The Sensitive CEO Show

LinkedIn for HSPs with Jen Corcoran

February 27, 2023 Rose Cox / Jen Corcoran Episode 27
The Sensitive CEO Show
LinkedIn for HSPs with Jen Corcoran
Show Notes Transcript

Jen Corcoran, known as the Super Connector helps introverted, empathic and highly sensitive female coaches, consultants and solopreneurs attract more and better clients on LinkedIn organically. She takes them on a journey from being invisible and hiding on LinkedIn to helping them confidently toot their horn resulting in their ideal clients knocking on their door.

Jen helps them super boost their LinkedIn profiles and attract clients using her 4-stage PACT Framework which helps them to create a LinkedIn profile which truly represents them and a holistic approach to networking which aligns with their human design. They will be left feeling reinvigorated, confident and raring to go and excited to tap into all the opportunities this amazing platform offers them.

đź’ť Key Takeaways

  • How to make the best use of your time on LinkedIn and how you can spend just 3 half hour blocks each week to create new leads for your business.
  • Types of content to post each week to keep your audience interested and engaged.
  • The importance of spring cleaning your LinkedIn connections to best preserve your energy and enjoy your LinkedIn experience.


đź“š Resources Mentioned

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13618082/ (Networking Tips with My Super Connector)

Free 20-minute LinkedIn Game Plan Call: https://mysuperconnector.co.uk/contact/

đź”— Where You Can Find Jen

Website: https://mysuperconnector.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-corcoran-mysuperconnector/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JenniferCorcoran0/


🌹 Rose's Resources

The HSP Business School

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[FREE] Facebook Community for HSP Entrepreneurs

27# LinkedIn for HSPs with Jen Corcoran

Rose: Hey, it's Rose, and welcome to another episode of The Sensitive CEO Show. And in this week's episode, it's my pleasure to introduce you to Jen Corcoran. Jen is known as the super-connector, and she helps introverted, empathic, and compassionate female coaches, consultants, and solopreneurs attract more and better clients on LinkedIn organically.

Welcome, Jen. Wonderful to talk with you today. 

Jen: Thanks so much for having me, Rose. It's great to chat with you over in Australia and me over in the UK. 

Rose: I know, we were commenting on the time zones. It's the first thing in the morning for you and evening for me, so the sun's coming up for you, and the sun's just about to go down for me.

So it's, it's beautiful, really how can we connect isn't it like this?

Jen: Yeah. The power of Zoom and tech. 

Rose: Exactly. So before we dive into your topic, I'm excited to learn more about LinkedIn, especially for sensitive people. I would love to hear how you got into LinkedIn.

Jen: Yeah. So when I was in corporate, Rose, I started to hear about LinkedIn and initially ignored it. I was not an early adopter. What is this kind of social media? Do I need to be on it? Very much an introvert. I'm very comfortable, you know, in a back office role at the time and not being in the spotlight.

And do I need to do it? I kept hearing about it for the first few years and was part of a network at the time. I was a PA in London and was part of a PA network - personal assistance, and they were having a speaker chatting about LinkedIn, so I thought, okay. I'll go along and see what they have to say about it.

So I listened to the talk, and by the end, I was convinced that I should be on there at least and be active because I could generate opportunities for myself in my job. So I joined; that was like step one. And then, I'm sure many HSPs can relate. I need to feel really comfortable with something. I know what I'm doing.

So I went off and did a mini-course on LinkedIn for business so that I knew at least I would be able to cope with the tech side of it. So I did that, which gave me the confidence to get on those straight away, to put my profile up and start connecting with people. So initially, I wasn't looking for a job or anything.

I just wanted to know how to do my job better, and I started to connect with other PAs in London and then around the UK, then around Europe and the world. Why reinvent the wheel if I don't have to? I can lean into my peers and my community, and I connected with colleagues around the world as well, and then I went on to connect with our suppliers, so I booked many hotels and restaurants.

