by Kathy Bernard
There is a free Services section on your LinkedIn profile that lets you promote your services that you can access simply by clicking “Open to” near the top of your profile and then “Providing services.”
This feature not only showcases your services, it helps you get found in search results, and allows each service to be displayed on your profile where people can click to learn more and reach you for free.
Once you access the section, a box pops up letting you add up to 10 specific services, such as Management Consulting. You can also add up to 500 characters about your offerings, your work location (and whether you work remotely), and your pricing (or whether they should contact you for pricing). It also gives you the option to receive client requests for free.
Additional features allowing you to add up to eight work samples and eight media formats (such as videos, images, or links) are being rolled out across LinkedIn.
Potential clients can search for a provider and if interested, be directed to your Services page to submit a request. Visit your Services section regularly to see if you have received requests and respond quickly since LinkedIn displays your average response time. Payment for services can be arranged through your preferred process and you can invite clients to write a review.
Any member can create a service page but with a premium business account, the section can display your ratings and your most recent four or five-star review.
Kathy Bernard (kathy@wiseru.com), CEO of WiserU.com, is a St. Louis-based LinkedIn expert/trainer who trains and equips individuals and businesses to maximize LinkedIn for sales, marketing, or fundraising.