The founder of online community LifeTalk said: “The perception of LinkedIn is that it is a fancy jobs site, and it might make some of its revenue from recruitment-based services, but over the past few years it has transformed itself into a real-time networking program.
“It is good for an adviser, as they can raise their profile and enhance their professional reputation, and build this online to attract new clients and professional connections.”
He said that it was just software but, in the courses he has run for advisers, he has found that once they know how to use it they can get “exciting results” from it.
Mr Calvert added: “There is nothing you can’t do on your own website (except for execution of platform business) that you can’t do on LinkedIn. You can get more viewers through LinkedIn than if you simply put blogs onto the website, and you can also get potential clients coming to you through it.”
LifeTalk runs seminars on LinkedIn for both advisers and small providers.
This week (Friday 4th July), Mr Calvert has a course in Central London at Dimensional’s offices, to help guide people through the use of LinkedIn. To find out more, visit Ifalife.com/events
Adviser view
Tina Weeks, founder of London-based Serenity Financial Planning, got more than 4,000 views on one blog through LinkedIn. She said: “Mr Calvert has been saying for years that advisers need to present themselves online as experts and one of the things he’s been trying to get me to do is start blogging.
“I’ve just started and have posted just one blog so far on LinkedIn - and it wasn’t even industry related, just something to ‘dip my toe in’. However, it had a massive response and loads of people read it and shared it. I was astounded. My plan is to do a lot more blogging and make sure it all goes on LinkedIn as well.”