So I started to get excited and reach out to the best hotels in London and restaurants in London. And I realised quickly that the bank I was working for, I had the power of that bank on my shoulders when I reached out. So everybody connected with me, and it just, yeah, it made my life and my job a lot easier. 

As an introvert, I loved using it mainly for networking, so if I were ever going to a networking event or a conference, if I could get the delegate list in advance, I'd reach out and connect with them all. So that when I went into the room, I would always be greeted by somebody.

So it would always take away that kind of icky feeling at the start of every networking. So for me, and I still do it today as a business owner, if I can get the delegate list, I will connect everyone in, you know, on LinkedIn and let my profile do the talking for me first before I go in. So yeah, as an introvert, it was so good for me in terms of networking, and it got to the stage where I could walk into pretty much any room, hotel, or restaurant, and the managers would recognise me from LinkedIn. 

So I just got excited. Like I got excited about the opportunities. I managed to negotiate discounts and deals for the bank I worked for.

I could get, you know, restaurants at the drop of a hat. If a hotel was booked out because of a conference over in Berlin or, you know, Tokyo. I could still get a booking through my contacts. So I was like, oh, I love LinkedIn. And as an introvert, I especially loved it because I was in control of how I was positioning myself.

I could get my voice in the room, whereas in my day job, I couldn't get my voice in the room. I was the only woman in, in a team of like 15 bankers who were all sales managers and very vocal, and I was, and I was pleased being in a corner by myself doing my job, but I never really kicked out my voice in the room.

All I was, even in team meetings, I didn't even bother. I used to sit back there and, you know, let them do all their talking. But I found my happy place on LinkedIn, and then I went on to use it in a voluntary role. I got to the point where I was sick of the perception of a personal assistant just being tea and typing.

Because I'm a graduate, I knew many PAs with master's degrees and could speak five languages who were helping to run offices and companies. So I started to create content about empowering PAs. I like how to create a PA network within your company, how to network as a PA, how to negotiate your pay rise, and all of this.

Very community-focused. And, of course, my community loved it because we were all like, come on, let's go to the PAs. And yeah, once I connected to a mission that was bigger than me, it became easy for me to create content. Before that, it was just my profile and DMs behind the scenes. But when I connected to a Y, that gave me the impetus, and I took myself out of the equation if I was just posting about myself it would be absolute cringe, and I would overthink everything, but I went for it because I felt purpose driven. And yeah, I just fell more and more in love with it. And now, as a business owner, I'm pretty much purpose driven about empowering HSPs... so that’s the story. 

Rose: I love that. And I, I was thinking, I lived in London for many years, and I worked at the London Stock Exchange, and I did sort of temp work for many years there, and I wish I had someone like you in my network because it would, I was in an office with men, with prominent men, and I just sat in the corner and did my job. And yeah, I think LinkedIn was away, well, it wasn't back then. It was in the late, the late eighties and early nineties that I was there.

But yeah. That's amazing. I so get you, and I love that you used to or that you still do get the delegate list when you go places because you can get to know people. They get to know you. So an excellent way for an introvert to show up at an event. I love it. 

Jen: Yeah, because even though I've been networking for.

Around 20 years, like in person, I've won networking awards, and people are like, oh, she loves it. She loves it. And it's like, no, I don't, I know the power of networking, and it's like, I will always feel nervous for any networking event, whether it is in person or a Zoom. And for me, it is that icebreaker.

So many people are like, oh yeah, she's going to come in here, she's going to work the room. And it's, for me, it is working. There, there is the word working network. So, it’s not super easy for me, but LinkedIn makes it more accessible. 

Rose: Absolutely. So how do you, how do you help your clients with LinkedIn, specifically HSPs, which I know you work with HSPs, introverts and empaths.

Jen: Yeah, my process is a bit different, too, probably, 95% of LinkedIn trainers. Because there's much hype about, you know, do it post. Just do it. That's how you get confident. And for me, that's different from how I get secure as HSP. I need to. Do my research and feel like I am an expert or at least qualified to do it.

