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    Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile and Get More Clients

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    Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
    Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

    Your LinkedIn profile may be the single most important factor in whether or not you’re attracting leads on LinkedIn.

    Last week, I shared how LinkedIn is by far the best way I’ve gotten clients. I gave you a peek behind the curtain at the 4 best practices that help me grow my blog traffic and brand awareness on LinkedIn.

    You may remember I showed you how to increase your connections, how often you should post, how to publish LinkedIn articles, and how to expand your posts’ reach. (Click here to read that post.)

    Pretty good stuff, I’ve got to say!

    But even if you follow all 4 of those best practices to a T, you still won’t see the traction you want unless you optimize your LinkedIn profile.

    The reason why is pretty simple. When people come across your content on their LinkedIn feed and are intrigued, the very next thing they do is click on your name to view your LinkedIn profile.

    The content they find on there determines whether or not they reach out to you, browse your blog, or sign up for your lead magnet.

    So you’ve got to make your LinkedIn profile as enticing as possible!

    The problem is that many entrepreneurs don’t know how to optimize their LinkedIn profile. So they stuff their About section with distracting details and write a headline that sounds unique but doesn’t really communicate how they help.

    Not a great way to start.

    What You’ll Learn About Your LinkedIn Profile

    In this article, I’m walking you through how to optimize your LinkedIn profile so you can garner as many leads as possible. I’ll teach you best practices for your:

    • Headline
    • Profile picture
    • Cover image
    • Contact info
    • About section
    • Featured section
    • Business listing
    • And more

    Are you excited to get more leads? Let’s dive in!

    Your Headline Is the Most Important Aspect of Your LinkedIn Profile

    Hands down, this is what you should focus on first when optimizing your LinkedIn profile. Your headline is the title that appears right under your name:

    Your name and your headline are what people see when they come across your post in their feed. If your headline is compelling enough, it will get them to click.

    So what makes a compelling headline?

    Some say to be as unique as possible. But in my experience, this can quickly devolve into simply confusing people. For instance…

    “Brand-Focused Growth Hacker for Purpose-Driven Adventurers | Empowering people to change their lives.”

    I’m sorry… I still don’t understand what you do or how you can help. Let’s try that again with plain language.

    “Marketing Consultant for Christian Entrepreneurs | Helping you grow your business with proven strategies.”

    Simple yet effective. After seeing a headline like that, Christian entrepreneurs who need help with their marketing will want to know more.

    Some final tips:

    • Use plain language
    • Use keywords that your ideal client is searching for
    • Show immediately how you can help

    Update Your Profile Picture

    Make sure your profile picture is clear and on brand. I recommend choosing a more professional photo than you would for Facebook or Instagram. This is because most people on LinkedIn are professionals, and when they’re using the platform, they’re thinking with a business mindset.

    When choosing a profile picture, also consider your brand colors. It’s a good idea to incorporate your brand colors into both your profile picture and your cover image so that they look good together.

    Your Cover Image Should Match Your Branding

    Speaking of your cover image, do you even have one? Many people don’t! For a while, I didn’t even know how to change my cover image. I thought the blue placeholder was all that was available.

    So wrong. This is simply one example of how tech-challenged I can be!

    To change your cover image, just click on the pencil icon on the cover image. Upload a photo that’s 1400 x 425 pixels. You can easily create a compelling cover image in Canva.

    LinkedIn Cover Image
    Notice how I designed my cover image to match my overall branding (and matched it to my profile pic).

    Your Contact Info on Your LinkedIn Profile

    Make sure your contact info is filled out with at least your business email and business website. If you have other applicable social media to add there, go ahead and include those as well.

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to check out someone’s website but couldn’t find it anywhere on their LinkedIn profile!

    What to Do With Your About Section

    All right… this is the section most people have major questions about. The About section can be a little intimidating for people because they know what a big deal it is.

    Your About section is basically your LinkedIn elevator pitch/warm welcome.

    Above all else, I recommend that you open your About section with how you help your ideal clients.

