LinkedIn Tips: 7 Ways to Optimize Your Profile
Looking for LinkedIn tips to ensure your profile is ready for opportunities, networking, and more?
Your LinkedIn profile is likely the first place others on the platform will go to learn more about you. A professional and optimized portfolio will help you stand out and make a positive “first impression”. It will also help you show up in search results (important if you’re selling services, establishing your own brand, or even looking for a job).
This post is all about LinkedIn tips for optimizing your profile.
Why Use LinkedIn?
Whether you’re a solopreneur trying to land clients, or a job seeker looking to explore career opportunities, LinkedIn is an incredible resource and potential “goldmine”. Plus, it’s kind of fun- especially if you’re interested in business and things like professional development, productivity, and communication.
Beyond searching for jobs and leads, LinkedIn offers:
Learning Opportunities
You can learn a lot from just following people that you admire and companies that you’re interested in. It’s still social media, so there’s some of that ugh social media stuff (clickbait, bots, AI comments, trolling, get-rich gurus) but generally the vibe is more mature and (dare I say) kinder and more civil. After all, most people are using their real names, attached to their professional reputation.
Real People with Real Stories
And if you’re thinking it’s a stuffy scene with people talking corporate-speak and trying only to project images of success and HR-friendly content, think again. LinkedIn has only been getting more and more casual and personal- to the point where some think it may too casual for a professional network.
Personally, I enjoy the more open and laid-back LinkedIn. More people are sharing their stories- everything from lay-offs, to struggles at the workplace, to entrepreneurial success journeys, and life stuff too.
Networking
And the professional networking possibilities are unmatched. A well-written post can attract the attention of someone with an opportunity. Even a helpful comment or authentic message or connection request can spark a conversation that can result in a friendship or becoming someone’s online acquaintance. And while it’s always better to approach networking (and life?) with a no-expectations, just-happy-to-be-here attitude, the networking opportunities on LinkedIn can result in real opportunities.
LinkedIn Tips: Understanding Your Profile
Simply put, your LinkedIn profile is what people see when they click on your LinkedIn.
What does a LinkedIn profile include?
- Profile picture
- Banner area behind that profile picture (also called the background photo)
- Headline summarizing your current role or position
- Summary or About section that can be used to provide career highlights, expertise, or goals
- Experience section with career or job history
- Education section
- Skills section
- Connections – a list of people you’re connected to on LinkedIn
- Interests – people and pages you “follow” on LinkedIn
- Activity – Your posts and comments on LinkedIn
- Recommendations – Recommendations (similar to testimonials) given or received on LinkedIn
- Optional sections like Volunteer Work and Certifications
Optimizing Your Profile: 10 LinkedIn Tips to Stand Out
Even if you’re just starting off on LinkedIn, taking a strategic approach to setting up your profile can help you present professionally, authentically, and effectively.
Here are 10 LinkedIn tips for an optimized profile:
1. Choose a great profile picture
Easier said than done, right? Taking, selecting, and posting a LinkedIn profile picture can seem like a daunting task- for many, it can be the sticking point. The point where setting up a LinkedIn profile just doesn’t happen.
But really? That’s kind of silly. If you want to get on LinkedIn and grow your network, explore opportunities, and grow professionally and personally, don’t let yourself get hung up on a photo.
Get it Done
Hype yourself up for it. You’re a confident, capable, super-talented person- of course you have a photo that you love of yourself. One that captures your amazing personality, smile, and essence.
And if you don’t have a photo like that? Well, you’ll get one. Every problem has a solution. Make yourself a caffeinated smoothie, and spring into action. Call a local photographer about a photo shoot. Set up a DIY photo shoot at home or at a cool nearby outdoor spot.
Turn to the Bot
You can also use an AI headshot generator like HeadshotPro. AI headshots are sooo fun, I am working on a post about my recent experience using a few. To be honest, I was wary of the idea at first. But the photos I got back were a huge confidence boost, and I couldn’t help but think that these types of headshots, while not for everyone, could help a lot of people without access to a photographer or equipment (or time) create super-professional materials to use for their career and professional advancement.
It’s important to remember, too, that your LinkedIn profile picture doesn’t have to be a traditional headshot at all. Whatever opportunity you’re seeking out on LinkedIn, you’re looking for someone that wants YOU. So be yourself. It’s totally understandable if you want to play it safe and go with a pro-looking headshot. But if you’re feeling like expressing yourself more, or going for a more authentic, creative, or unique approach- you might just want to go with that instinct.
Like so many things in life, the key is not to overthink it. Get a photo you like, and go with it. You can always change it later.
