Were you referred to someone else?

That person needing someone like you wants to know more about you. They were referred to you so they are apt to look you up–but where?

If they google you, there’s too much to wade through. The good news: if you have a complete LinkedIn profile, the topmost search result on Google is likely your LinkedIn profile.

Or they circumvent Google and go right to LinkedIn, more than likely already open in their browser.

LinkedIn is one-stop shopping for talent and expertise.

Yes, global 24×7 access to the real you, in your own words, not someone else’s.

You have this one opportunity to make that all-important first impression.

A story:

Last week, I was honored to be referred to, and meet someone on zoom, who had already read my entire profile before we met.

I possess many of the attributes they are looking for. He asked great, penetrating questions to further qualify me. I answered equally and we had a great conversation. I asked him questions back.

That was the prelude to his volunteering to e-introduce me to several people he thought I should get to know in a hiring position for a consultant and a trainer in his organization, who should know what I offer.

Does that resulting feedback come easy? No.

But when you tip them over the edge from falling in “like” with you by virtue of a warm referral, into falling in LinkedIn “love” with you and they read your profile in anticipation of a professional conversation, you already accomplished something powerful.

Tipping points are often ephemeral, intangible.

But when you make them happen in a good old-fashioned eye-to-eye conversation after your profile provide the background of where you came form makes you who you are today, you will likely win a future new advocate, a new fan, a new referrer, a new important connection.

Tipping points matter. Make LinkedIn one of your tipping points.