    Beyond that client-focused opening, you truly do have some creative flexibility here! Here are some ways to get your creative juices flowing:

    • Showcase some of your top products or services.
    • Share about the values that drive your business. Perhaps what inspired you to start your business in the first place.
    • Add a short and sweet testimonial from one of your star clients.
    • Talk about how your blog helps your readers.
    • End with a strong call to action. What’s the next step you want them to take?

    To see how I did my About section, check out my LinkedIn profile.

    Feature Your Lead Magnet or Best Content

    If you have a lead magnet to get people to sign up for your email list, your Featured section is the perfect place to highlight it!

    Pro Tip: Create a landing page for your lead magnet and use a promotional image as the page’s featured image. That way, when you add the link to your lead magnet’s landing page to the Featured section, it will automatically show the promotional image.

    Here’s an example of how I did it:

    Don’t see a Featured section on your profile? Simply add that section by clicking “Add profile section” at the top of your profile page.

    LinkedIn Profile to Add Section

    Optimize Your Business Listing Under the Experience Section

    Make sure your business is the latest job visible under your Experience section. Use the description of your job to show people once again how you can help your ideal client.

    You can also highlight your lead magnet again by adding your landing page’s link in the job description. (The more times you can promote your lead magnet, the better!)

    Add Relevant Info to Your LinkedIn Profile

    As long as you have these key points in place, you’re good to go!

    But perhaps you want to season your LinkedIn profile with more compelling content. If so, consider adding any of the following that are relevant to you:

    • Education
    • Certifications relevant to your business
    • Awards
    • Volunteer positions that have grown your expertise
    • Leadership positions in other organizations/chambers/clubs

    Are you ready to start optimizing your LinkedIn profile and generate more leads? Make it easier on yourself and use this blog as a reference as you go through your profile piece by piece.

    Still need some more help with optimizing your LinkedIn profile? I’d be happy to coach you through how to turn your profile into a lead-generation machine! Set up a free clarity call with me to get started.

    How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
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  • Social Media

    How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Your Business Blog

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    How to Use LinkedIn to Promote My Blog
    How to Use LinkedIn to Promote My Blog

    Wondering how to use LinkedIn to promote your blog and grow your brand?

    Great, because it’s actually not that hard!

    LinkedIn may be one of the best social media platforms for you if your ideal client is in business in any way.

    Although I’m less active on LinkedIn than I am on Facebook or Instagram, LinkedIn has still been my greatest source for getting clients.

    This is likely because people on other social media platforms are simply browsing for fun. Many times, they’re not expecting (or even wanting) an interruption from you talking about your blog or services. But when people are on LinkedIn, they’re already thinking with a business mindset. This gives your business blog a huge advantage on that platform.

    As of this writing, around half my clients have found me because of my activity on LinkedIn. And the best part is … this is all the result of inbound marketing. I haven’t had to sell to a single person! As a 9 on the Enneagram, I can’t even explain to you how happy it makes me to not aggressively sell. Seriously.

    LinkedIn has also been a great place for me to grow my email list and increase my blog traffic. So… you’ll have to excuse my enthusiasm because I’m just a little bit obsessed with LinkedIn right now.

    But the real question here is: Is LinkedIn the right fit for you? Let’s find out.

    How to Know LinkedIn Is the Right Fit for Your Blog

    Before you commit to learning how to use LinkedIn to promote your blog, you need to find out if your audience is even on there.

    LinkedIn is likely a good fit for you if your primary audience includes:

    • Businessmen and businesswomen
    • Entrepreneurs and small-business owners
    • People looking for a job
    • People wanting to quit their job and start their own money-making venture

    Keep in mind that your offer should be—in most cases—something that helps them in their professional goals.

    How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Your Articles and Grow Your Brand

    Now that you’ve determined that LinkedIn is a great fit for your business, let’s dive into how to use LinkedIn to grow your brand and your blog.

    1. Grow Your LinkedIn Connections

    The first step to promoting your blog is actually growing your following. This doesn’t mean you can’t post your blogs on LinkedIn until you have a certain number of followers. But if you have fewer than 500 connections, I would recommend focusing your energy on building genuine connections.

    Focus on connecting with people who are your ideal client or who are in the same/similar field as you.

    Start by reaching out to connect with 5 people every other day. (I’ve heard people say you should do it every day, but hey, we have lives, right?)