So I start with helping my clients position themselves in their profile and company page as experts. So they at least looked the part. And initially, there was a tiny bit of resistance when I helped them revamp their profile just in the sense that they have to own the fact of their brilliance.

There's that initial like, Ooh, is that me? And I'm like, yes, that is you. And you know, that's like step one is building the presence and step two is getting strategic and thinking. Whom do I want to connect to on LinkedIn and take control and not worry about other people coming to you? And whether you should accept or ignore it, it's just about using your time wisely because, as HSPs and empaths, our energy can be drained.

You want to connect to the right people, so LinkedIn feels good for you. And then it's a case of creating a straightforward content marketing plan, manageable. I want the content to go out regardless. And I advise, to be honest, all my sensitive clients to schedule their content because there is that tendency to overthink and procrastinate and not put it out.

And your content should be going out on a loop. And when you're on LinkedIn, the next step is to nurture the right people. So I'm, as much as I love LinkedIn, I'm not about spending all day on LinkedIn and especially as an impact, we can't do that. Because we're, you know, and as HSP, we're constantly processing, the brain is always going.

You have to limit your daily time on LinkedIn, and a half an hour max is more than enough, and I help my clients generate consistent leads with three half hours a week. So you can do four. I give people a day off, but I like to schedule half an hour in your calendar. And it's like you're powering half an hour to nurture the right people and do it at a time that suits your personality and energy.

So wait to do it first thing in the morning if you're not a morning person because you're going to be coming to LinkedIn with the wrong energy, and then people can feel that in your DMs. So, you know, think. How, when do you think, is it after a swim? Is it after a walk? Is it after meditation? Is it after? You know, Pilates.

Just learn what works for you because you don't have to be there first thing in the morning, and if your happy time is 5:00 PM, do it at 5:00 PM, but the main thing is, you have to put that time in your calendar to nurture. Otherwise, if you're relying solely on your profile and content, it's a long game.

And for me, the magic is in the DMs. That is how you create the opportunities, the leads, the clients, and all of that. And I know many people are resistant to the DMs, but I teach my clients to do warm outreach because I wouldn’t say I like cold outreach. I think it’s gross, and it makes me feel icky. So I'm all about getting that information from the clients as to how they run their business.

Like what are they doing alongside LinkedIn? Do they network? are they, you know, running a podcast? Do they have a Facebook group? You know, do they have lead magnets? Like, how are they getting clients? So I create a plan for them, their personality, energy, and business, and a very simple outreach and nurture plan so that when you go on LinkedIn, you nurture warm people. 

You're not just trying to reach everyone; you’re not constantly having to search, filter, and reach out to people based on their titles. You have a tracker that you're working off.

So yeah, for HSPs, it's about managing your time and being strategic. LinkedIn is a communication tool. It's not the B-all and end-all. LinkedIn trainers will only say they rely a hundred per cent on LinkedIn for leads, and if they do, they're lying, you know?

So for me, for example, it's a combination of LinkedIn networking. My website, email marketing, speaking, webinars, and podcasts. You know, it's part of the mix and realising that it is part of the mix, and you control it and don't let it control you. And one handy tip for HSPs is. To not follow everyone in your network, you know, to Marie Kondo, your connections and your home feed so that it sparks joy because many people are connected to people from their past, their previous career, and I, I'm not saying go off and delete them all, you don't have to.

But if you're not interested in that content anymore, unfollow it because it's going to be boring. When I knew I used to be in shipping finance, About shipping, finance, or tankers or containers: it’s like that's different from the kind of content I wanted to see. So I see connections to people, but I only follow about 10% of my network.

So when I go on LinkedIn, it's like my magazine. And many people still need to curate their feed or are connected to people who don't spark joy. So doing good; it’s a good time of the year to start 2023, do a bit of decluttering and a bit of a digital detox, and then you will begin to enjoy LinkedIn a lot more.

And I think that's one of the reasons people are like; I wouldn’t say I like LinkedIn. It's spammy, or it's this or that. And I'm like, that's yours. That's who you're following. 

