Here's how you can optimize your social media profiles to attract potential employers.

Keep it human! Don't fall into the trap of stuffing too much into it. Ignore the hardware involved in social media and just think as though you were meeting someone face-to-face. The same applies to your headshot. Mirror your audience. If you work in environments that are typically less formal, don't use a picture of you in a 3-piece suit.

When you're writing your bio, use an avatar statement such as: "I help/work with/teach/coach (your niche market) (to) achieve/do/build/find/clarify (what you're helping them with) so they can/are able to (what they need) with/without/by (the solution to their biggest challenge)." When people land on your page, you want them to immediately know what you do and what you can do for ????????. Within seconds, they'll know if they're in the right place. Keep it simple, use keyword phrases where you can, and make it clear and concise.

Don't over do it by sharing content too often. Consistency is key here so don't set yourself up to fail. Think about the time you've got, if a good post once a week is what you can manage great. Remember, most people don't have something interesting to say three times a day, 7 days a week. Quality over quantity everytime!

This is where most people get social media, in particular LinkedIN wrong. Imagine you're in a room with real people. When would feel appropriate to introduce yourself. Listening is the most important part here, learn what it is people need, what challenges they have etc, before offering your skills/ services. Demonstrating a proper understanding of the needs of the person you are connecting with always helps...and don't just make it about yourself, don't just ask them for help, remember to offer them a solution to their needs.

I recommend Googling yourself as well. I do this on a monthly basis to see what the top results for myself are. I've always operated under the thought when posting of "if my mom would not approve of this, I probably shouldn't post it." That's the best advice I always give to someone when they're worried about what might show up.

You should always be reviewing your profile to make sure it properly reflects your skills and values, but don't 'over-sanitize' it to the point you aren't actually saying anything interesting. Keep your personality and opinions in it, employers expect you to have these, but make sure you show open-mindedness, and are willing to work with people who don't always share your views.

Thinking of LinkedIN or other social media channels are a living portfolio helps. Anything great you've worked on, show it off, but make sure you highlight what the value add was, not just pretty pictures of your work...demonstrate you understand what you bring to any business. Also, don't just show the end results, show off the process too, showing how you work is just as important.

1. Your headline should include the value that you bring to the workplace or potential customer. For example: Product Manger @ Trivial | Helping people get smarter, faster 2. Linkedin now offers a 'Projects' or 'Portfolio' space that you can use to list specific projects in detail. This section allows more information than the 'Featured' section, which can be used to highlight posts, links, and images. 3. Many people gloss over the 'About' section, but this is a place the recruiters and hiring managers are sure to look at. Personally, I recommend keeping it short and bulleted – what you have done, what you are doing now, and hobbies. 4. Lastly, posting 1-2 times a week can show a hiring manager that you're interested in matched vertical.