5 Keys to LinkedIn Optimization

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Today we wrap up our series on optimization with a look at the social network that's all business, all the time: LinkedIn.

Unlike its more diverse brethren—Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube—LinkedIn is all about connecting business professionals. If Facebook is "the coffee shop" and Twitter is "the speed date" of social media, then LinkedIn is "the networking event," where we're all dressed to impress, shoes shined, business card in hand, standing up straight, and ready to make some magic happen.

So on LinkedIn, it's even more critical to make sure that your profile and your company page are optimized to be found. Here are a few handy tips to get you started:

1. Beef up your profile

Before you do anything else, take a good hard look at your personal profile and make sure it's spit-spot perfect. Chances are good that a few new features have slipped in since the last time you checked it (like the Volunteer Experience & Causes field), so make whatever updates you need.

Don't forget that the Recommendations section is a vital component of your profile, so if yours is looking a little meager, it's time to get a few requests into the pipeline.

2. Set up a company page

You don't need to be a "major" company to have a company page on LinkedIn, and the setup process is actually pretty simple. Unlike your profile, which is more of an online resume, your company page is a hub for your organization, where people can:

• Read an overview of your purpose
• See and connect with your employees who are on LinkedIn
• Review your product and service offerings
• View your tweets and blog posts
• Link to news articles about your organization

3. Keywords, keywords, keywords

We've said it before and we'll say it again: know by heart the keywords that people in your target market use when they search for your product or service, and make sure that they appear prominently and often in your profile and on your company page.

4. Join Groups

LinkedIn Groups offer a perfect venue for connecting with potential clients and partners—and for starting and participating in insightful discussions related to your industry. Another golden opportunity to get your business "out there" and start connecting with new followers!

5. Get into Answers

Before Quora was a glint in Charlie Cheever's eye, the clever folks at LinkedIn were doing much the same thing with LinkedIn Answers. It's a simple Q&A forum where you can post your own questions or help answer others' queries, and it's got a rather clever search engine attached. Remember, the socialverse is a place where you have to give before you get, and LinkedIn Answers offers a perfect opportunity to give away expertise to those who need it. They won't forget it, trust me.

So, those are my thoughts on optimizing your little corner of LinkedIn—what are yours? Leave your favorite tips in the Comments below; we'd love to hear from you!