30/07/2024 | Social MediaStrategy
LinkedIn is so much more than an online CV. It’s a place where your personal brand shines and often where you make that crucial first impression. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile could be your ticket to exciting new opportunities, valuable professional connections and even growth for your business.
But, where to begin? It’s hard to know how to stand out in the sea of LinkedIn profiles, but with a few smart moves, you can transform your LinkedIn presence from just another profile into a powerful professional tool.
Ready to cut through the noise and get your LinkedIn profile working as hard as you do? We’ve got you covered…
Get your profile picture right
Profile picture tips for LinkedIn
First impressions count. On LinkedIn, that starts with your profile picture. You don’t need to shell out for a fancy photoshoot – a clear, recent headshot where you look professional and approachable will do the job. Consider the image you want to project. Friendly and warm? Confident and capable? Whatever it is, make sure your photo reflects that. Remember your profile picture is usually the first thing people see when they spot you on LinkedIn, so take the time to get it right – it could be the difference between someone clicking on your profile or scrolling past.
Make your header image count
Profile header tips for LinkedIn
Your header image takes up valuable space at the top of your LinkedIn profile – use it to showcase what you do. If your organisation has a branded header image you can use, even better – it shows you’re part of a team and helps project a professional image.
Get verified
How to verify your LinkedIn profile
Profile verification is a simple step that adds a blue tick to your profile, letting others know you’re a genuine professional. It’s an easy way to boost your credibility on the platform. To verify your profile, click the ‘Verify now’ button on your profile. LinkedIn uses a third-party service called Persona to perform identity verification.
It’s a pretty simple process – you just need the LinkedIn mobile app and an NFC-enabled passport. Don’t forget that your LinkedIn name needs to match the name on your passport exactly, so if you don’t use your given name on LinkedIn, verification might not work for you.
Use the name pronunciation feature
How to record your name pronunciation on LinkedIn
If your name is often mispronounced, LinkedIn’s name pronunciation feature could be a handy tool. It adds a personal touch and helps others address you correctly, fostering better connections.
To do this, use the LinkedIn mobile app. Click the pencil icon to the right of your profile, where you can edit your profile intro information. Select ‘add name pronunciation’ and hold the microphone icon down to record yourself speaking.
Create a grabbing headline
How to write a good headline for LinkedIn
Your headline is your chance to tell people who you are and what you do in a nutshell. Don’t just put your job title – this is a great place to let people know more about the specific value you add. For example, instead of ‘Operations Manager’, you could try ‘Streamlining manufacturing processes | Boosting efficiency for Yorkshire SMEs.’
Tell your story
Profile summary tips for LinkedIn
Your summary is where you can expand on your professional journey. Use the space to highlight your experience and what makes you stand out. Always keep it professional, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through – remember, people do business with people! Showcase who you are as a person, whether that’s injecting some humour or sharing personal stories. Authenticity is key.
Detail experience
LinkedIn experience section best practices
Always fill out your experience section thoroughly. Include your current and past positions, with descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements. Don’t forget you can link to each company’s LinkedIn page for each role – a simple way to help build connections.
Skills and endorsements
How to get LinkedIn endorsements
List your relevant skills and encourage colleagues to endorse you for them. It’s a perfect way to show what you’re great at, and it helps you appear in searches too. Don’t forget recommendations – these are like gold dust for your professional reputation. Don’t be shy about asking for recommendations from colleagues, clients or managers. A thoughtful recommendation can speak volumes about your professional capabilities.
Add a unique link
How to add a custom URL to your LinkedIn profile
A custom link is a smart way to turn your profile into a lead-generation tool. LinkedIn allows you to add a link to a website on your profile, so make it count. You could link to your organisation’s homepage, but why not use the opportunity to get strategic? You could send people to a free audit offer, a downloadable brochure or even a contact form on your website. Every click counts, so make sure you’re directing people exactly where you want them to go.
To add a custom URL, click the edit icon on your profile and scroll down to the bottom where you’ll see a ‘website’ section. Just paste in your URL and it’ll appear at the top of your profile.
Connect with your company
Stay engaged
Make sure you’re following your company’s page and that you’ve properly linked to it in your experience section. This shows you’re engaged with your workplace and also boosts your company’s online presence. You can even set notifications for their posts so you can engage with the company on the feed.
Grow your network
How to grow your network on LinkedIn
Connect with your colleagues, clients and other relevant people in your industry. A bigger network means more potential opportunities, but remember it’s quality over quantity. Focus on building relationships rather than a list of connections – a hundred engaged connections are better than a thousand who never interact with your content.
Share industry insights, comment on others’ posts and contribute to relevant discussions. This keeps you visible and establishes you as a thought leader.
The benefits of a well-optimised LinkedIn profile
So, why bother optimising your LinkedIn profile? There are a whole host of reasons to give your LinkedIn profile some TLC. A well-optimised LinkedIn profile can:
- Increase your reach, getting you seen by more potential partners and clients.
- Establish you as a go-to professional in your field.
- Open up exciting new networking opportunities. The beauty of LinkedIn is that you might just find your next big client while sipping coffee at home!
- Boost your professional reputation and credibility.
- Keep you front-of-mind with your network. You never know when someone might need the exact services you’re offering.
Look at your LinkedIn profile as an ongoing project rather than a one-time task. Your profile should grow and evolve with you and your career. See it as the digital version of your professional self. Keep it updated and engage with your network and you’ll find it’s a powerful tool to help support your personal and professional business goals.
Still feeling a bit unsure? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many professionals find that implementing an effective LinkedIn strategy can be trickier than it looks, and expert guidance can make all the difference.
Get your FREE social media checklist for LinkedIn
So, you want to commit to growing your LinkedIn presence, but your not sure where to start? Once you’ve optimised your profile using the information above, put some time aside to each day to chip away at your activity using our social media checklist.
The free social media for LinkedIn breaks down activity into simple daily, weekly, and monthly activity. It contains all the activity we coach our clients to do to improve their following and organic reach on LinkedIn.
Download the LinkedIn specific social media checklist and commit to improving your usage today:
Get the social media checklist for LinkedIn
Want professional social media advice for your business? Why not take the first step with our social media audit? It’s a simple way to get expert insights tailored to your company’s social media presence. We can look at your existing setup, including any key personal profiles, analyse what’s working well and identify key areas for improvement.
Get in touch for a friendly chat with our team about how we can help, or request your social media audit today to get the ball rolling!