Little-known ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile
Whether you are on the job hunt or just keeping up with your personal brand, using LinkedIn is a great way to network and maintain business connections, especially amid the COVID-19 global pandemic. This social network focuses on professional contacts and networking and is the perfect place to highlight your skills while you connect with colleagues and recruiters.
Use the banner image
You could keep the standard banner image that LinkedIn provides – but you aren’t boring. Use this prime real estate to highlight who you are. Have a photo of you up on stage speaking? Use it. If you have a website, you can use the same key visual here for some instant recognition and connection. You can also create a LinkedIn image in Canva for free. The recommended pixel dimensions are 1584 x 396 pixels.
Get a professional headshot
Using a professional photo can increase your views by 14 times over those with no picture on LinkedIn. Cropping out the groom at your wedding or zooming in so we can’t see your best friend won’t do, though. No drinking, smoking, or other shenanigans, either. You need a professional headshot because LinkedIn is a professional social network. Good news, though! If you don’t want to pay for a headshot right now, you can fake a good one for free. Be sure the image you upload is at least 200 x 200 pixels, or you’ll end up with a pixelated mess rather than a smiling portrait.
Be creative with your headline
You don’t have to use your current job title as your headline; you shouldn’t be doing that. Your headline is valuable real estate, so use it wisely. Tell people what you do, share your value, and use keywords because the headline is searchable. There is a limit of 120 characters, so be wise with your word use.
Build a better about section
This space is perfect for your elevator pitch. Use keywords that might help recruiters find you and highlight your skills. This space tells the reader who you are and what you do. Make it stand out with a short bio and tell a story. You can use 2,000 characters in this space – make it shine!
Share your employment history
Your employment history should include a wrap-up and highlight of your past positions but doesn’t have to be a copy/paste from your resume. Share your value, explain your most exciting projects, talk about your services, and use the media spaces to share your work. Be sure to include keywords as they can help your search ranking.
Include your contact info
Complete your contact information for higher search ranking and ease of connection. Be sure this is kept up to date with your correct email, website link, and phone number. If you have a portfolio or blog, you can also link them here.
Request recommendations
Recommendations could be one of the most critical sections of your profile. It is excellent to have at least five recommendations, but more than five works as well! These testimonials give others an idea of what it would be like to work with you and are incredibly valuable, especially if you are trying to get a new job.
List your skills and get endorsed
You can select up to 50 skills, and your network can endorse you on these skills. When someone endorses you, it helps prove that you are an expert and boost your profile ranking. Select your top three skills to highlight in this section, as well.
Customize your profile URL
Customizing your URL is a simple way to ensure your profile can be shared easily by you and others. Simply click “Edit public profile & URL” and type your desired address. Tip: Make this your name or a shortened version of your name and keep it professional.
Produce content
You might think all of that effort you just put into making your profile stand out should be enough… but it isn’t. You can’t stop with a one-time edit of your profile. Creating content is one of the best ways to expand your network and get noticed. LinkedIn allows you to post articles, text, images, links, and videos. Time to start creating!
It should go without saying, but now that you’ve used these tips, you have to connect, connect, connect. Join groups, connect with colleagues and industry professionals, and keep your profile updated regularly.
