I had previously posted a whole set of tips and suggestions on how to successfully use Linkedin as a professional networking channel, taking advantage of the fact, that, contrary to FaceBook and other channels, Linkedin gathers a huge percentage of professionals from all areas and fields of human performance.
This characteristic makes Linkedin a potentially useful platform to build up new business relationships and strategic alliances, which can help on the profitability of your own business.
Thing is, Success is, from my point of view, more of a process than a goal.
It can be easily proven that, once a goal is achieved, in any aspect of our lives, the mind already has yet another new goal to achieve, and on and on, indefinitely, so it makes sense to focus more on the process to achieve success than in the goals themselves. Improving the process will facilitate achieving new goals.
The well known formula: [Garbage In = Garbage Out] applies wonderfully to Linkedin and every other platform and channel you intend to use for marketing and promotional purposes.
Basically, if you do not commit to provide useful, appealing content, a well groomed profile and stay active on the process of updating all your info on Linkedin, and participate in Groups, you can not expect better results than the ones you have today. Too many Photographers believe that they just need to create a profile, as brief as possible, and sit and wait for a torrential rain of new clients and projects to pour on them. Then the complaints about Linkedin not being useful as an instant cash cow pop out in every forum.
I can not emphasize enough how critical it is to prepare a very effective Profile about yourself in Linkedin. Almost everything is relevant!! From your education to the causes and organizations you donate time and resources to, to the historical career path which has led you to who and how and where you are today, everything counts, if posted properly.
Just recently, the Linkedin Blog published the 10 words people OVERUSE the most in Linkedin, and therefore, have been rendered technically useless for self-promotion, specially if you want to differentiate yourself properly, so your Linkedin Profile should avoid the following:
Ten most overused Profile buzzwords:
• Motivated
• Passionate
• Creative
• Driven
• Extensive experience
• Responsible
• Strategic
• Track record
• Organizational
• Expert
Sounds familiar?? How many of these are right now in your Profile?
To make this brief, if by any chance you actually are NOT motivated passionate, creative, responsible, etc,etc, then you are not a good professional anyways, and again, if you are all of the above, a cool Pro, make no mistake: every other Pro who is your competition, claims to be exactly the same cool Pro!
So, use your motivation, passion, creativity and experience to build up a better profile, avoiding most of the words above!!!
The matter of connecting with potential clients stays the same: One of the most useful decisions is joining Linkedin Groups, BUT, do not join a dozen of photographer’s groups, since basically none of them will need your services!! Of course, it makes sense to be in touch with the photographer’s community, so being in a couple of those groups is healthy to stay in touch with changes in the industry, etc, so, do not discard all of those, but know in advance those do not offer lots of marketing opportunities.
Retouchers, Educators, Assistants, Coaches and Consultants need to be in photographer’s groups, since they can become their clients.
Think exactly in the same way, to decide what groups you should consider joining. You have to be in places where your potential clients also roam. If you are interested in architectural clients, join architect’s groups, same for Corporate, same for Fashion, same for Advertising etc,etc.
Participation in those groups will streamline the process of connecting with people who might become your future clients or strategic allies.
It is also important to note that potential clients, prospects, do not necessarily react immediately to your profile and activity. They may bookmark your profile and will check it out for changes/updates in time, and may consider you for a project later on, when their need for your type of work arises. Months may pass by before this happens. Be patient!
This is solid proof that success in Linkedin is a process, as you can not measure your success by what you have already achieved, but for what is coming ahead.
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About the Author: Jorge Parra shoots Fashion, Beauty and Portrait Photography for Advertising.
You can check on Jorge’s Linkedin Profile right here.
Also, you can check some of his visual work on his recently updated website
Miami Visual Collective 
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