7 Tactics to Boost Your LinkedIn Profile
Think of your LinkedIn profile as a website promoting your personal brand.
Of course, there are basic items that you should have such as your work history, achievements, and education. But it is the way you present this information that will make you stand out.
Setting it up.
Make sure your profile is public, so you show up in searches and customize your URL to include your name. This makes it easier to add your LinkedIn to your resume.
Take a Professional Photo.
You don’t want the first thing on your profile to be a cropped photo of you with a sliver of someone else’s face cut out. Your photo should be of high quality with a backdrop or in a proper setting. You can have a friend or relative take a photo of you in your backyard or in your home office. While a professional photo is great, a photo that shows your personality and passion is even better. Here are 11 tips to follow for the perfect LinkedIn profile picture in 2020.
Boost your Title and Summary.
If you don’t choose your own title, LinkedIn automatically pulls it from your current position. This is ok but it can be better. Use your title to pull in your viewers by making it interesting. Instead of Communications Specialist at AVIAN, try this instead: Communications Specialist at AVIAN | Marketing Guru | Adobe Creative Suite Expert
This triggers search words when other LinkedIn members are searching for you and it shows your top talents first thing. You have 120 characters to work with, use them! If you are unemployed, add “seeking full-time position” at the end.
Use your summary as an extension of your title. Show them your skills and end it with a call to action — “Let’s connect on how my unique set of skills can benefit your business.”
Highlight your Experience.
Your LinkedIn is an extension of your resume, not a copy of it. Your resume should be tailored to each individual job, but your LinkedIn can include more information. Where your resume includes your most recent jobs, your LinkedIn might have your entire work history. If you are new to the professional world, you may find your previous work experience is flooded with positions at local restaurants and retail stores. It is ok to include these at first, but as your list of experiences grows, be sure to remove them if they aren’t relevant. If you are still building your work history and had an internship or relevant experience in college, make that the star of the show. Community service and volunteerism are also great to highlight as it demonstrates stewardship and dedication to a cause.
Grow your Network.
Add your former colleagues and professional contacts to grow your network. Like other social networks, you will get requests from random people who want to connect. Refrain from accepting. You want your network to be genuine or else it will not be as effective. You’ll find a ton of helpful tips on our
Avoid Buzzwords.
LinkedIn put together this list of top buzzwords used in users' profiles. Try and avoid them to make your profile stand out in a sea of similar business professionals.
And finally,
Keep it Updated.
Don’t wait until you are job searching to update your resume. You never know when an opportunity might come around. Although LinkedIn is primarily used to find job candidates, it is also great for keeping up with former colleagues. By keeping your profile updated, you’re prepared for any opportunity that comes your way.
Want more?
Check out this episode of the Work Awesome Podcast — What Should Your LinkedIn Profile Look Like. With insights from recruiters, HR professionals, and Communications experts.
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