What Makes a Winning LinkedIn Profile?

LinkedIn has more than 55 million registered businesses, and about 86 percent of recruiters utilize the platform to locate appropriate applicants. And if you're seeking to boost your LinkedIn presence, you'll want to ensure you're following the best practices listed below, which will help you create the most compelling LinkedIn profile possible.

1. Select the appropriate headshot

Because the first thing people see when they visit your profile is your headshot, it's critical to pick a professional-looking image. There are several methods for selecting or creating an appropriate image. You might ask your friends and family for images of you that seem clean and professional (there should be nothing distracting in the backdrop, and you should not be wearing a T-shirt or baseball cap). Alternatively, a family member or friend might take your picture against a simple backdrop (the iPhone's "portrait" mode produces excellent results).

Alternatively, you might get a professional photograph taken. Whatever you choose, be sure to include a clear photograph of yourself, ideally smiling rather than frowning.

2. Write a concise and unambiguous headline

After your headshot, the headline (commonly referred to as your "tagline") is the first thing visitors to your profile see, so it's critical to create a strong first impression with this brief introduction. Your headline informs readers fast about who you are and what you do best. Your title should be brief and direct, emphasizing some of your accomplishments and what you're most well-known for. One typical error is to provide your job title.

You are welcome to add much more to highlight your individuality. Instead of just writing "Marketing manager," you may write something like this: "Experienced marketing manager with an emphasis on consumer products, renewable energy, and technology."

3. Include keywords in summary/about part of your website.

Your summary (or "About") section is where you may insert a few words describing your personal or professional characteristics. It is where you demonstrate the sorts of services or products with which you've previously worked and why others should choose you for certain tasks. Therefore, select keywords that accurately reflect your talents, expertise, and knowledge to ensure that individuals search for someone with your skills and experience who can quickly discover you.

Make an effort to employ action-oriented verbs such as manage, develop, lead, empower, and assist. Additionally, you should provide pertinent statistics, amounts, and percentages. For instance, "assisted in growing the firm from six to over one hundred employees" or "assisted in increasing yearly subscribers by 85 percent."

4. Obtain referrals from individuals in your desired field.

Recommendations establish credibility and may aid in the development of your profile. It's critical to include references from individuals acquainted with you and your abilities rather than from people you don't know well or are unfamiliar with your job history. It's important to remember that you don't have to wait for someone to suggest you; you are welcome to ask any of your connections to write one for you. Chances are they will if they are familiar with you and have had positive experiences dealing with you in the past.

5. Include a link to your website, portfolio, or blog in your bio.

As a member of LinkedIn, you may include links to your website or blog in your profile. It may be an excellent method of encouraging folks to go further into the work you've done. Additionally, it is good to provide detailed information about what visitors will discover at the link (a short description is fine).

Along with hyperlinks to a website, personal blog, or CV, you may provide connections to other sources of information, such as videos. Additionally, you should include relevant keywords in this part to ensure that folks looking for anything similar discover you.

6. Join groups in which you want to join

LinkedIn groups are intended to foster professional development, so join those relevant to your desired professions and sectors. LinkedIn groups provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities and expertise. Network with potential future colleagues, share articles and other materials that may interest other group members (thereby raising your visibility), and ask questions of other group members (which can start conversations that lead to strong connections).

One thing to watch out for in groups is oversharing. However, when utilized appropriately and wisely, groups may be an excellent method to develop strong connections with contacts in your field—relationships that can help you get the job and career of your dreams.