The 2016 Linkedin Guide for Financial Advisors

The 2016 LinkedIn Guide for Financial Advisors offers step-by-step instructions for mastering the world's largest professional network. Filled with relevant examples and success stories from independent financial advisors, the guide reviews how to optimize your LinkedIn Profile, expand your network, search for and identify qualified prospects, as well as the art of asking for an introduction from someone who knows and trusts you. Finally, the book offers a proven strategy for using content marketing on LinkedIn to attract new leads.

Why I Wrote This Book
I got the idea to write this book after years of answering questions from advisors looking for help with LinkedIn. After explaining the same concepts over and over, one advisor said, "You should write a book on this stuff."

My goal is to inspire you to stop being confused, intimidated, or frustrated by LinkedIn. It's not rocket science and it only takes a small upfront investment of time to master. The lingo and interface can be downright annoying to use and I am the first to admit it isn't always user-friendly. But that's no excuse to give up.

If you are an advisor, I guarantee that you deal with more difficult and technical systems every day to research investments, rebalance accounts, and create financial plans. The difference is that you've given yourself permission to be an expert in those arenas. Trust me when I tell you that you're capable of navigating all of the complexities LinkedIn has to offer if you put forth some determination and a little patience. If you approach the effort with a can-do attitude, it will be a piece of cake.

That said, my own Dad still will not log in to his LinkedIn profile unless I am physically sitting next to him. He forwards me the email notifications from LinkedIn and asks me to come to his office and help him log on. Luckily, my office is less than a mile from his, so I agree to show up if he'll make coffee. It's perfectly fine to ask your kids, spouse, or administrative assistant for help until you feel more confident.

However, if you get one thing from this book, I hope you empower yourself to figure this stuff out on your own. Our world has gotten more techy in the past decade, but it is also easier than ever to find good tutorials online. Every time you get stuck, Google what you're trying to accomplish for instructions or watch a YouTube video on the process. No matter the topic, I promise there's help on the Internet.

As a Millennial, I get pushback from advisors that I don't understand how difficult all this social media stuff is for them, and I understand that. But I am actually in the older wave of the Millennial generation; Facebook didn't come out until I was almost through college.

My younger Millennial siblings think I am older than dirt and I don't "get" their social media practices. They laugh when I use emoticons "wrong" or don't know what their trendy new acronyms mean. My two younger sisters-in-law are not only done using Facebook, they're already "so over" Instagram!

Snapchat is all the rage with that age group, and since I want to be involved in their lives (and let's face it; I want to seem cool) I'm in the process of learning how to be the savviest of all Snapchatters. All it takes is 30 minutes of time, some focus, and a couple YouTube videos. I'll have my finger on the pulse of their lives until they take up some new social network next month.

I sincerely hope this book is helpful in bringing you up to speed on LinkedIn and I wish you best of luck in your marketing and your business. Thanks for all that you do for your clients and your community!