Rose: Yeah. And I love how you say to spend three half-hour blocks a week and maybe four. And is that just specifically for nurturing? When do you suggest scheduling? 

Jen: It's, it's nurturing, and it's engaging. So whether it's, you know, maybe. You've done a post, and people have commented; it’s ensuring you reply to all of them. It's ensuring that if somebody sent you a message in DMs, you're getting back to them and then, you know, reach out to people you want to reach out to.

And it's only sometimes like selling. It’s, you know, striking up a conversation. So, for example, I belong to a few networks. I could send a message to the ladies in a local network, in Exeter near Devon and me and say, Hey, are you going to the event on Thursday? It'd be great to see that. You know, I missed the last one.

So it's having a conversation. So you know, or I'll give you value and saying, Hey. Do you know about this other network? I've heard about it. So, have you been just having a conversation, seeing where it goes, and always thinking you interrupt their day when you send a DM to somebody?

So make it worthwhile you know, and not just about what you think; how can you add value? Because many people forget that, especially business owners. It is hard to get back in the flow when we are interrupted. So make it, you want people to get your DM and for it to be a positive experience and not to be an annoyance and, you know, and not to be afraid to be yourself in the DMs as well, like, I love a good gift.

Like anyone that DMs my will, now, I send gifs all the time and many people overthink LinkedIn, and it depends on your client base. If you're messaging strangers and corporate, you may not be using gifs, but if you work for individuals, why not? Like if that's what floats to your boat, the main thing is to be you.

When you're not, you, people can feel it. It feels icky and spammy. So yeah, being fearless on LinkedIn. 

Rose: And you mentioned before that you suggest scheduling posts. What content do you recommend scheduling, and what scheduler do you use? 

Jen: Okay, so the scheduler I'm using now is Agora Pulse, and it's great that you can tell us that it connects to many social media platforms. I use it primarily for my company page and sometimes on my profile. Not all posts; sometimes, I like to wing it, but I want everything on my company page to go out. So it just takes it off my plate.

Easy content that everyone is listening to today; if you're a business owner, Two things that spring to mind that every business owner can have. Just say you're on LinkedIn five days a week. Okay, so two of your posts, one is going to be a testimonial, social proof. And this is the kind of post that people overthink and think, oh, I don't want to say it.

It feels a bit braggy. . And I'll say, it's not boasting. It's based on fact. And if you don't showcase. Your service or product people will only know you if you are new. You could be the best person in the world, and you're shooting yourself in the foot because you're dimming your light. And then your potential dream clients will go to somebody who's not going to do as excellent a job as you are.

They're going to go as deep as you are. They're not going to have the intuition you have, the empathy you have, and the kindness you have. So that's why I'm like, get those case studies, testimonials, stories about you. Out there once a week on a loop, and I know I’ve overheard it in the past, and I'm like, oh, do I feel like putting one out today?

You have to, at least one of five posts must, be social proof. So this is another accessible content for anyone. FAQs. What questions do people ask you again and again and again and again because that's the kind of content people want to be answered? So for me, most of my content is about FAQs. I’m asked how many times a day I should post on LinkedIn.

Should I stick to creator mode? Should I be on the free version of LinkedIn or the premium? Just think to yourself, like, what questions do you get asked? You make content around it. You’re doing yourself a favour as well because you're going to be asked, again, and then you can be like, well, here's a newsletter I wrote on that, or an article or a short piece, or Here's a video I made on that.

Jen: So they are two easy pieces of content for everyone. And if it makes it easier, you could create a theme for every day of the week. It could be like Monday motivation, some motivational boost. The start of the week Tuesday could be. Tuesday testimonial or a Tuesday tip. Yeah. Wednesday could be Wednesday.

Wisdom, and it doesn't even have to be your wisdom. You could be curated from someone else. Thursday could be a throwback Thursday to a client or something that happened. Or testimonial Thursday for Thursday, or toot your horn Thursday, you can get creative and Friday. Friday is feeling Friday fun. It’s nice if you can also put some of yourself in there. Your lifestyle and not make it all work because it's nice to have a balance on LinkedIn of the personal and the professional. If you're too professional, people won’t fully connect with you.

