Whether you are using LinkedIn to grow your business, looking for your next exciting career or to keeping in touch with the latest industry news and trends, it is important that your profile is professional, clear and gives the right first impression.
First of all, your LinkedIn profile is all about you and your experiences, it should all be written in first person (i.e. I have experience in…) and should of course let your personality shine through. Here are a few tips for creating a killer profile:
Choose a headline which stands out
Your headline is your first chance to tell your audience what it is you do. Remember to include your passions and plenty of keywords surrounding your area of expertise. This will help you to get found easier on LinkedIn and become more noticeable.
No Selfies Please!
LinkedIn is a professional network, 80% of social network B2B leads come from LinkedIn so your profile picture should be of a professional nature. If you’re not keen on portrait style photos, think about using a photo of you at work or doing what you specialise in.
Your cover image is prime real estate
Your cover picture sits above your headline and at 1400x425 pixels, is prime real estate for you to advertise your products or services. If you have your own business or are passionate about promoting yourself, why not do this graphically as part of your cover picture?
Make the most of your summary
Your summary section is where you should talk about you and your journey. Leave your work experience to the ‘Experience’ section and fill your summary with some of your top achievements, why you are where you are and what you are looking to achieve. For example, if you are looking for your next job, why not include a brief statement in your summary to include what it is you’re looking for?
Stand out with images and videos
LinkedIn allows you to add videos and images for sections such as ‘Summary’ and ‘Experience’ and these will make you stand out, especially when looking to attract more clients or grow your business. They show you as a key thinker in your industry and show off your knowledge on the subject matter.
Keep your work experience relevant
Many people have moved jobs, they may have changed their career entirely or are serial movers and unlike a CV, you don’t have to include it all. Think about who you are targeting your profile at, who you hope will read it and what you want to achieve. Pick your key roles and be sure to fill in the description to emphasise not only what you did, but also how you added value.