    Huge tip for how to use LinkedIn to make connections: Make sure to send a personalized message with each connection request.

    This doesn’t have to be long and fancy. Just be sure to use their first name, indicate the connecting link that caused you to reach out to them (friend, school, or former job you have in common), and be friendly.

    Here’s an example:

    Hi, Tracy. I’m Jenny Rose, a Christian content marketing coach and fellow Stetson grad. (Go Hatters!) I saw you’re connected with my good friend [Insert Friend Here]. I’d love to connect on LinkedIn. Have a great day!

    Practical ways to find connections:

    • Go to your alma mater’s page and look for fellow alumni.

    Some colleges’ LinkedIn pages have settings for you to search based on geographical location, study major, or current job title. Take advantage of these to find your ideal client.

    • Look at your friends’ connections.
    • When a new person says yes to your connection request, look at their connections.
    • Use LinkedIn’s search tool to find your ideal client or fellow business owners in your field.

    If you have a free account on LinkedIn, you have a limited amount of monthly searches. You can only find results for 1,000 profiles or 100 pages. So make them count!

    If you upgrade to a premium LinkedIn account, you get access to unlimited search results.

    2. Post Several Times a Week

    Like all social media platforms, you can’t just post once in a blue moon and expect a great return. A huge part of how to use LinkedIn is simply being active on the platform. (That includes posting and liking/commenting on other people’s posts.)

    The more active you are on LinkedIn, the more your connections see you and your content.

    Not all these posts have to be links to your blog. Be sure to also post content that builds relationships or offers free value without having to click away to get it.

    In fact, some claim that LinkedIn’s algorithm disfavors posts with links in them.

    The other alternative is putting the link in the comments instead of the post itself. Agorapulse ran a test to see how posts with links in the comments compared to posts with links in the post itself. They found that views (or impressions) were higher for posts with links in comments, indicating that LinkedIn’s algorithm shared those posts more liberally. But those same posts also had fewer comments and likes.

    The fewer comments and likes could be from the fact that when you share a link in the post itself, a picture pops up that’s clickable. Like this:

    When the link is in the comments, though, there’s no compelling photo or headline to attract attention.

    However you choose to post your blog links on LinkedIn, just make sure to do it regularly! I recommend at least 2 to 3 posts per week, with at least 1 of them being a link to your blog.

    But blog links aren’t the only aspect of knowing how to use LinkedIn.

    3. Publish LinkedIn Articles

    I’ve seen many people who have had great success republishing their blogs as LinkedIn articles. (I haven’t had as much success with LinkedIn articles as I have with simply promoting my blog, but this could be because I’m still growing my following on the platform.)

    To do this, just click “Write Article” in the lower right-hand corner. Then simply copy-paste your blog into the appropriate fields.

    A few recommendations if you choose to do this:

    • Wait at least 2 weeks before republishing your articles.

    You want to make sure your blog on your own website has a chance to rise in the ranks on Google before adding the same copy on another platform.

    • Rewrite the headline.

    It doesn’t have to be vastly different, but it should be different enough that people scrolling through Google’s search results won’t be confused by identical headlines.

    • When you publish your post, tag a connection you think would get a lot out of it or who you interviewed for the piece.

    4. Tag People and Add Hashtags to Your LinkedIn Posts

    If you want to know how to use LinkedIn to promote your blog, tagging and hashtags are a great place to start. This way, it’s easier to get your content in front of more eyes.

    But don’t tag just anyone. Make sure it’s someone who would get a lot of out of the content, someone you wrote about in the article, or someone you interviewed for the piece.

    When adding hashtags, don’t pull an Instagram and add 30. Just don’t. LinkedIn, like Facebook, does just fine with simply 1 or 2 general hashtags that people follow.

    To get a feel for how I use LinkedIn to promote my blog, feel free to connect with me. Just click here and send me a connection request!

    Pssst! Did you know I wrote an e-book that’s chock-full of valuable tips and tricks to grow your blog?

    Click here to grab your Ultimate Business Blogging Bundle. You not only get the e-book when you sign up, but you also get 3 Bonus Resources:

    • List of 18+ time-saving blogging tools
    • List of ready-to-use hashtags
    • List of creative blogging prompts

    Get your Blogging Bundle today!

