So many people leave the default LinkedIn banner on their profile. Some take the next step and add a picture. You can do even better! You can add a powerful message to attract prospects.

Read on for how to do it with examples...

First, your powerful, attractive message. I have some example later, but how do you make your own? We use something we call the Marketing Equation - it's this: Interrupt, Engage, Educate and Offer.

The first pair - Interrupt & Engage - work anywhere: on web pages, emails, print, tv and radio ads, banners, business cards, and of course when someone asks you: "What do you do?"

The Interrupt is the first thing your prospect sees or hears from you. It's the headline on the page or the first sentence you speak. It's emotional. It may even hit a pain point. Of theirs - this is all about your prospect. Find your Interrupt by thinking of a problem your prospect has, and does not want.

Want headline ideas? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/9-quick-easy-ways-write-headlines-matt-tarrant/

The Engage is what your prospect sees or hears second. It's the subhead or second sentence out of your mouth. It's emotional too. About your prospect, not you. Find it by thinking of a result your prospect wants, and does not have.

I've put the description of the Educate and the Offer at the end for completeness - you don't use them in a banner because there's not space.

(Share this article now to help out someone you know who could use a better banner)

Remember, the Interrupt needs to hit a problem your prospect has and doesn't want. And tune into their emotions. Some examples:

A child psychologist: "Are You Sick And Tired Of The Yelling, Screaming & Belligerent Attitude Of Your Child?"

For a daycare: "Ever Felt Like Your Daycare Treated Your Child Like A Number Instead Of A Little Person?"

And a moving company: "Last Year Over 3521 Complaints and Lawsuits Were Filed Against Moving Companies in Dallas"

The Engage must offer a solution, a result your prospect wants but hasn't got.

"Now You Can Discover The Secrets To Controlling Your Child And Instantly Restoring Peace And Quiet At Home"

"How To Ensure Your Child Gets Personal, Loving, Caring Attention at Daycare"

"Ask These 15 Questions To Make Sure Your Moving Companies Policies, Procedures And Standards Will Protect You From An Unpleasant Moving Experience."

Now it's your turn. Work on your Interrupt (problem they have) and Engage (result they want). Rework them so they hit a pain point - or at least engage directly with your prospects' emotions.

Get the Interrupt down to 5-8 words and the Engage to 8-12 so they are large enough to stand out on your banner.

Here are some more examples. Florist: Hay fever sufferer? Our low-pollen displays mean no-one gets a red nose. Everything color themed – except the flowers? Bring us a swatch and we’ll run with it. Builder: Worried about the list of jobs to fix up a resale? Buy new, put your feet up, and let us do all the work. If all builders look the same to you, get our guide ‘8 ways to tell if you’re hiring a builder or a cowboy’. Accountant: Anxiously checking the company account ahead of payroll day? Connect for our free 'Smooth Out Your Cashflow guide'. SEO/Social/Digital Marketer: Not enough leads? Let us bring prospects to you.

Last example, and forgive me the blatant plug, when people ask me what I do, I say:

"I help small business owners who're not making enough to live their dream... find more revenue and profit in their business, without spending a fortune on ads!"

Now you have your Interrupt and Engage it's time to create your banner.

Choose white text on a black background for maximum impact and use a free graphics tool. Or get a cheap design done on Fiverr or a more expensive one on Upwork. The size (as of writing) is 1526 * 768 but it gets cropped and displayed differently on desktop and mobile.

You add your banner the same way you added your photo.

Here is mine - at least when I wrote this - but I have a book on the way so it may change!

Yours, Matt.

P.S. For completeness...

The Educate is at least enough information to get your prospect to start to trust you. Don't hold back here - give away the best nuggets you have. Make it as long as you can afford on the medium you're using.

The Offer must be non-threatening and interesting to the 99% of people searching for information. For example, "Call me" is threatening - people read it as "Call and let me give you the hard sell." If someone lands on your page and wants to buy - let them! But most people aren't ready to buy now. They will be. So offer them an ethical bribe to capture their contact details and feed them more information and chances to buy, until... who else would they choose to buy from.

P.P.S If this helped you, or could help a friend... Please share it now!