10 Quick & Easy Steps to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Today's post will be the most task oriented yet... It goes out to my dear friend Sandra who just recently joined LinkedIn... I know, its 2019... and it only happened after much push, not to say, pressure.

Below are 10 quick and easy steps (If I say so myself) on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile in order to expand your network by increasing your search results appearances. You can also use LinkedIn to learn more about industry trends, follow peers and/or whatever might be that you use LinkedIn for. But whatever you do, don't share pet or kids pictures, save that to Facebook.

Let's do this!

Step #1: Upload a professional/business casual PHOTO… also, make sure to keep your photo updated! Adding a photo makes you 14x more likely to be found on LinkedIn! Next week I might decide to go blond - why not?! - if I do, Y'all will have an entertaining day!

Step #2: Tell YOUR story in the summary! It's almost like writing an essay... make sure to have an intro (quick hello and tell who you are), body (write about what you do), closing (tell about what makes you unique, what makes you, YOU)... then a quick call to action such as "Let's connect" or "Send me an invite, I would love to hear from you!"

Step #3: Write a “CATCHY” headline! Don’t just say what you DO… make yourself memorable! Why? Because viewers see your headline first. It is not about who you work for, instead is more about what you do and what you can bring to the table. In the "Experience" section you already have your employer listed. So, instead of saying Marketing Manager at XYZ you can just say Building Integrated Marketing Campaigns Backed By Data or GTM Strategist Focused On Data And Analytics - stay away from the words "guru", "unicorn" and/or "purple squirrel" - PLEASE!

Step #4: Customize your public URL. If you want to find me on LinkedIn, it is easier as /alinelemone... but if for some reason you need to find Ashton Kutcher, for example... you need to type /ashton-kutcher-849288a2... why? Most people never change their default "alpha-numeric" URL and if you don't that's exactly what it will look like: a melting pot of letters and numbers.

Step #5: Add your contact info, but only what makes you comfortable. If you want to only share your email that's okay - It is all up to you.

Step #6: Showcase Your Education! Do I need to get into details on this one? It is exactly what it says... add all your degrees in there folks! It will help your profile to go from average Joe to "All Star", really! Have you ever seen the message from LinkedIn asking you to complete your profile to get it to "All Star"? That's one way to do it.

Step #7: Showcase Your Experience! Read step #6 again and change Education for Work History. There you go. You're almost done!

Step #8: Ask For Recommendations! And, if someone writes something too exaggerated, ask for a revision. Keep it real.

Step #9: Add at least 1 rich multimedia! What the heck is that, you might ask... videos, pdfs, certificates, diplomas, articles, clippings, etc.

Step #10: this goes to my friends with a complex of royalty - as we would say in Brazil... meaning, those who want to use all their 5-6 names. Don't. Make It SIMPLE: first and last, no more than 2 – except females whose name changed after marriage, if they want. I particularly don't use that function.

If you missed my last week's post, feel free to check it out and see how improving your LinkedIn profile will help you to improve your Social Selling Index (a.k.a. SSI). Keep tracking it!

That's it folks. I hope these 10 easy and quick steps will help you to improve your LinKedIn profile. Write your thoughts in the comments below, let me know your questions and/or suggestions for next week’s post. See you next Tuesday. Stay Tuned! #ShareTheKnowledge #LinkedInProfileOptimization #FirstAndLastNameOnlyPlease