    How to Use LinkedIn for My Blog

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  • Social Media

    What to Post on Instagram: 4 Types of Content You Should Publish Every Week

    What to Post on Instagram
    What to Post on Instagram

    Are you confused about what to post on Instagram for your business? If so, you should know that there are 4 basic types of posts you should publish every single week if you want to maintain a healthy Instagram strategy.

    What are those 4 types of posts?

    1. Engagement
    2. Education
    3. Inspiration
    4. Promotion

    But don’t worry… I’ll dive deeper into each one. I’ll walk you through how to create these types of posts and how they help build your business brand!

    So let’s get to it, shall we?

    What to Post on Instagram: Creating the Right Content

    Last week, I wrote about how to use Instagram for business. Now, it’s time to learn what to post on Instagram.

    In order to create the right content, you need to be sure you have a clear purpose in mind for each post as you create it. What response do you want this post to evoke from your viewers?

    Do you want them to click something? Buy something? Like, comment, or share?

    As I mentioned before, the top four purposes you want to have for your posts are: engagement, education, inspiration and promotion.

    That said, sometimes these purposes will overlap a little bit. And that’s OK! Just make sure you’re hitting each of these 4 categories at least once per week.

    What to Post on Instagram Pin

    1. Engagement-Focused Posts

    The goal of this type of post is to drive engagement with likes, post saves, comments, shares, or clicks. In other words, you simply want your audience to enjoy the content and interact with it.

    Engagement is important because it tells Instagram that people care about your content. This is because it causes the algorithm to put you in front of other people who are more likely to enjoy your content and follow you.

    Great ideas for engagement posts are:

    Step-by-step instructions

    This could include recipes, directions, formulas, and so on. Clear lists, especially if they’re numbered, are easy to digest and often get a lot of reactions from people, like this post.

    Funny memes or GIFs

    If lighthearted humor is part of your brand, creating memes can be a great way to delight your audience. 

    Conversational questions

    These are great ways to get to know your audience. That’s because you can ask questions like: “Where are you from? Comment below!” or “How many of you are working from home right now?” or “What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?”

    People love answering lighthearted personal questions like this. Conversational questions typically get lots of comments.

    “This or That?” questions

    Like conversational questions, “This or That?” questions typically get a lot of comments, too. And yes, they are very similar. But the beauty of “This or That?” is how simple they are! Yet so many people comment because we all love to share our opinion. 😉 

    Some ideas for “This or That?” include: “Beach or Mountains?” “Coffee or Tea?” “Cats or Dogs?” “Introvert or Extrovert?”

    In light of that, you can even do some strategic A-B testing with this question! For example, you could create two types of logos and post them side by side, saying, “A or B?” You’ll get lots of comments, I’m sure!

    Always end your engagement posts with a strong call to action. You might tell them, “Save this post so you can make this recipe later!” or “Comment below!” Just make it clear.

    Here’s an example from my Instagram account.

    View this post on Instagram

    [Question] for my blog-writing friends…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for getting the word out about your blog?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Share your favorite blogging insights below! 👇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #caffeinateandconquer #lessworkmorelife #solopreneurlife #socialmediacoaching #contentmarketingcoach #marketingcoach #marketingtips #bloggingtips #writingtips #contentstrategytips #contentstrategy #contentmarketing101 #freelancemarketing #freelanceblogging #freelancewriting #writingconsultant #contentcreationtips #socialmediaforbusiness #digitalmarketingstrategy #growmybusiness #smallbusinesshelp #contentcreation #jennyrosespaudo #contenttips #onlinemarketingtips #growthhacks #blogwriting #businessblogging #bloggersofinstagram

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    2. Educational Posts

    Educational posts build trust. They position you as the expert in your niche, showing that you know what you’re talking about and you have what it takes to help your ideal client.

    Educational posts will look different depending on what niche you’re in. But they should always provide some kind of knowledge that helps your ideal client.

    Here are some ideas to get you started:

    Tips and strategies

    For example, if you’re a homeschool blogger, an educational post might mean sharing a tip you recently learned for better organizing your busy day with kids. Or if you’re a financial expert, maybe you share some top tips to stay organized for tax time.

