Level Up Your LinkedIn Profile
With networking events nearly non-existent, people are turning to social media for connection more than ever. When it comes to professional networking, no platform comes close to LinkedIn, which is why I have so many clients asking to spruce up their LinkedIn profiles right now.
LinkedIn is home to people looking for a new job, those trying to expand their business, those looking to launch their own business, and those just wanting to connect. Regardless of your M.O., here are four ways you can level up your LinkedIn profile and stand out from the masses.
Invest in an awesome headshot. Gone are the days of the super corporate headshot, arms crossed, suit jacket on, cheesy smile. You know the ones. I am guilty of rocking one just like it for years. Truth is that’s not what we look like now. Grab a good photographer, head outdoors or somewhere with a real background rather than a green screen and laugh – don’t smile. It will look more authentic that way! If anyone ever told you to not judge a book by its cover, it’s because they had a crappy cover. If you can’t afford a photographer or don’t want to risk the COVID exposure, there are plenty of helpful tutorials about taking your own.
Upgrade your headline. If your headline currently lists your job title, and job title alone, you need an upgrade. Your headline is like beachfront real estate. Don’t waste it. Tell your audience what you bring to the table. Differentiate yourself. Your headline is one of the most important places to incorporate keywords for searchability, so don’t sell yourself short. What sounds more appealing? “Associate at ABC, Inc.” or “Innovative Strategist specializing in efficiency, automation, and data for a fortune 1000 manufacturing company.” Exactly!
Get Personal. Although many people’s profiles read like a resume, this is a social media platform! That means you should show a bit of yourself that goes beyond a one-page word document. A great place to incorporate your personality is your About summary. Instead of reiterating the career progression that is shown throughout your profile, or talking up your current company, tell your story. Your summary should answer the following questions:
How did you end up where you currently are?
Why do you do what you do?
Why would someone want to connect with you?
Where do you see yourself going?
Show that your credible. We can all talk ourselves up all day long. But the power is in having others talk you up. The recommendations section is the perfect way to have others, past and present, share their experience of what it was like working with you. Avoid spamming people’s inboxes with requests. Instead offer to write a handful of people recommendations for them. People almost always feel the need to reciprocate, leaving you with an unsolicited recommendation, boosting your credibility.
A little effort can go a long way when it comes to your presence on LinkedIn. These four steps can truly help you stand out from the masses. People WILL notice! If you find yourself struggling with writers’ block, or you just can’t find the courage to do yourself justice in words, don’t worry you are not alone! I have teamed up with my friend and former colleague, Melissa Severance, who is a 20+ year recruiting professional and certified career coach, to help individuals and businesses kick their LinkedIn presence up a notch. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, reach out to us today!
