Now that we have made a video and uploaded it to LinkedIn, let us talk about your banner. The banner is the backdrop behind your photo on your LinkedIn page that pops up first. 

What does your banner say about you? Your banner should be something that is impactful that will capture attention. You could use a one-line quotation from your book. If using text, be sure to keep it simple and sweet. How about using your book cover? Canva, a free app, has a collection of ready-made templates that will work nicely for your banner.

The ’headline’ appears directly under your photo on your LinkedIn homepage and serves as the third introduction of you to your audience following the banner and your photo. It needs to be snappy as it will show up in the search results so it should entice others to click on your profile to learn more about you, your background, and your experience. This IS your headline, your proverbial newsflash! You have 220 characters to tell everyone what you bring to the publishing world so make it clear, concise and attention grabbing.

Do you have a company page? You should since you are a businessperson and you do have a company that presents books to the reading public. On your company page, you should list your work experience such as editing, writing, and the years of experience you have in those areas. Be sure to type in your company name when you are listing your work experience and do not just say self-employed. You are self-employed but you are working for the company you own. By using your company name as frequently as possible, you are making it more accessible to SEOs – Search Engine Optimization. 

There are instructional videos available on LinkedIn to walk you through all of the sections where you can post your experience. You will need to set aside time to learn and put into practice what you have learned. I suggest you do not try to do it all in one setting unless you are a genius. You might be one to tackle one section each weekend until you get your site up and running just as you want it to be. However, go ahead and post your profile and get your name out there with changes to follow as you make them. 

Make yourself findable. When you set up a profile on LinkedIn you are given a URL, however it is quite long. In the top right-hand corner of your profile page, there is a place where you can click on ‘edit and modify your URL.’ You can click on it and modify it, shortening it to the searchable https://linkedin.com/in/yourname. It will be much easier for people to find and you will be happier with it. 

Now let us discuss #hashtags. LinkedIn uses hashtags like other social media platforms. If you use a hashtag which is simply the pound or number sign (#) and a word such as #your friend’s name, it will connect your post to theirs. LinkedIn recommends hashtags. We suggest you use three to five for each topic. Rotate them and try out different ones to see which ones works best for you.

Another thing for you to try and learn about is using the @tag. Tagging a person or a company is a way to link directly to their profile page. You can @tag on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Why tag? Tagging captures the attention of someone, particularly the person you have tagged. This is a way you can give credit for a photo or an idea, or a testimonial. You can also cross promote another brand using the @tag. Try to recommend your favorite companies, businesses, and stories using the @tag.

Content ideas. Content is where you share about your book, your life as a writer, even places you have visited and enjoyed like a coffee shop, a restaurant, or a movie you have seen. It is a way of connecting with people looking at your profile, telling them about yourself, your likes, and your thoughts without revealing your entire life story. 

If you have read a story or met someone that has inspired you, sharing it is a wonderful way to connect with others. If you have been given recognition or appreciation or you want to give the same to someone else, this is a wonderful way to do it. If someone has read your book and written a review on Amazon, for example, you could @them and thank them for the lovely comments they shared. The thoughts are as endless as humanity, you just have to think about what makes you feel good and be willing to share the same type of thing with others. 

When do I post is a question to be considered. The best time is between 9:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. You can post stories from your mobile phone if you have downloaded the LinkedIn app. Comment, share, like, reply, or tag relevant people in your post. The same with the @tag capability. Send friendly, authentic messages that uplift and encourage. Share the joy of your day and make someone else’s day. 

Remember, "We are here to help and we make publishing easy."