    Take a look at this example:

    Your blogs

    Sharing your blogs would fall under this category since you’re offering free knowledge that helps your audience.

    Because you can’t put clickable links in Instagram posts, I recommend posting a compelling graphic and caption. At the end of your caption, tell people to click on the link in your bio to read the post.

    I use Linktree as my bio link. So all I have to do is add my blog link whenever I promote a new article.

    Lessons you’ve learned the hard way

    These are great because they build a deeper connection with your audience. They see you more as human and someone they can trust instead of a far-off guru.

    3. Inspirational Posts

    This is where you let your values shine! Inspirational posts should tell your audience what morals, values and ideas define your brand.

    For inspirational posts, try…

    Quotes from people you and your audience admire

    My target audience is Christian entrepreneurs, so I often quote Christian heroes in the past, current Christian leaders I admire, marketing experts, and business thought leaders.

    But make sure the quotes somehow relate to your audience’s need.

    Bible verses that speak to your audience’s situation

    If your target audience is Christian, then Scripture quotes are amazing. After all, we all need more of the Word of God!

    Here’s an example:

    View this post on Instagram

    Another one of my favorite Bible verses! (And one I take seriously in my business.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you ever caught yourself working to get admiration from other people … instead of working to honor God?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jesuscalling #bibleverse #christianquotes #christianbusinessowner #christianbusinesscoach #christianmarketing #contentmarketingbusiness #christcentered #christcenteredlife #christcenteredbusiness #christianentrepreneur #womenoffaith #womensupportingwomen #motivation #spiritualencouragement #womenoffaithandprayer #waitonthelord #trustinjesus #christianmillennials #christianitytoday #livebyfaith #prayerworks #trustgodsplan #faithingod #faithinbusiness #marketingstrategytips #freelancewriter #jennyrosespaudo #contentmarketingconsultant #biztips

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    Heartfelt words of encouragement

    Sometimes we just need someone to tell us we’re going to be OK. That we’re going to make it… even though it’s hard. No matter what niche you’re in, you can be a voice of encouragement to your audience.

    4. Promotional Posts

    Here’s the thing… if you don’t tell people what you offer, they won’t know!

    I made this mistake when I first started posting to Instagram. I just posted engaging, educational, and inspirational content. But then I realized I never told my audience exactly how I can help them!

    Doing so isn’t just a disservice to your business. It’s also a disservice to your audience. After all, they deserve to know how you can help them with their problem.

    That said, if you’re only promoting, then you might annoy your audience. A good rule of thumb is making one out of every three to five posts a promotional post. (Unless you’re launching a new product and need to promote every day in a row for a few days.)

    Here’s an example:

    View this post on Instagram

    STOP!! Did you know there’s an easier way to grow your brand online other than wasting countless hours trying to do it all yourself?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Well, then, let me introduce myself. I’m Jenny Rose, a Christian content marketer who loves helping Jesus-driven business owners like you grow their businesses!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👉 Do you need someone to ghost write your blogs for you?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👉 Do you need helping managing your social media?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👉 Do you want coaching to help you optimize your content marketing strategy?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I can help with that! Send me a DM and let’s talk about how you can start growing your business online today!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #contentmarketing #womeninbusiness #floridabusiness #womenentrepreneur #entrepreneurship #marketingtips #jennyrosespaudo #entrepreneurspirit #entrepreneurgoals #socialmediamarketing #socialmediamanager #socialmediastrategy #socialmediaqueen #socialmediacoach #contentcoach #writingcoach #copywriter #copywriting #businessideas #christianbusiness #christianentrepreneur #solopreneur #solopreneurs #fempreneur #girlbosshustle #lovemybiz #mycreativebiz #creativebusiness #scaleyourbusiness #growyourbusinessonline

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    Hey, speaking of Instagram… Are you following me there? Click here and follow me for more free content marketing tips!

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  • Social Media

    How to Use Instagram for Business: A Beginner’s Guide

    How to use Instagram for business
    How to use Instagram for business

    Instagram is growing like crazy and showing no signs of stopping! And with 81% of its users researching products and brands on Instagram, you can’t afford not to know how to use Instagram for business!

