How to make your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out?

LinkedIn - One of the biggest Professional platforms used to grow networks and insights. It is a career-oriented social network that is helping millions of people across the globe. No matter which tags you carry - a student, professional, Freelancer or business owner, LinkedIn is going to help you robustly to build your brand name, identity and develop insights. So, to leverage the benefits of LinkedIn you need to create a well-optimized LinkedIn profile to make a strong impact on connections and prospects. Here we go with step by step how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to make it stand out:

1. Optimize Basic Information – Profile Section

 - Profile Photo:

Use a proper Professional Profile photo with dimensions 200* 200(No selfies and party mode Pictures). Decent dress code is highly recommended.

  - Public URL:

You need to edit your Public URL and make it optimized; Optimization is preferred as it is just your name without numbers/symbols etc and easy to remember at the same time. It can be customized as feasible to you (Preferably your full name). If someone with the same name has already created it, you can bring slight changes like adding Initials of your middle /last name. AN optimized URL gives a clean look to your profile.

- Impressive Headline:

The headline tab appears just below your name. It is Limited to 120 characters, make sure you tell the world who you are, what you do!  Use keywords that are searchable and beneficial for you. Go for one or more adjectives (Like - Passionate Digital Marketer or an Enthusiast Content writer or Learner). Try showing your skills rather than Designation.

-Fill about section:

About section is all about yourself- Give clear ideas of what you are well versed with, define your capabilities immensely and tell your network why connecting to you is an awesome deal. Give a reason for people to get connected!

-Featured section:

One of the best features on LinkedIn is the “Featured section” itself. It allows you to showcase your work to the one who just views your profile.

-You can keep the best post and articles on the featured list.

A quick Tip: Once added, you can reorder it as per your wish, by simply hold and drag.

- You have the option for links, where you can share links of your work (may your blog)

- You have the option for featuring media:

 Documents, photos, and presentations – A document can be a CV or any of the work samples. Similarly, photos and presentations can be anything which is worth appreciating.

2. Background:

Work Experience: At least the Last three organizations you need to mention.

Education: Education is Very Important along with other basic information. Make sure you update it properly.

Licenses and certifications: Flaunt your degrees, training, courses in the form of Licenses and certifications. It adds value to the skills you have mentioned in your headlines and about section.

Volunteer experiences: Show the world a glimpse of your kindness and passion. Write about the participation which you offered to the world voluntarily.

Skills: Mention your skills. (at least few)

Accomplishments: Accomplishments are always an add-on to once personality You can add your publications, patents, courses, projects, Honours and awards, and much more. Show It all!

Language: Add the languages you know.

3.Contact Information:

Your URL will be visible here – Make sure it is optimized one

Your Email ID and Birthday also needs to be updated – You can keep privacy, who can have view it.

 4. Recommendations

Don't refrain yourself to ask for recommendations from Known connection, By Known I mean Don't ask everyone who connects with you. Keep it fair - If you are a freelancer ask your clients for recommendations if you are just done with your course training ask your trainers, and you can ask your teammates for the same.

5. Endorsements

 To my Experience for endorsements, Connections keep it doing themselves when they are impressed with any of your skills. I have done it at times and connections simultaneously do it for me. Your work should speak louder, making an impact and you are halfway to success.

                               keep all sections updated, it is no less than your resume. your LinkedIn profile should have no blank spaces, it turns off the prospects as well as someone whom you wish to connect. So, make sure you have updated all.

6. Share Content, Insights and communicate

Share your valuable insights/Posts/Articles with your network with consistency, it’s one of the best ways to optimize your LinkedIn Profile overall. Don't be a Lurker, who just scroll feed in free time, be a creator or a contributor adding value to the platform. Communicate and respond back to the connections it really helps in building a healthy and strong network. Use relevant hashtags so that it can reach a number of people.

                   LinkedIn is giving a virtual award in the form of Trending - Yes if your write up is really good and viewed by the audience, chances are it will go trending for a particular hashtag and will be visible to more and more people. It is really Overwhelmed to get a notification of trending. 

7. Grow network

You can grow network easily, apart from teammates, batch mates, mutual friends and all - You can add people who share the common interests, backgrounds as of yours. Connecting to influencers, recruiters are always helpful. Try to write a customized message while sending connection requests. It impresses people at times. And once they get connected drop a welcome message - Something like - Welcome to my network, I hope to share insights together! 

Quick Tip: To enhance the credibility of your LinkedIn Profile have at least 500 connections

                             Another way of the growing network is finding groups related to your profile, goals or business. This works for an employer/employee and Client/Freelancer most of the time while looking/providing services. Join Groups right away!

8. Connections and followers.

LinkedIn can have a maximum of 30000 connections, though you can opt for followers which can be numerous .so that whatever you share it will still reach more audience. Usually, Influencers opt for followers instead of connections.

                     Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is necessary for more visibility and gives you a chance to stand out of the box for better visibility and results.

" Don’t wait for tomorrow to get things done. Start Optimizing Now!

Published by Nafiya Ayub khan