If you have a LinkedIn account, then with a few tweaks, you can get more out of your profile. LinkedIn is that one-stop shop where you can land a new job, generate leads, close the next sales, broker the next deal or connect with your next business or career mentor. Not only have I made money building LinkedIn profiles for clients, but I have also made profit using LinkedIn. I want to share with you some tips that will help you gain more from your LinkedIn profile.
1. Show up
Little drops of water make a mighty ocean, likewise, if you invest an hour or some minutes daily, you will become more visible. Show up by commenting on posts and articles, sharing your updates and posting articles. Update your profile, send DMs, etc. Be intentional.
Status updates are your chance to highlight your experience, recent work, training, achievement, or inspire other users through a quote.
2. Include your contact details
It felt weird to display my email after I signed up on LinkedIn but now I brandish my email because I want people to reach me. Whether you are on LinkedIn to build your career or your business, make it easy for recruiters or prospects to contact you.
3. Reach out, connect and foster
You need relationships for progression and while building connections is a great way to start, it may not be enough. You may have to go the extra mile to meet a LinkedIn connection face to face at a meet-up or wherever you can find them. And you don’t have to wait until you are laid off, in search of a new job or desperately looking for leads to start reaching out, you can start today.
4. Keep your profile up-to-date
In my experience of reviewing, building and optimizing LinkedIn profiles, I have noticed that many users do not update additional sections like volunteering, languages, honours and awards, etc.
Stop missing out with an outdated profile. Update your location, industry, headline…
Talking about headlines…
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5. Write a professional headline
Will you connect with a user whose headline is: Job Seeker, LinkedIn User?
When I review clients’ LinkedIn profiles, my first task is to understand what they do and their overall goal. What comes next is a befitting headline. Whether you are an intern, founder, director or C-level executive, at a minimum, your headline should highlight your current position and company, e.g., CMO at Indomie, Communications Manager at Coca-Cola, Digital Manager at GE; tell how you can be of help, e.g., Copywriter: I help brands increase sales with high-converting words; or it can go further to highlight your expertise e.g. Writer, Editor and Content Marketer.
The secret to writing an effective headline is to include keywords you would like to appear for in search results. Still on keywords…
6. Use Relevant Keywords
A few years ago, my profile appeared on the second and subsequently the first page of LinkedIn’s search result for the keyword — editor; individuals contacted me and a few recruiters poached me. It was deliberate because I had optimised my profile to appear in search results for that keyword until I transitioned. I just added that keyword again.
Users are constantly searching; therefore, identify the words you want to be found for and sprinkle them in your summary and experience, in addition to your headline.
7. Write an amazing summary
Your summary is the next spot to sell yourself after your headline. It should expand on what appears in your headline, highlighting your expertise, specialties, thought leadership, career experience and achievements.
8. Clean up your profile!
Poor grammar, misspellings, typos and omissions can make a dent in your profile, so weed them out! I can’t over-emphasize this one.
9. Include a picture
A LinkedIn profile with a good picture is more likely to be viewed 10x more than a profile without a picture. The internet is awash with specifications and suggestions on what passes for a professional picture and while I cannot impose any picture style or dimension on you, I advise that you include a picture that reveals your face at least or tells what you do.
10. Add Your Skills
Now you know how to boost your LinkedIn profile. Which of these tips has worked for you? Share your comments and feedback and help other readers learn.
Patrick IP Emekekwue is a Writer and Managing Editor at WriteMedium Communications, a full-service writing, editing and communications agency. WriteMedium serves a wide range of clientele including NGOs, corporate organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Patrick is also a CV writer and the author of JOB Fast Track, a comprehensive guide for job seekers. He has facilitated LinkedIn masterclasses. Patrick is a member of Global Citizens, an international community.
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