    Here are some other stats about Instagram you should know:

    You probably already know this, but Instagram is a highly visual platform. As a result, it lets you showcase your brand, your services and your products. And it helps you connect with your audience on a more personal level.

    But chances are, your business isn’t as active on Instagram as it should be. For many entrepreneurs, it’s because learning how to use Instagram and get comfortable with it takes time and research—and who has the bandwidth for that?

    Well, allow me to introduce you to the basics of Instagram to help you get started. It’s not nearly as scary as it sounds, I promise!

    Just by learning these basics, you can get started with regularly posting to Instagram and growing your following.

    So in this article, I’m walking you through…

    1. Why you need a business profile and how to set that up
    2. How to publish posts on Instagram
    3. Ways to grow your following
    4. How to use hashtags the right way

    How to Use Instagram for Business: Set Up Your Business Profile

    Setting up your business profile is the first step to using Instagram for your business.

    One common question people ask is: Do I really need a business profile? Can’t I just use my personal one?

    Well, sure, you can. But there are several compelling reasons why you should get a business profile instead.

    Why You Need a Business Profile

    1. Analytics and Insights

    When you have a business profile on Instagram, you have access to analytics data. This lets you see how many people have followed you or unfollowed you in the last week, how big your reach is on your posts and stories, how many actions people have taken (profile clicks or website clicks), and more.

    2. Add a Contact Button

    You can’t add a contact button if your profile is personal. Contact buttons offer an easy way for potential clients and customers to reach out to you (say, via email). This makes it a great way to build relationships off the IG platform.

    3. Add Links on Instagram Stories

    If you have over 10,000 followers, you can use the “Swipe Up” feature to take people to a landing page. 

    Many of us small-business owners aren’t quite there yet! But no matter your following size, you can still use the Swipe Up feature to lead to an IGTV video.

    4. Can Advertise on Instagram

    You should also know that you can’t advertise on Instagram without having a business profile. So if you ever want to run ads in the future, make sure you set the stage for them now.

    How to Create a Business Profile

    If you already have a business profile, feel free to skip this section!

    You can either create a new account from scratch if you want to keep your personal profile separate from your professional one. To do that, go to your profile and click the “hamburger” (three lines) in the top-right corner. Then click “Settings” on the bottom.

    Instagram account setup

    Then scroll down a bit and select “Add Account.” It’s highlighted in blue so you can’t miss it!

    Instagram add account

    The other way to set up a business profile is by converting your personal account into a business one.

    Go to “Settings” again and select “Account.” Then scroll down to the bottom and click “Switch to Professional Account.”

    Instagram change to business account

    Optimize Your Instagram Bio

    If you want to attract the right following, you’ll want to optimize your bio. This is actually something a lot of businesses and freelancers forget to do!

    Here’s how to make sure your bio immediately captures the attention of your ideal audience:

    1. Use concise language that fits your brand.

    You only get 150 characters in your bio. This is not the place to tell a long story. Get to the point and make it quick.

    That said, though, you can still use words that convey your personality and your brand.

    2. Use emojis to catch the eye.

    A pop of color always catches attention. Using emojis will draw viewers’ eyes to your bio so they know what you’re all about!

    3. Tell viewers right away what’s in it for them.

    The first thing people want to know is what’s in it for them. I know it sounds selfish, but that’s just how it is. Because of that, you need to hook their attention immediately by telling them what they’re going to get out of following you.

    You can do this by simply finishing this sentence: “I help [target audience] by [how you help them]…”

    4. End with a call to action.

    Tell your readers exactly what you want them to do. Do you want them to get your freebie? Email you for a quote? Browse your products on your website? Tell them!

    5. Include a link.

    I use Linktree, which lets you include multiple links. So when someone clicks that link, it takes them to a page (like the one below) that has multiple links on it. You can include links to your website, your product page, your lead magnet… whatever is relevant!

    One thing you should know about Instagram is that it doesn’t allow you to include clickable links in your posts. (It’s not like Facebook…)

    Because of that, you’ll want to promote your blog on Instagram with a graphic and then in the caption tell them that the link to the blog is in your bio.

