I found your linked in advice really helpful and have since updated and enhanced (I hope) my profile.
I have been a freelance writer for 15+ years, working from home as I have a large family (8 kids – really!). I love writing fiction, feature articles, news for kids and anything in between. Most of my work has been published – I can’t afford to write for a hobby. I want to try to get into the field of copy writing/editing as I would like to be able to have a job with more steady pay. I know that there are online courses for this but they are expensive. Does one really need to complete a course in order to get into this field?
Thanks in advance,

E. W

Hi Dorcas

Thanks for your positive comments.

I have just sent you a connection request on LinkedIn.

Just taking a quick look at your profile on LinkedIn I see there is plenty you can do.

You say you are a journalist on LinkedIn and above that you are a beginner in writing. You also say you do not have work you can add to your bio.

The simple answer is to post on LinkedIn. Then you have material posted online that you can provide hyperlinks to.

You need to build the profile summary section to tell people who you are, and why they should connect with you.

You then need to post regular stuff on LinkedIn. You can link what you write to your Twitter profile. Most of what I write on LinkedIn falls under 280 characters so it goes in full on Twitter. LinkedIn does all that for you.

My posts generally get between 1,000 and 1,500 views with the occasional one getting 2,500+ views.

Articles get a lot less but LinkedIn provides a platform for you to showcase what you can write. Then use those links elsewhere.

It is all about posting original stuff rather than sharing what others have written.

And engaging. The more you write, the more you engage (as I am here in responding to your message) the higher your profile.

I hope that helps?

Have an exceptional week.

Keith

Hi Frankie
Thanks for your comment.
The two key things to remember are…
1- optimise your profile
2- engage

You need your profile optimised to ensure people are finding you for the right things and you are getting across who you are and what you can do for people.

The engagement bit is critical. Yes there are people who are collecting numbers. I myself have 20,000 connections and 20,000 followers. But that means I have a greater bank of people to call upon and engage with. My posts normally get between 1,000 and 1,500 views for example.

People still buy from people and engagement through posts and messages is the way to achieve the classic ‘know me”like me”trust me’ of all networking.

Hi Jess / Adrienne
Why the two names?
I took a quick look at your LinkedIn profile.

In your headline, you say you are an author at Amazon Kindle. That does not really differentiate you as there must be thousands who could say the same. This is your headline so it needs to make people want to read on.

In your summary, you start off writing in the third person and then switch to the first person after the first para. And have you tried to read that first sentence/para out aloud?

You are a creative writer so show it in your summary. This is all about why someone should connect and engage with you. Include some links to your work if you can.

Hope that helps.

Have a great day.

Keith

Hi Kaycee
Thanks for your comment.
Beware, speed isn’t everything!
Don’t allow speed to get in the way of quality and creativity!
People want to read good quality, creative writing, they are not bothered with how quickly you wrote it.
Have a great day.
Keith

Hi Tapas
Many thanks for your comment.
Keith

All the best,
Jess Vaughn (aka Adrienne Ijioma/LinkedIn)