As you search for the right franchise opportunity, you’re bound to come across dozens of articles and blog posts that show companies and salespeople how to use LinkedIn effectively. What you’re far less likely to find are posts showcasing some hard-hitting tips that help prospects navigate the LinkedIn cocktail party effectively. However, if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.

 

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you have some experience with LinkedIn. More than 175 million people in over 200 countries have established a profile on LinkedIn and use it to research companies, connect with past/current colleagues, and explore job/business ownership opportunities. 

 

It’s no doubt a powerful tool, but few people know how to effectively filter through the flood of information, posts and connection requests. Here are 12 tips, shared with you on the 12th day of the 12th month, to help you maximize your time on LinkedIn:

 

Make LinkedIn a Priority – Jump in with both feet and set aside a specific amount of time you WILL dedicate to LinkedIn each week. Doesn’t matter if its 1 hour or 10 hours – make the commitment and you’ll see results.

Pay to Play – Yep, you pay for what you get here, too. Invest in a premium membership to gain access to advanced search, dozens of inmails, and a laundry list of other perks that make LinkedIn more powerful.

Create a Personalized Headline – There are representatives from smart and savvy brands out there looking for people just like you. Help them find you by creating a headline that better reflects who you are, what you’re looking for, and the skills you possess. Ditch “Business Owner” for “Serial entrepreneur with business and finances background seeking new high upside, home-based franchise opportunity.”

Show off your Good Side – Far too many LinkedIn users fail to take advantage of the personal photo and profile banner. Take a professional, high quality shot that shows off your personality. Upload a banner with a key message about your skill set, current company or life mantra.

Build your Online Resume – As you go through this exploration process, franchise sales executives will want a copy of your resume. Take the time to make your LinkedIn page your interactive online resume so you never have to tweak and e-mail a word doc version again. 

Show off your Comprehensive Skill Set – Be sure to list all of your skills at the bottom of your profile so your network can endorse you. Also – have a blog or podcast to which you contribute? Add that. Are you a contributor to an online publication or do you have a powerful article you send to people that matter to you? Post those on the profile, too!

Pay it Forward with Recommendations – Work with your friends and colleagues to secure recommendations for your skills and previous work. Apply a pay it forward approach by recommending them first and asking for one in return.

Leverage Advanced Search – This is easily the most powerful tool at your disposal once you’ve paid for premium level membership. You can pinpoint the executives and companies you want to explore, filtering them by title, industry, location, etc. This allows you to truly leverage the network you’ve created to connect with key executives at the brands you’re exploring.

Be Proactive with InMail – Don’t wait for franchise sales executives to touch base with you. Get ahead of the game and reach out to the executives you find via advanced search who represent your top options. Start the conversation so you don’t waste time researching brands who don’t fit you personally or professionally.

Track your Top 10-15 Targets – Eventually, you’ll want to narrow your exploration to 3-5 brands. However, as you get started, make sure to follow the franchise companies that interest you to track what the stories they post and share. This will tell you a lot about the brand’s character and culture. If they aren’t posting, that tells you something as well!

Explore Franchise Opportunity Showcase Pages – When you search for specific companies, don’t just look for their corporate page, check to see if they have a showcase page devoted to the franchise opportunity. This will often give you inside information on the opportunity that can help you qualify/disqualify the brand.

Share your Story! – And lastly, don’t be afraid to share your story! It’s no secret that modern-day customers are more loyal to brands with whom they can relate. Similarly, franchise brands are looking for new franchisees who fit their culture and are committed to storytelling. Take the time to share – quick, random thoughts, interesting videos, powerful articles, etc. Without sharing, you’re invisible!

 

Happy networking! We hope these 12 tips help you find the right franchise opportunity for you so you can make 2015 the best year yet!

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