    By using Linktree, you can simply add your latest blog to the admin panel! Easy as pie.

    Jenny Rose Spaudo Linktree

    Here’s my bio, in which I follow all five points listed above:

    Jenny Rose Spaudo Instagram Bio

    How to Use Instagram for Business: Creating Posts

    Posting to Instagram is pretty simple from your phone. In fact, if you’re posting manually, the only way you can do it is through your phone. You can’t post to Instagram on your desktop unless you’re using a scheduler.

    To get started, select the “+” button in the center at the bottom of your home page. Then choose the photo you want.

    If you want to post multiple photos at once, click the layered icon and then select which photos you want.

    Instagram will then give you the option to choose a filter. I’m not a huge fan of Instagram’s free filters, so I usually pass on this.

    Then you can add your caption and your hashtags, tag people in the photo (if applicable), and tag your location. Now… hit Share!

    How to post on Instagram

    How to Grow Your Following on Instagram

    Growing a following of loyal and enthusiastic fans (and ideal clients!) requires two main ingredients:

    1. Posting regularly
    2. Using great hashtags

    Posting Regularly to Grow Your Following

    To get the most out of Instagram, I recommend posting at least 5-7 times per week. This is ideal for growing your following more quickly.

    If growing your following as quickly isn’t as important to you, I suggest posting 3 times a week to simply maintain a brand presence on Instagram.

    Make sure you are posting content that your audience cares about and that reveals the values behind your brand.

    Grow With Hashtags

    Using hashtags isn’t what it used to be. It used to be easier to grow substantially just by slapping hashtags on your post.

    But it’s not like that anymore.

    People don’t like seeing a flood of hashtags right next to your caption. And some hashtags are so popular that you don’t really have a chance of being discovered by using them.

    But that doesn’t mean they’re not effective anymore!

    To strategically use hashtags, I recommend mostly using ones that have 1 million posts or fewer. The reason is that super popular hashtags get so many posts that yours will quickly get buried in the flood.

    That said, you can use 1-2 hashtags with 1 million or more, but I wouldn’t go beyond that.

    How to Research Hashtags

    So how do you know how popular a hashtag is? You can see how many posts a hashtag has by using the search bar.

    As you can see below, #bestfriends isn’t the greatest hashtag to use because it has over 61,000,000 posts. But #greatfriendships is better to use since it has only 28,000 or so.

    How to use Instagram for business with hashtags

    Finally, use hashtags relevant to your niche. Start by looking at the hashtags your competitors and ideal clients are using.

    You can use up to 30 hashtags in each post. To add some space between the hashtags and the caption, I recommend either putting several lines of space (with periods, for instance) after the caption before putting in your hashtags or posting the hashtags as a comment.

    View this post on Instagram

    Another one of my favorite Bible verses! (And one I take seriously in my business.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you ever caught yourself working to get admiration from other people … instead of working to honor God?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #jesuscalling #bibleverse #christianquotes #christianbusinessowner #christianbusinesscoach #christianmarketing #contentmarketingbusiness #christcentered #christcenteredlife #christcenteredbusiness #christianentrepreneur #womenoffaith #womensupportingwomen #motivation #spiritualencouragement #womenoffaithandprayer #waitonthelord #trustinjesus #christianmillennials #christianitytoday #livebyfaith #prayerworks #trustgodsplan #faithingod #faithinbusiness #marketingstrategytips #freelancewriter #jennyrosespaudo #contentmarketingconsultant #biztips

    A post shared by Jenny Rose | Content Coach (@jenny.rose.spaudo) on

    Now You Know the Basics of How to Instagram for Business!

    Hopefully, if you’re a total newbie to Instagram, this article gave you the basic info you need to get started. But I have to tell you … the best way to really learn Instagram is to simply use it regularly!

    Make sure you read next week’s blog, where I’ll dive deeper into the 4 different kinds of posts you should use regularly on your business Instagram!

    Happy posting!