2. Customize Your Background Photo
Your background photo or banner is the second thing people will see on your profile- so it’s valuable real estate. Customizing it can help you stand out, sell yourself, and show that you’re engaged and paying attention to the details. (Here’s a LinkedIn banner step-by-step guide, complete with info on photo sizing and more).
If you’re looking for a job, you might consider just changing the photo to a more aesthetically-pleasing or memorable scene, or adding text that helps you stand out to recruiters or hiring managers- maybe a few bullet points about your expertise and experience, or a quote from a former manager’s testimonial.
If you’re looking to promote your services or a brand, your banner may be more involved. You might include a list of services, the logos of companies you’ve worked for, clips from testimonials…anything to help distinguish you from the crowd and establish yourself as an authority and THE person to go to for your niche.
Need some ideas? Check out this helpful list of LinkedIn banner examples from Zapier.
3. Make your headline (bio) compelling
For jobseekers: Shine by finding a way to include a stand-out adjective or insight. How do you see your role? What makes you an authority?
For entrepreneurs: Who you are, what you offer, and who you help.
For anyone planning on creating/posting on LinkedIn: Include why someone should follow you.
4. Tell a story with your summary
Rather than just including a generic sentence or two about your experience, use the summary space to shine.
For jobseekers: Tell your story, even if it’s just the story of your recent professional life. What has your journey been like? What are you passionate about? Where are your skills the strongest? What are you really excited about when thinking about your next role? You don’t have to include answers to all of these – or any – but if you can write something that’s authentic, energetic, and well-written, you’ll be ahead of the game.
For entrepreneurs: Telling your story, and explaining the services you offer- namely, the problem you’re solving for your potential clients – is really important here.
An effective format might include:
- Who you are and what you’re offering.
- Results! If you can’t offer proof of results you’ve gotten (like metrics), include an idea of the results you can get. Remember, you’re selling yourself- and the results you can get.
- Testimonials or recommendations, if you have them.
- More information about your experience, skills, or expertise.
- A call-to-action encouraging the viewer to contact you – like a button to contact or set up a call.
5. Curate Your List of Skills
Optimize your skills section by prioritizing the skills most relevant to jobs or opportunities you’re seeking. Don’t go overboard with the list of skills you select; instead, focus on the ones that best represent what you’re offering and best at.
Keywords matter, too – it’s how recruiters and potential clients will find you. Research keywords commonly used in your industry (or the industry you’re trying to pivot to) and include them in your experience descriptions (or select them as skills).
6. Include licenses and certifications
Relevant licenses and certifications demonstrate not only you skill set, but your ability to follow through on a commitment. They also show your profile viewers that you’re committed to learning and professional development, and that you’re interested and committed to your industry.
LinkedIn Learning offers certification courses. Coursera offers a wide range of shorter certificate classes as well as reputable full courses with certification (including programs from companies like Google and Adobe) , and they offer a free trial.
FAQ: LinkedIn Tips
Can everybody see my LinkedIn Profile?
LinkedIn members who are signed in can see your public profile; non-members may be able to see parts of your profile (for example, from a Google search).
You can control what members and non-members can see by adjusting your privacy and visibility settings:
- Go to your profile settings- in the icon tray at the top of the page, next to “Notifications” you should see “Me” with your photo or blank avatar
- Click on “Me” and you’ll see a drop down menu. From there, click “Settings & Privacy”
- Under “settings”Settings”, click on “Visibility”
- Select which elements of your profile you want hidden or visible
Should I pay for LinkedIn Premium?
It’s definitely not a must, and many of the avid LinkedIn posters I follow have posted about how Premium isn’t necessary or even worth it. While there are sometimes promotions offered, the price of a premium “Career” membership is around $30 a month.
What does a premium membership get you?
- InMail messages (allows you to message people that aren’t in your network)
- Profile enhancement suggestions (including AI suggestions; this can be helpful when first creating your profile. It’s like having LinkedIn tips built-in)
- Help with job search: lists like “jobs you’re a top applicant for” and “jobs you’re more likely to hear back from”
- LinkedIn learning: Access to LinkedIn’s library of courses, some of which offer certifications you can add to your profile after completion
- See who’s viewed your profile
- Company insights: See more information about a company’s background, hiring trends, and more
- Custom button: Add a custom button (linking to your website, portfolio, etc.) to your profile
I have paid for premium at various periods of time- like when I was pitching writing services more, or applying to freelance gigs (often people posting about an opportunity will include a “DM me!”). I’m also terribly nosy, so I like to see who’s viewed my profile.