by Beth Granger | Granger Granger Consulting

LinkedIn provides all sorts of information, but rarely tells users what to do with what they learn from it. Some people limit their time on LinkedIn, when they could engage more strategically.

There is a technique that only takes a few minutes each day, yet it has powerfully turned into new business, stronger relationships and new referral partners for both me and my clients.

Do you ever look at Who Viewed Your Profile on LinkedIn?

Admit it. We all do it. We are curious by nature.

What do you do with this information?

If, like most people, you smile to yourself and move on, you’re overlooking a fantastic opportunity.

Here is the technique you should perform daily:

1. Visit the Who Viewed Your Profile section. It is displayed on the left side of your LinkedIn profile homepage, under your name and photo. You may also see this data in the Analytics section of your profile when you view your profile as if to edit it.
   
   
2. Look at the names of the people who have visited your profile, for two reasons. First, if you have the free version of LinkedIn, you only see the five people who most recently visited your profile. Second, the reason they looked for you that day may be time-sensitive.
   
   
3. If someone you already know -- a first connection -- looked at your profile, there was a reason. It could be they wanted to refer someone to you. Maybe they simply needed to confirm how to spell your name. You won’t know their intention until you ask them.
   
   If you have not spoken or connected with this person in a while, reach out with a LinkedIn message, an email or even a phone call. Say something simple and social like, “I noticed you stopped by my LinkedIn profile. How are you?” Saying it this way softens your comment and the person won’t feel as if you are stalking them. It opens the door so they can tell you if there was a strong reason they viewed your profile. Perhaps they wanted to get your email address and make an introduction for you. Even if there was another reason, this gentle touch allows you to reconnect and strengthen the relationship.
   
   
4. There is also a reason someone you do not know, but who has a mutual contact with you (a second connection), looked at your profile. Visit their profile to see whether they would be a good connection for you. If so, you have two choices.
   
   The first option is to ask one of your common connections to introduce you.
   
   The second option is to send them a LinkedIn connection invite and say something similar to what I advised above, like, “Noticed you stopped by my LinkedIn profile and of course I’m curious to hear what brought you. It looks like we have a lot in common (or something else that is TRUE that you have in common). How about we connect?”
   
   Of course, if you don’t think they would make a good connection, you don’t need to do anything. Some people simply check out the contacts of a mutual connection with no particular goal.

This technique of checking the Who Viewed Your Profile section doesn’t take long each day. It can have a big impact, potentially bringing in business, building new relationships, and strengthening current ones.

Note: Check your visibility settings regarding your profile viewing options on LinkedIn. Make sure that your name and headline are set to Full profile. Otherwise, if your visibility is set to Private profile characteristics or Anonymous in the free version of LinkedIn, you won’t see who viewed your profile.  
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Beth Granger is a coach, consultant, and trainer who advises individuals, organizations, and leaders on their LinkedIn strategies, including prospecting/networking, profiles, business pages, and content. She also leads workshops and speaks at events on mastering LinkedIn.