Welcome back! We would like to give you advice on LinkedIn profile optimization in order to make as much use of your account as possible!
If you are certain that your LinkedIn profile is already optimized – Have a look at our previous blogs and get started with your messaging strategy right away! Otherwise, stay here and give this blog a read! You won’t regret it – promise! 🙂
Table of Contents
Firstly, it is helpful to know that LinkedIn profile optimization can be handled more or less like search engine optimization (SEO) whereas LinkedIn could be seen as a business search engine to look for people that are in your interest to connect with.
With this being said, the following guide is a guide to help you rank on LinkedIn so that your networking can be done easier, faster, more efficiently and in an optimized manner!
The Guide
Rank high with keywords
In order to have an optimized LinkedIn profile it is super beneficial to add keywords behind your name! Those keywords are the reason for you to rank high when people are looking for you. They are handled like keywords when doing SEO, so make your keyword search, pick a keyword which describes you and your job title the best and add it! There is no easier way of people finding you.
Here, it would be beneficial as well, if you add hashtags for the same reason! Plus: People who follow the same hashtags will find you easier as well.
First step into LinkedIn profile optimization: check!
Headline optimization
The headline offers you 120 characters to stand out from the business jungle! Do not try to sell yourself – show how valuable you are as a connection and who you are! Time to add your own unique selling point here! In addition, you can mention your keywords here again for ranking purposes, et voila – people will find you, see your worth, and connect with you!
See the example below for working professionals. Of course, you can mention your job title, but make sure to mention with a few words what your strengths are!
Summarize what you stand for!
LinkedIn gives the opportunity to write a summary about yourself. Attention here! Don’t use this space to sell what you offer – but sell yourself! Explain briefly who you are, what you stand for, with which expertise you can help, and present once again your unique selling point! In addition, this is the place to mention whether you are keen to connect or not, and lastly, set a Call To Action (CTA), so that the people looking for you know what to do further: checking your website, portfolio, get in touch with you, request a demo, etc.
Regular content
In order to grow your network and have an optimized LinkedIn profile you need to drive traffic to your page! This is done the best by posting or sharing content regularly. People will see what you posted and see your interest, knowledge, and expertise. Based on that you can build your image and how you want people to perceive you. Moreover, they will reach out to you and connect if they feel like your contribution is relevant. So, in order to grow your network: Post regularly and relevantly!
Show your skills!
LinkedIn has besides other features, one feature to set your skills. You can enter up to 25 skills and even get them tested by LinkedIn to get certificates that would add value to your profile. Adding your skills makes you more trustworthy and sophisticated. People will trust you faster and interpret the skills into believing in your value! Add the skills, and see how many more people will reach out to you.
Recommendations
Luckily (!) LinkedIn has even cooler features. For example the recommendation tool. Ask your previous bosses, chefs, managers, as well as employees and previous or current clients, to write you a recommendation on your LinkedIn account. This will add to your trustworthiness as well and bring in many connections!
Resume
In addition to that, make sure to optimize your LinkedIn CV. Here, people can see where and when you worked for whom. Update and optimize the CV every time something changes et voila your LinkedIn profile is optimized and updated!
Your face
Moreover, the first impression – your profile picture – needs to be neat! Make sure you look friendly and that 60% of the photo is you. To make sure your profile picture looks good, there are tools like photofeeler.com which help you to choose the right picture. You upload yours, and people will give you feedback. This process takes a few hours but at least you can make sure to have an appealing profile picture to optimize your LinkedIn profile and to be ranked high!
URL
Lastly, adapt your URL and customize it! Instead of having random letters and numbers, put your name and maybe the keyword, so that it is easy to find you! This is how SEO works and exactly like that LinkedIn optimization is working!
So, that’s it for now! Using these steps will help you with LinkedIn profile optimization and will give you the perfect base to grow your network which will hopefully result in more business deals! Next time we will discuss how to optimize your network in order to have more ability to grow! Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading and see you next time!
