Optimize your LinkedIn Profile
Are you looking to network with professionals in the same industry as you? Maybe you’re trying to find a new job. Maybe you’re looking for people to provide tips and advice for you to advance your career. Whatever the case may be, people are now networking online more than ever before. There are various social media apps that allow you to network with other professionals but most platforms are for fun, friends, and entertainment.
If you want to connect with potential clients, employers, and business partners, LinkedIn is the place to do it. If you are not very familiar with LinkedIn or use it sparingly, I recommend trying it out more and see where it takes you. I’ve put together this post to help you make your LinkedIn profile as influential and as useful as possible.
Use a professional looking photo
The headshot is the first thing that people see when they visit your profile. This photo should be properly lit, have good color, show your torso and head in the center of the frame, and be a high quality picture. Don’t use a photo with a flashy background or one that was taken as a selfie. Group photos where you crop yourself out are not ideal either. The cut lines make the image look like it was posted by someone that didn’t really care. Select a picture that is recent and represents you well.
Write a proper headline
Your headline is a short phrase that is used like the bio section of any social media account. It appears under your name and can come up in a search preview. You want to use this space to capture people’s attention and show your skills and expertise. Use keywords that describe what you do and what makes you stand out from someone else. You can also write something that points to your personal brand. People will be able to identify you more quickly and easily. The goal is to connect names to faces to businesses and to other social media accounts.
Create a summary
If you tell stories the right way, many readers will be intrigued and read your story. The summary section is an area where you can tell your personal story about your professional life. Use this area to emphasize your skills, experiences, achievements, and make sure to include any relevant awards or certifications. There is another section at the bottom of your LinkedIn profile where you can add certifications and completed courses as well.
Customize your URL
LinkedIn allows you to change the URL of your profile to your liking. This can make it easier for people to find your profile and share it across platforms. The standard link looks a bit messy too so this is a better alternative.
Include work experience
Your work experience is arguably the most important section of your linkedIn profile. Make sure that when you get a new job or promotion in the same company, you create a new position rather than changing the previous position. This shows career growth and progression. You should also include any large projects or team accomplishments that you worked on or were a part of. It is nice to highlight any skills that you gained from these job experiences.
Provide your education
If you have any type of degree or qualifications, this is the place to enter it. This will make you a more credible person and show expertise in your area of study. Graduate certificates, Online courses, minors, study abroad, internships etc. can also be added to the education area. If you earned any honors or awards in study, they can be displayed here as well.
Connect with others
LinkedIn is a social media application just like many of the others. In order to be social, you need to connect with others on the platform. This will help to grow your network, find opportunities, stay up to date on trends, see what similarly qualified professionals are up to and much more! Use the app for 20 minutes each day to expand your outreach across the user base.
By following these tips, you can improve your LinkedIn profile and make it a valuable tool for advancing your career. Happy networking!