Hosted Innovative Women podcast 

❦ YES I CAN Living™ magazine & podcast … 

Full of life, love, health, wealth & business! 

 I’ve done the inner work . . . 

✓ peeling back my layers of fear and failure 

✓ discovering what my real YES is and why that was important to me 

✓ designing the business and lifestyle I wanted 

 I have the training … 

✓ ACC, International Coach Federation 

✓ Certified Professional Recovery Coach, International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches 

✓ Spiritual Leadership Coaching, Blackaby Institute 

✓ NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Certification (in process) 

I walk my talk, and I have helped others do the same through my signature YES Method™ programs. 

 I offer customized coaching solutions based around your individual needs. My YES Method™ breaks down the steps to your success into bite-sized, digestible nuggets. I hold you accountable for the work that only you can do and help you get out of your own way when necessary. 

 RIGHT NOW is the time to evaluate what’s working, what’s not and what’s next in this new economy. 

 SERVICES 

▻ One-On-One Life and Business Coaching 

▻ Group Mastermind & Coaching 

▻ DIY Programs 

▻ YES180™ Program 

KEYNOTE AND SMALL-GROUP SPEAKER 

WORKSHOP: Get Your YES On -- A Half Day Experience 

 CONTACT ME ☏ 

Cathy@CathyAlessandra.com 

www.CathyAlessandra.com 

310-283-5271 

 =====

See how she delineates her experience and services with bullet points? This is so easy to read at a run, or more leisurely if the reader has time. It’s inviting to read as well – no big blocks of black ink. 

When she talks about the coaching she offers, she speaks in terms of what she will do for you, her prospective client. That’s called Point of View writing: she talks about what she does in terms of the results you’ll receive. 

If you take a look at her Experience section, it’s written in the same style and point of view. 

Also, always include your Contact Information at the bottom of your About and Current Experience sections. You never want someone frustrated that they can’t find how to contact you, so make it easy for him. 

So to recap: 

  1. Structure your writing so that it’s inviting and easy to skim. 

  1. Talk about what you do in terms of the results your clients receive. 

  1. Always include your Contact Information. 

In the coming weeks, we’ll talk about how to identify your ideal client, plus your photo and what to put in that big banner space at the top of your profile. 

Debbie McCormick

Debbie McCormick, once the staff writer for a U.S. Congressional campaign, is a LinkedIn marketing expert, branding pro and an award-winning speaker. Her best-selling book, The LinkedIn Manual for Rookies, is the all-things-LinkedIn resource she wishes she’d had when she was learning how to use the site.

I’ll be writing a monthly column called Dear Debbie for this fabulous new magazine. If you have a question about LinkedIn, just send it over to info@LinkedInBossLady.com.

https://www.debbiemccormick.com/
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