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  • Social Media

    Optimize Your Instagram Profile With 4 Easy Tips

    Optimize Your Instagram Profile
    Optimize your Instagram profile

    If you’re a beginner when it comes to content marketing, you should know that Instagram can be your best friend—if you optimize your profile. And if you want to optimize your Instagram profile, there are four tips you need to follow.

    I could regale you with tons of reasons why Instagram is financially worth your time. In fact, one of my favorite clients wanted to hire me when I first started my business because they found me on Instagram.

    I could also tell you why it’s the perfect platform if you feel you’re not a naturally gifted writer.

    And while we’re at it, it’s worth noting that Instagram surpassed 1 billion monthly users in 2018—and it just keeps growing.

    But as Instagram grows, it makes it harder for you to grow an engaged following, especially when you’re just starting out. So what can you do to stand out from the crowd?

    Optimize Your Instagram Profile

    Well, first of all, you have to make sure you’re optimizing your Instagram profile. Here’s where to start:

    1. Ask Yourself What’s Working and What’s Not

    OK, I’m going to ask you to do a little homework right now. First, open up your Instagram app. (If you have a business profile, click “Insights” to find the answers to these questions more quickly.) With your app open, I want you to ask yourself the following:

    What posts have the most comments?

    Which photos or videos have the most likes?

    Which ones have the most saves? (Keep in mind that saves aren’t super common, so if this number is really low, don’t sweat it.)

    What posts have the most actions taken on them? (Clicks to the link in your bio, saves, etc.)

    Did you find those posts? Great. Now, get out a pen and some paper and write down the answers to these questions.

    What kinds of photos got the most likes?

    Which kinds of captions elicited the most comments?

    What kinds of calls-to-action got people to actually follow through?

    Did you write them down? Awesome. Understanding what’s working for you is vital not only to increasing your momentum, but also figuring out what isn’t working for you and what you shouldn’t waste your time on.

    2. Check Your Bio on Your Instagram Profile

    A lot of us aren’t utilizing our bios the way we could be—or the way we should be. 

    This is a huge mistake because your Insta bio is the first thing people look at when they check out your page to see if they should follow you or not.

    You have 150 characters to convince people to follow you.

    Your bio is not the place to be cryptic or confusing. You can still infuse your personality into it, but make sure it is clear, concise and captivating.

    Your bio should immediately tell people what benefit you offer them, who you are, and what step to take next.

    Here’s an example of mine:

    Jenny Rose Spaudo Instagram Bio

    3. Look at Your Instagram Profile Feed

    As you analyze your feed from an outsider’s perspective, ask yourself questions like: “If I were my ideal client, would I be attracted to my feed?” “Are my posts pleasing to look at?” “Is there variety in the kinds of posts I do?”

    Now, before you go into a full-on panic attack, hear me out. Your photos don’t have to look like a model’s for you to have an effective profile.

    Not all your photos have to look professionally done. 

    You. Do. Not. Have. To. Be. Perfect.

    But you do need to have a profile that entices people to look deeper. That means:

    • At least some of, and ideally most of, your photos should be high quality. You can take good-quality photos with an iPhone, so don’t freak out if you don’t have a nice camera. (I have an Android, but I steal my husband’s iPhone all the time. We’re one flesh, so it’s OK.)
    • Add variety to your photos. Don’t make all your photos of your product or of you. Take photos of things that are relevant to your niche and what you offer. Give your audience a rounded-out vision of you and what you do.
    • Use a variety of posts. Make sure that not all of your posts are photos. Sprinkle in some videos, some images with text, etc.

    4. Take a Peek at Your Captions

    Make sure the first line of your caption entices people to read more. People won’t read the rest of your caption until you’ve convinced them within the first few words that it will be worth their time.

    Then, make sure your comment has some sort of call to action. It can be a call to comment below, or a call to save the post, or a call to click on the link in your bio.

    Be strategic about this. If you want to create a post simply to generate more engagement with your audience, then post an eye-catching photo with a comment that stirs up conversation. End your caption with a specific call to “Comment below with … (whatever you want them to share).”

    These tips are by no means comprehensive, but they are fantastic ways to get started with optimizing your Instagram profile. If you want more tips and strategies for optimizing your content marketing strategy, book a coaching session with me today!

    You can also follow me on Instagram for more free tips and strategies!

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