So many advisors I work with are using LinkedIn to build robust pipelines and warm lead lists, sourcing names for warm introductions and acquiring new clients. They are able to do so because they have built a strong online brand, optimized their LinkedIn profiles, and have established a daily routine of best practices.
However, due to the amount of research that Financial Advisors are conducting on clients, prospects and COIs on LinkedIn (discovering what they do, where they work, where they’ve worked in the past, potential money-in-motion, personal interests and hobbies – and the list goes on), they could potentially appear as if they are a stalker. It’s ok to be a stalker on LinkedIn – you just don’t want to appear as one!
Therefore, these advisors have adjusted their ‘privacy controls’ to ensure they do not look like a stalker, protect client privacy, minimize the competition, and only post relevant updates. And not only do these savvy social advisors have their privacy controls tuned for optimal LinkedIn use, they have hidden what would potentially get them in trouble with their compliance department, FINRA and the SEC.
So what are they!?! LinkedIn ‘Skills/Endorsements’ and ‘Recommendations’ are viewed as advertising, and compliance departments will cite SEC Rule 206(4)1: Advertisements by Investment Advisors. Yes, if you read the regulation closely, you can infer you are able to have endorsements on your LinkedIn profile as long as they are not from a client or related to the financial services industry, but do you really want your profile under the compliance and rule makers’ microscope? Think not. Your best bet… just hide them.
Learn what privacy controls are recommended to have in place on your LinkedIn profile:
Download the comprehensive LinkedIn Settings Mini Guidefor step-by-step instructions.
Be sure to check out the additional videos in this series on my YouTube Channel or directly from my site, LauraVirili.com, to learn how to Kill it Online & Off.
