If we were to tell you that LinkedIn has been around longer than Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you probably wouldn’t believe us.
Since 2002 LinkedIn has grown to 575+ Million registered members across 200 countries. Based on these numbers, it’s safe to say that having a great LinkedIn profile is pretty significant in the modern business world.
In the past, LinkedIn has been one of the leading ways companies recruit new hires, but in 2019 it’s also used by individuals or companies to grow their business by connecting with, and engaging prospective customers. If this is the reason, you want to use LinkedIn, having an optimized profile is vital.
By following a few simple LinkedIn profile tips, your new online first impression can be upgraded in no time.
What to do if your profile sucks?
We’re going to assume that everyone reading this has a LinkedIn profile (if not get your head in the game).
So, step one is having a LinkedIn profile.
Step two is upgrading it with our LinkedIn profile tips to make it fully effective to do business.
Here is what to consider:
1 Have a professional photo
According to LinkedIn’s own statistics, users who have a profile photo receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. No one is going to connect with a faceless ghoul.
So even if you ignore all of our tremendous advice that we’ve given, at least have a profile photo!
A professional-looking picture taken in a well lit bright environment will no doubt boost these numbers further. Ask yourself, who would you rather work with; someone with a well-lit photo and a professional-looking demeanor, or someone with a dimly lit gloomy-looking picture?
(Think Voldemort from Harry Potter…would you really want to work with him? The answer is hopefully pretty obvious). Some easy to follow tips:
• Make sure your photo is taken in a well-lit environment.
• Smile! Believe it or not, people prefer working with a smiley, happy person.
• Be Professional: If your working in a professional field, it’s essential to establish yourself as someone who takes their job seriously. Dress for success.
2 Craft a great headline
When crafting your headline, it’s important to keep in mind what you want your LinkedIn profile to convey. For example, are you looking for new opportunities? Or are you simply looking to let people know what you do? Base your headline on your own personal objectives.
3 Create a compelling summary
Imagine you had 30 seconds to tell someone the most important things about your career or profession…
What would you say?
(Hint, cut the fluff)
Your summary acts as a short, concise elevator pitch about yourself. So be sure to include 3–5 sentences that describe:
Your years of experience in your industry.
Your area of expertise.
The types of organizations you’ve worked with.
What you’re most known for professionally.
At the end of your summary insert a brief call to action. Something like: ‘If I can be of help to you, feel free to reach out to me at *office number * *email address* *corporate website*.’
Make it as easy as possible for someone to be able to get in contact with you. By doing this, you’re showing you’re reliable, accessible and open to having conversations. The End Result
So, by now if you’ve followed these three steps you should be well on your way to having a smooth and slick LinkedIn profile. Congrats your LinkedIn profile is now updated and you’re ready to take on the professional world.
If you want to learn more about how to upgrade your LinkedIn profile, book a time to chat below.
We’re social prospecting experts and we’re here to help.