On the flip side, if you're too personal, People will only remember what you do. So even if you like one out of five and it's a unique kind of a lifestyle or a behind scenes. For example, even in this podcast, you were to show people your equipment of your podcast, something like that, or your setup, people like that because there will be somebody out there thinking of creating a podcast, and they're like, ah, okay. That's what she uses for a microphone. So anything like that, you know, really resonates. But a lot of my content goes out on a loop because it's scheduled. And don't be afraid to repurpose content. It is an smart thing to do.

You know, and don't be afraid to batch. When you're in the zone to create content, go in the flow, make it, and then repurpose it on a loop, you know, because you shouldn't have to overthink your content on LinkedIn. You should be on there engaging. That's how you're going to get the opportunities. And I speak to so many sensitives and even in my discovery calls, and they're like, the whole conversation from them is content, content, content.

And I spend my half an hour doing this, and I'm like, ah, you're not driving the content conversation because that's the role of content. It is visibility. Raise your brand, and raise awareness of your business. But you need to drive it to the conversation to get a conversion.

And there's just so much hype out there that it's all about content on the home feed. And you can get LinkedIn working even if you have not posted on the home feed; you can still get LinkedIn working for you if you go into the DMs. And a lot of people and sensitive people are resistant to it.

Which is why I'm like, do your homework and be strategic about whom you connect with and make it easy, you know, make it warm, then it's going to feel okay. It only feels icky when you're doing cold outreach. 

Rose: Yeah, I agree. Wow, so many excellent tips that you have Jen, and there's so much more I'd love to ask you, but we're already coming up on time, and I want to ask you my final question that I ask all of my podcast guests when you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

Jen: Oh, step back. And in the past, I was, you know, terrible at giving myself the proper self-care, and I would be like, no, push on through, push on through. And I know. Even recently, I had a virus, and it was in Covid. So I did the Covid test. I was convinced it was, and it wasn't. And when it wasn't, I didn't give myself permission to be sick, which was stupid because I felt as bad as if I had Covid.

But Covid kept going, and one of my coaches was like, Listen to your body, and I knew she was talking sounds, but I still pushed her for another few days, and then I heard her voice again in my head, and I was like, stop this. And I just stopped for like three days, and I was like, you are doing nothing.

And it took me like a week or two to recover. Things I do for self-care, and today I'm doing a bit. I'm off to get a full body massage at lunchtime, and I cannot wait. And then tomorrow, I'm off to get acupuncture. I haven't had it in years, and I can't wait. I love aromatherapy oils such as massage, acupuncture, Pilates, and walking in nature.

I was having my diffuser going. Excellent music, yeah, just anything that relaxes the nerves. And you'll get this as an HSP, so even I'm terrible, even for a massage. It will take me a while to switch off because this lady will be new to me. Shut up. Stop worrying about the conversation. Just lie there. , switch up the brain.

Exactly. Switch up the brain as much as possible. So, I just stopped like be calm, slow down and not feel guilty. Because I think a bit like it's a bit of a luxury now. I'm like, no, this is. Body, MOT and it's essential for my mental health, physical health, and business. So, one of my goals, like 2023, is to have two massages every month and not feel guilty about it.

I got once a month this year, and I was like, oh, amazing. But I realised I need it, especially being on a computer all day. And be on Zoom a lot. Like you feel it in your head, neck, and shoulders. So it's not a luxury. It's vital. 

Rose: Definitely. Oh, I love that. Thank you so much, Jen, and I'm going to pop all of your links into the show notes so people can connect with you.

But thank you again so much for sharing all your beautiful ideas and tips with everyone today. 

Jen: Thanks for having me, and it's a pleasure chatting with you, and I love that we're talking about supporting HSPs, so thanks a million. 

Rose: Oh, you're welcome. Bye, everyone.