Put yourself in your stakeholders’ shoes. Think about the people you are looking to influence. Who are the decision makers? Then think about the words and phrases they would use if they were looking for you or someone who does what you do.

Although LinkedIn is still used as a job search and recruiting tool, its greatest value comes from the features that allow you to learn and grow, and to become a part of communities.

High frequency: You do it a lot.

It’s your agent. Often delivering the first impression to a prospect, your LinkedIn profile is you when you aren’t there.

It’s your mentor. It helps you learn and grow. LinkedIn Influencers and Topics help you stay on top of news and ideas, as well as the wisdom of key influencers. Groups also allow you to stay current about relevant and timely issues, and they help you build relationships with people who can guide you in your career decisions.

Your relationships with those around you are transactional, not relational, which makes you easier to replace. This puts you in the position of having to actively pursue every opportunity you seek—with little external support, and lots of exertion on your part.

Formulate an initial point of view (your branded perspective) on the topic.

This is the moment when your quirks get to shine. What appealing aspects of your background, your work process, your life story, and your personality (the sky’s the limit!) help you stand out from others?

How do I translate the flesh-and-bones me into the bits-and-bytes me?