Tweet

LinkedIn Marketing Debate: Should Your LinkedIn Profile Be in 1st Person or 3rd Person?

Guest post by: Kristina Jaramillo

Article Overview: 7 Reasons to Put Your LinkedIn Profile in 1st Person And Not in 3rd Person...

LinkedIn Marketing Debate: Should Your LinkedIn Profile Be in 1st Person or 3rd Person?

I spend hundreds of hours on LinkedIn every month researching, testing, tweaking and seeing what works and what doesn\'t – and that\'s on top of the hours I spend marketing my business and my clients\' businesses on LinkedIn. So in a week\'s time I view thousands of different professional profiles.

I see people who write there profile in 1st person. Others will write in 3rd person. Even the LinkedIn marketing experts say different things when it comes to whether or not you should write your LinkedIn profile summary in first person or third person

So, today with this article, I am putting the debate to rest. I\'m giving you the definitive answer to whether you should write your profile in 1st person or 3rd person – along with the reasons why.

7 Reasons to Put Your LinkedIn Profile in 1st Person And Not 3rd Person

Reason #1:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 3rd person it reads like a boring a resume and seems very technical. Or, it can sound like you are writing a biography which is not very personal or interesting. It does not give the reader a true idea of who you are as a business person, thought leader or individual.

Reason #2:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 1st person it says to the reader that \"I have character and confidence in my abilities. I\'m willing to tell you in my own voice.\" It tells the reader that you actually wrote your profile on your own words and took the time to personalize it.

Here is an example from one of my clients, Dan Janal, who took the time to pay attention to detail when writing his profile:

Imagine being featured on the front page of USA TODAY -- and then being able to double your speaking fees immediately just like PR LEADS client Patrick Snow of Creating Your Own Destiny. Imagine the website traffic and sales you can generate if only you can find a way to get more publicity so you can speak to millions for free!

Now, small business owners, solo PR firms, speakers, authors and entrepreneurs can get name-brand publicity tools and publicity coaching they can afford. I\'m talking about the same top-tier publicity tools that major corporations use to get mega media placements – but you can get it at a fraction of their cost.

For example, my PRLEADS dot com service puts you in touch with reporters who are writing articles and need to find expert sources like you! We're talking journalists from big name publications and media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Redbook.

You can read Dan\'s entire profile at: linkedin dot com/in/danjanal

Reason #3:

When you write your LinkedIn profile in 3rd person you create an automatic disconnect. It\'s too distant and pompous. And, it automatically makes me think of the back cover bio of an author in a book.

Let me show you what I mean. Here is a real example of someone\'s LinkedIn profile summary – the name has been changed to protect the guilty:

Chris Baton is an attorney who specializes in immigration law. A large percentage of his practice is focused on immigration trials and appeals.

Chris was the former chairperson for the American Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Division, Immigration Law Committee. Throughout his career, he has served on many local, state, and federal government boards and commissions. He speaks professionally on a variety of immigration and political issues.

Many of the profiles are done this way because the user has copied a biography from their website or another source where 3rd party format is more common. This shows me that you did not put any thought or time in to creating an effective LinkedIn profile. You need to show viewers that you care enough to connect with them on a personal level.

Reason #4:

LinkedIn is a virtual networking platform for business professionals who want to do more business. It is the first step in building a relationship with someone. You wouldn\'t introduce yourself in the third person if you met someone at a networking event. – would you? Then why would you introduce yourself on your profile in 3rd person when writing in first person gives you a more genuine and personal touch.

Reason #5:

Your profile should be more about the reader than you. It should provide as much value as possible to the reader and it should be used to create discussions and conversations about you, your company, your products and how you can benefit others. It should be focused on what will or can be provided to the reader should they engage with you. Your profile is a \"marketing piece\" not a resume. And, marketing pieces are in 1st person!

Reason #6:

It\'s YOUR profile. You are not a reporter writing a story about somebody. Nor are you putting together a press release. You have to personalize your profile to enable a reader or prospect to relate to you. Writing in first person gives the other person more confidence and trust in you. You are telling your own story. You need to write your Linkedin profile for the audience MOST LIKELY to read it. Remember, you write to be read.

Reason #7:

You want to sound like you are speaking directly to someone, face-to-face, and telling them a story about your background and how they can benefit from your expertise. By writing in first person you are able to show your true character as a person and business owner.

Remember when writing your LinkedIn profile to personalize it by writing in the 1st person. Show your audience that you are just like them.

Now, do you still think you should be writing your LinkedIn profile summary and experience sections in 3rd person?

Related Articles
  Legal Marketing: More LinkedIn questions and answers
  Social Media Marketing: How to Build Your List Using Linkedin
  LinkedIn for business – the advanced class
  Part IV: Can LinkedIn Increase Your Sales?
  How to Create a LinkedIn Profile That Sells!
  The Truth About LinkedIn That You Might Not Want to Hear
  LinkedIn Marketing – How to Use LinkedIn to Promote Your Business
  Leverage Social Media - LinkedIn Strategies
  LinkedIN: The Most Unique Social Media Platform
  LinkedIn Marketing Debate - Should You Think of Your LinkedIn Profile as a Resume
  Legal Marketing: Best practices for connecting on LinkedIn
  Legal Marketing: LinkedIn's professional growth
  LinkedIn – Business Networking Online
  Legal Marketing: Being "active" and "passive" on LinkedIn
  LinkedIn Profile Secrets - The #1 Reason Why Your LinkedIn Profile Fails to Attract More Prospects
  How to Get Linkedin Recommendations
  Six Steps to Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn
  LinkedIn or LinkedOut! It's time to get in!
  What to do on Linkedin
  Linkedin Tips From a Sales Coach | Business Coach

Article Tags: entrepreneurs, LinkedIn, Marketing, networking, resume



Related Forum Posts
Re: On Which Social Media Sites Are You Most Active? - I'd be curious to hear how you guys use LinkedIn. I have close to 3,000 connections and never use it. I've been told the secret is to use groups (which I don't) so I'd love to hear how you guys are benefiting from LinkedIn.
Re: Twiiter an sales - [quote="soldlab":1ycb8vnm]I guess though LinkedIn is better for actual leag generation and personal contacts. What do you think?[/quote:1ycb8vnm] I've had a lot more success (thus far) with Twitter than LinkedIn or Facebook.
Re: Social Media Effectively? - Personally, I use social media to build my company brand in order to get awareness of the various franchises I work with. I am active on LinkedIn and Twitter (@DougSchadle), always posting information about the franchise opportunities I work with. I have started discussions and basically just try to get the word out there. Also, I turned one of my clients to social media as well. I work with Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, expanding their franchise base. They are quickly spreading throughout the country and I told the founder to jump on to Twitter and LinkedIn as well. He just started a few weeks ago (Twitter handle @Doctors_Express) and tells me he is loving it. He is posting different medical issues he sees and is tweeting about Doctors Express. He is joining medical groups on LinkedIn and trying to connect to other doctors. So in short, I do think franchises can be very successful with social media, they just have to put in the time to do it.
Re: 15 Ways You Can Look Amazing on LinkedIn - I agree with GT in that this advice can be applied to more than just LinkedIn. Excellent tips!
Re: On Which Social Media Sites Are You Most Active? - Definitely Facebook and also somewhat on Twitter and LinkedIn. I'm a member of IMFaceplate and several others but not very active on them.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Expanding Your Business By Franchising

Why SEO is important for your online success

Starting a Business with Bad Personal Credit

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.