Your LinkedIn profile is crucial in shaping your personal brand, especially in today’s digital-first world. Often, it’s the first thing people see when they search your name on Google or go directly to LinkedIn. Therefore, making your LinkedIn profile authentic, compelling, and unique is essential for making a strong impression. Despite its importance, many people make three common mistakes: they don’t take their profile seriously, only update it during significant career changes, and fail to utilize new LinkedIn features.
To maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile, consider making these five key changes:
1. Strengthen Your Headline:
Your LinkedIn headline is the most critical part of your profile for search engine optimization. Many people simply list their current job title and company, but this is a missed opportunity. Instead, use the following formula: Job Title + Keywords + Zing. Keywords should include terms you want to be associated with, while “Zing” refers to something that makes you stand out, such as how or why you do what you do. With 220 characters available, craft a headline that is both impactful and searchable.
2. Revamp Your About Section:
Your About section is often the most-read part of your LinkedIn profile, so it’s vital to make it engaging. The first few lines are crucial, as they determine whether someone will click “see more” to read the full story. Write in the first person to create a connection, include about 30% personal content like your passions and values, and use as many of the 2,600 characters as needed to tell a compelling narrative without fluff. Each sentence should contribute to your overall story.
3. Prioritize Your Skills:
Your skills now appear at the bottom of your About section, making them a key element of how people perceive you. LinkedIn orders skills based on the number of endorsements, but this may not align with how you want to be known. You can re-order your skills while editing your profile, ensuring that the most relevant skills are highlighted.
4. Utilize the Featured Section:
The Featured section, located just below your About and Skills sections, is prime personal branding real estate. It allows you to showcase multimedia content such as images and videos, which can demonstrate your thought leadership and expertise. Keep this section up-to-date, adding new items and re-ordering them to reflect how you want to be perceived.
5. Refresh Your Recommendations:
While most of your profile is self-promotion, recommendations offer an opportunity to enhance your credibility through the words of others. However, many profiles feature outdated recommendations. To keep your profile current and credible, aim to add fresh recommendations at least once a year.
The quality of your LinkedIn profile directly affects your career success. By making these updates, you can create a profile that is both credible and likable, positioning you effectively for future opportunities.
