Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile – Top Ten LinkedIn Tips

LinkedIn is the largest professional network with over 450 million users worldwide. You can read more stats over on LinkedIn’s About Us page. So to help you get noticed, stand out from the large crowd, and get that dream job here are my top ten LinkedIn Tips to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

1. Complete your profile 100%

LinkedIn keeps good track of your profile completeness. It is in your best interest to complete your profile 100%. Include as much past and current work histories, a summary, skills you’ve learned, etc. LinkedIn will show you what you should fill out to get to 100%.

1. Post a professional image of you in your profile

A professional image is defined as a head and shoulders portrait of you. Two reasons for this: 1. Adds to your credibility 2. Makes your profile more professional

1. Complete your current title and summary

Your Title should be genuine – recruiters will check. Your summary should be a short, concise two or three paragraphs that should answer 3 basic questions: Who are you? What do you do? and Who do you do it for?

Within your summary use keywords that will help you get found in the LinkedIn search. For instance, in my summary, I listed out several keyword phrases such as internet marketing. It is a service my company provides, but they are also phrases users on LinkedIn would search.

1. Complete your past experiences and specializations

Specializations should answer this question. What makes you unique from everyone else in your line of work?

1. Use all the Linkedin features offered (blogs, Slideshare,Twitter feed, video, book recommendations, etc)

LinkedIn provides several in house apps that connect to various services like Twitter and WordPress. If you have written an e-book list and recommend it using Amazon book list app. You can share a recent presentation through the Slideshare app.

1. Join several groups

Primarily LinkedIn is known for its groups. Groups can be private or public. Find the ones that you are interested in to network, share experiences and in which you can learn and give your opinions

1. Get recommendations from clients, current or past companies

Recommendations are synonymous with references. You can solicit past and current employers, co-workers, clients for recommendations. Recommendations give recruiters insights on what you are like as a person, your work ethic, etc

1. Use keywords in your professional “headline”

The headline is that part right below your Title. Your headline character space is very large. Enough for a short sentence or keyword phrases. Use the “|” symbol (above the Enter key) to separate phrases.

1. Edit websites to be actual website names instead of “Company website”

So many times I have come across “Company Website” within the Websites section. Change that generic phrase to the actual name of your company, blog, or Twitter handle

1. Promote!

Lastly, use icons on your website to let your potential clients who visit your website and blogs that you are on LinkedIn. Send emails to your contact lists. Add a blurb in your company newsletter. Add the LinkedIn icon to business cards.

Have questions? Need more tips? Send us an email to help you get your social media strategy moving in the right direction.