Two Quick, Impactful Changes That Will Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

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When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile?

A week ago? A year? More?!

If you’re like most people, you set up your profile when you first joined the platform and haven’t revisited it since.

Yikes. That’s a huge mistake!

Your LinkedIn profile is a statement of who you are. You should use it to make an outstanding first impression –– and a lasting impression.

On Tuesday’s livestream , I shared how to make your LinkedIn profile work for you — and the two most important sections to optimize.

But before you do anything else, you have to get clear on one thing.

Who’s your LinkedIn audience?

Taking full advantage of LinkedIn starts with knowing your audience. Who do you want to support? Who do you want to engage with?

The answer lies in how you want to use the platform.?

If you’re looking for a job, your audience is people who might hire you. If you’re growing your business, you might want to connect with potential future customers. If you’re recruiting, your audience is people looking for opportunities.?

Now that you know who you’re talking to, get clear on their challenges and what they’re looking for. That way, you can tailor your profile so your audience immediately understands you can help them. And that starts right at the top of your profile.

Craft a compelling headline?

Want a fast, high-impact change to your LinkedIn profile?

Tweak your headline!

Wherever you go on LinkedIn, your headline follows you. But most people just plug in their title and company name –– and that’s not capitalizing on a valuable opportunity to speak to your audience.

So how do you make your headline work for you?

• Make it tell your story. Who are you? What do you stand for? Who do you help? How do you support people? Try filling in these blanks as a starting point: I help people _____. And my approach is different because _____.?
• Use numbers. How long have you been in the industry? Or, if you’re new to the industry, what have you accomplished in a certain amount of time? Quantifying your years of experience or accomplishments can highlight your depth of experience. For example, “Positioning businesses at the forefront of their industry for 18+ years.”?
• Add some emotion. Infusing emotion into your headline can make you and your brand more memorable. I love the Advanced Marketing Institute’s Headline Analyzer which shows what emotions your headline evokes, but there are plenty of other tools you can use.?
• Keep it consistent. Your headline should be aligned with your profile, your resume, your activity –– everything! Remember, you’re telling a story, and you want to represent you and your brand accurately.

There’s no one way to write a great headline, but something you definitely want to avoid? Using your headline to say “looking for opportunities.” That doesn’t communicate anything about you or what you bring to the table!

Next up:

Write an intriguing “about” section

Your headline is a quick way to capture your audience’s attention, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your “about” section –– it just means it’s more individualized.

Here are some questions to help you fine tune your “about” section:

• What makes you tick?
• What are you excited about?
• What gets you out of bed in the morning?
• What makes you say, “I love my job?”
• If you weren’t getting paid, what drives you?
• What are you passionate about?
• What have you done in the past??
• What achievements are you proud of?
• If you’ve made any significant changes in your career, what drove your decision?

Remember: Your “about” section should align with your headline. It’s a chance to go deeper –– while still speaking to your audience, their challenges, and your impact.?

Your next client, customer, or employer could be looking at your profile right now. What does it say about you? If it’s been a while since you’ve made any updates, consider spending a few minutes optimizing it so your headline and “about” section support your value proposition and your brand.

Another piece of building your brand? Practicing thought leadership! Join me next Tuesday, July 19 at 9 am PT for a discussion about creating and sharing content that establishes you as a thought leader. Hope to see you there!

Your Turn

How do you use your LinkedIn profile to drive connections? I’d love to hear your best practices and what benefits you get out of LinkedIn!