How will I improve my LinkedIn profile, revamp my LinkedIn, or what does LinkedIn optimization mean? These questions keep coming to mind while navigating the streets of LinkedIn. You might feel left out or confused, but there’s a way to overcome it: having a winning profile!
A winning LinkedIn profile helps you complete your goal of gaining visibility, creating your brand, and standing out among competitors. It also makes recruiters and potential clients hire you by viewing your profile.
Tips For Creating a winning LinkedIn Profile
Now, you might be thinking, why is everyone’s profile so credible and different that I keep staring at it? The answer is that yours can be like that if you follow the tips I’m about to share in this article.
Have a beautiful profile picture
This is what people see when they come to your profile, and as they say, first impressions matter a lot. So, you would want to create a beautiful profile picture that makes you look credible and trustworthy. Features of a LinkedIn profile are:
– A professional headshot
– A simple background
– High-quality and clear picture
If you have all these listed, go ahead and upload it. Remember, it must be a professional headshot of you with a clear image and a simple color. Avoid using trees, cars, or other aesthetics. The goal is to look professional. And if you don’t have a headshot, get a phone with a good camera, take a headshot, and then upload it to Canva to do the work for you.
Add a unique cover picture
After your profile picture, another important visual to add is your cover picture. It’s usually called the LinkedIn banner. People want to know your personality, and the best way to do that is through your cover picture. It doesn’t have to be complicated; you can add yourself speaking at an event or doing major work in your field.
If you are a freelancer or job seeker, create a banner filled with your services and what you do. For aesthetics, let it be a similar color to your profile picture background or closely related. We don’t want two contrasting colors shouting at each other. It could be your brand color. Canva is also your guy for these; they have different templates for you to follow.
Create a unique headline
Using 220 characters, your headline should be unique to you. With thousands of people on LinkedIn offering the same service as you, you must customize your headline to stand out. Every headline should showcase your expertise. Your headline is important for the LinkedIn search algorithm.
If you want your name to pop up among your competitors, use keywords. Search for keywords in your niche. In every field, there’s a top voice; go to as many as you can get and note all the keywords they used. Then customize it, adding your specialty and uniqueness to it.
Craft a compelling About section
Your connections, potential clients, and companies want to know you more. The best way to achieve this is to tell your story. Imagine this section as one to showcase who you are and what you want to be known for. Summarize your services, and jobs, even add your personality and create a compelling About section.
In creating your summary, be careful with your words. This is another way to add keywords for the LinkedIn search algorithm. You can start by highlighting your goals and communicating your uniqueness and personal brands. Express yourself, but with value. It’s advisable to end with a call to action. Help your potential clients reach you easily. Update this section as regularly as you can; it shows personal and professional growth.
Get a featured section
This is one of the most neglected sections on a LinkedIn profile, and not many know about it. LinkedIn’s featured section allows you to showcase projects, articles, or achievements. It can be your online resume or portfolio. Add your best works there, your best posts, and let people have a feel of your specialty. Include links to published articles or presentations to demonstrate your expertise. If you are a graphics designer, add your designs there. If you are a writer, add your portfolio and samples. Get seen!
Optimize your Experience section
This section is important, as it shows you know about the work. Know the difference between important job experience and unimportant ones. Some experiences are irrelevant if you are seeking job roles. Use bullet points to describe your roles, focusing on measurable achievements. For instance, instead of saying, “Wrote blog posts,” say:
“Created 10+ blog posts monthly, boosting website traffic by 20% within 3 months.”
If you have no work experience, you can also include volunteer roles and internships, as they demonstrate transferable skills and dedication.
Upskill and add your certificates
There’s a skill section, which is important, as it showcases if you are fit for the job description. Every job offer has certain skills required for job seekers, either soft or hard skills. Take advantage of this and add all relevant skills to your field. Some examples are communication, project management, and being a team player. What you can do is check for job offers related to your field and upskill. Add it to the skill section after.
There’s also a section to add your certificates, licenses, and education. Optimize these sections and fill them accordingly. If you don’t have any right now, check the top voices in your field and get the certificates to make you credible. LinkedIn Learning and Hubspot can help you upskill and get the certificates.
Be active on LinkedIn
Creating a great profile is just the start. Also, engage with your network by sharing valuable content, commenting on posts, and joining relevant groups. Regular activity increases your visibility and demonstrates your expertise.
Conclusion
Creating a winning LinkedIn profile can be easy if you follow these steps. Within a couple of minutes, you have an optimized profile. A winning LinkedIn profile is a combination of professionalism, authenticity, and strategic optimization. By presenting yourself effectively and engaging actively on the platform, you can unlock opportunities and build a strong personal brand.
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Mariam is an imaginative and meticulous writer who is passionate about crafting compelling narratives and translating concepts into influential content.