NCWiseman wants to show you how to use LinkedIn Skills & Expertise. (updated 1/8/13)

LinkedIn can help you be discovered for your professional ability, but only if you use Skills & Expertise section of LinkedIn.

As of 10/2012 LinkedIn has added new features to the Skills & Expertise Section of LinkedIn. Here are some good instructions on how to use them.

Once you login to LinkedIn, Click on Edit Profile

Unless you have already moved your Skills & Expertise Section of your profile, you will find it at the bottom of your profile.

Click the Edit Link to the right of Skills & Expertise Section title

Add new Skills & Expertise

To add new Skills & Expertise phrases to your profile begin typing where you are prompted to “Enter Your skills or Expertise” This next point is IMPORTANT. Start Typing and watch what Skills & Expertise phrases show up. Do not create a new Skills or Expertise phrase unless there is no relevant or similar existing phrase.

Add all of the Skills & Expertise phrases that you want to enter.

Once you are done, click on Save Changes.

Accept & Solicit Honest Endorsements

As your LinkedIn connections visit your Profile they will be presented to Endorse your Skills & Expertise. You want to make relevant and honest connections with other LinkedIn members and hope that they agree with your LinkedIn Skills & Expertise phrases. If they do, they have the choice to Endorse them for you.

I want to suggest that you encourage your connections to Endorse your Skills & Expertise. I do not want you to make a big campaign out of this activity. Make sure you only ask people who can honestly Endorse you and be totally honest about your declared Skills & Expertise. You will get great value out of real Skills & Expertise and honest Endorsements.

Not only should you publish your Skills & Expertise and hope that you get Endorsed, you should also Endorse other LinkedIn members Skills & Expertise, where possible and relevant and where you have the ability to do so.

Why do all of this?

You want to declare honest and real Skills and Expertise and the relevant Proficiency & Years of Experience so that your connections and future connections can see what you are an authority of.  This is a powerful way to be seen as an Authority in the areas relevant to your Skills & Expertise.

Reach out to me if you have any questions about this instruction.