10 Steps to Making Your LinkedIn Profile Shine

If you’re on LinkedIn, you probably already know what a great resource the social media platform can be for businesses and professionals. From LinkedIn advertising and marketing opportunities to generating B2B leads and making connections, this platform was truly designed for the modern professional. However, if your LinkedIn profile leaves something to be desired, you could be missing out on even more opportunities. 

While your business profile for LinkedIn is important, people want to get to know who they will be working with. Your personal profile should align with your business goals and encourage engagement from your target audience. Keep reading for 10 ways to optimise your LinkedIn profile so you stand out from the crowd.

1. Make your headline powerful 

Most marketers know that you only have seconds to grab someone’s attention. Your audience will decide very quickly whether or not to spend time browsing your LinkedIn profile, and ultimately, investing their time or money into your business. The headline for your LinkedIn profile is your first chance to really catch someone’s eye and entice them to stick around. 

You only get 120 characters for your headline, so make them count by using keywords. This section of your profile should include your job title or what you do as well as what you are looking for or your goals. Keep it under 10 words and get creative to convey your personal brand. 

2. Don’t skip the summary 

So many professionals make the mistake of leaving their LinkedIn summary blank. However, this is a great opportunity to make the right impression. Share what makes you different from everyone else and why customers or partners should consider doing business with you. A balance of professional and personality for this section is needed to help your LinkedIn profile shine. 

3. Add a personal touch to connections

LinkedIn tries to make your life easy by offering default messages for connecting with someone. But, you should never send the generic “Hi, I’d like to connect” message. It is impersonal and shows that you took no time to consider the person you are trying to connect with. 

Instead, make each connection and request personal. Let the person know why you are connecting with them. Do you have anything in common, such as a shared reference, location or goal? Make this message more about them than you. 

4. Be intentional about your connections

When it comes to LinkedIn connections, go for quality over quantity. Your network should be useful to you and your business. Think about your target audience and make sure that you only build in these areas. 

The connections you form on LinkedIn should help your career and business in some way, just like you should add value to them. There are some members who accept every invitation that comes their way, and this process may work for their needs. However, it is best to be intentional when connecting or accepting LinkedIn requests to connect.

5. Use a high-quality photo

People love to put a face to the name. This is especially helpful if you met someone briefly or worked with them in the past and are now trying to connect with them on LinkedIn. Your photo should be high-quality and professional in appearance. 

6. Create original content

If you want your LinkedIn profile to be considered valuable, you have to create original content. Write articles, share your thoughts, and post regularly to engage your audience and attract your target consumer. The content you share will have a direct impact on who chooses to connect with you or follow you. 

Members who spam their connections with constant sales pitches are likely to see their connection count drop. However, providing quality and useful content can help you gain a considerable number of connections. 

7. Customise your URL

There are more than 600 million members on LinkedIn. It is impossible for people to remember everyone they meet or connect with, and it is even harder to find their profiles. By customising your URL, you make your LinkedIn profile easier to find. If you have a hard time finding a unique URL, consider using your name and job title.

8. Fill in your background section 

You should have your work experience, education information and any relevant volunteer experience included in your background section. This is often considered the bread and butter of a LinkedIn profile because it provides a clear overview of your work history and relevant experience. Be specific with your time periods and include the name of your past employers and job titles, roles, and achievements as succinctly as possible.

9. Make the most of your skills

This is your chance to brag a little bit. Include your relevant skills in this section to set your profile apart from the rest. Make sure to use skills that people recognise. Just because you are good at something does not mean that your audience cares about it.

10. Get recommendations 

You can ask former managers, colleagues and clients to provide recommendations for your LinkedIn profile. When you make the request for a recommendation, ask for specific comments that highlight your skills or your work on a certain project. Be thoughtful in who you ask for a recommendation because you only want high-quality comments that make you look good.

Conclusion

Your LinkedIn profile can be instrumental in generating leads for your business, building professional connections and setting yourself apart in your industry. By following the tips above, you can create a LinkedIn profile that shines and provides a clear overview of you and your experiences.

If you find yourself stuck during the process of optimising your LinkedIn profile, reach out to a specialist agency like In Business Ninjas. By utilising the services of LinkedIn marketing specialists, you can optimise your profile for your business and your audience. Let the LinkedIn experts do the heavy lifting and reap the rewards of a stellar LinkedIn profile.