Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile For Success

An effective LinkedIn profile is an important part of your professional branding.

Keeping your LinkedIn profile updated and optimised does not mean you need to be actively interviewing. Rather, it’s a way to engage in your industry and expand your professional network.

Many people have a dormant LinkedIn profile. It gets set it up and then passively used until you start job seeking. In this piece, l outline ways to optimise your LinkedIn profile and explain why it’s important to maintain it even if you are not job seeking.

Your LinkedIn Profile Photo

A clear and relatively recent profile photo is a good way to get started.

• Avoid selfies! Instead, have someone take a photo for you or set your phone on a timer. 
• If you want to change your background, then Canva have some great tools. 

Write An Effective ‘About’ Section

Provide an overview of your career and your aspirations in your LinkedIn ‘About’ section.

• Similar to what you would put in the professional summary section of your CV, the about section enables you to bring your unique tone of voice to the profile.
• Write a concise snapshot of your career and goals.
• You can use this section to bring some humour or quirky details in as well, if desired, to show your personality. 

Using Keywords In Your LinkedIn Profile

When hiring managers and company leaders search LinkedIn for talent, one of the ways they search is by using keywords.  Include suitable keywords in your LinkedIn profile to ensure your profile is found for the right opportunities.

• Generally, you know your own industry key words. You can always take a look at your job description, peers LinkedIn pages and job ads for ideas.
• Use synonyms to generate more keywords. For example, if you’re an Internal Recruiter, you could add in keywords such as Talent Manager, and Talent Acquisition Manager.

Let Opportunities Come To You

Part of having an updated, optimised LinkedIn profile is that your profile will come up in hiring searches, networking opportunities and events. 

• Hiring Managers are always looking for talent on Linkedin. You might not be actively looking for a new role currently, but they know that the perfect new position is in the pipeline for six months time.
• Often roles are not advertised. Instead, companies will headhunt candidates. Sometimes this is due to confidentiality, or because they are taking a highly targeted approach. You may be following a company and interested in hearing about roles if you knew about the positions. If your profile does not come up in their searches, you might not find out.
• LinkedIn is used for wider purposes other than just job seeking or headhunting. It’s a great way to connect with other people professionally, to find out about seminars, networking events, award evenings and developing a community. 

Follow Companies and People on LinkedIn

Following companies shows that you are interested in their work. This signals that you are eager to be contacted when positions become available, or that you are keen to receive updates and information about them. 

• Follow companies and people that you admire and whose work inspires you.
• By following companies on LinkedIn you hear about new job opportunities and company updates. This enables you to actively engage and show interest.

Join Groups

Joining groups on LinkedIn opens up access to industry news, connections and networking.

• Search and join groups that are relevant to your industry, or your desired industry.
• Start engaging and posting. Be an active, positive member.
• Being in the same group as someone you want to connect with on LinkedIn provides a great entry way to strike up an online conversation.

References

The reference section on LinkedIn is a fantastic way to display your glowing testimonials.

• If you’ve worked with someone, or are currently working with them, ask for a LinkedIn testimonial and reciprocate with one back.

Content

Writing and sharing content on LinkedIn can help to develop your online brand.

• Writing articles on LinkedIn shows that you are keen to add value, contribute and spark conversations.
• Establish yourself as a thought leader by sharing professional content that inspires and engages.

Engage

If you’ve taken the time to follow key industry figures and companies that interest you, then engage when they post something that speaks to you.

• Even senior industry leaders like to receive comments, likes, shares and interaction on posts they’ve written. They’ve taken the time to write or share something and are open to engage.
• This is a great way to develop conversations and familiarity with people in your network.

LinkedIn For Personal Branding

As you grow in your career, your personal brand becomes increasingly important. Your LinkedIn profile contributes to your online brand. In many instances it’s one of the first impressions people see.

• By developing a professional and consistent online presence, you are cultivating a voice and presence in the market whilst expanding your connections and community. 

Growth Opportunities

If your role involves growing business, then LinkedIn is an ideal place to start.

• Having a professional, clear LinkedIn profile signals to new clients or companies that you are interactive and engaged in your industry.

LinkedIn is a great professional networking platform that can powerfully enhance your career prospects.

When optimising your LinkedIn profile, it’s a good idea to reflect on your CV as well. 

If you’d like to hop on a call to discuss how you can optimise your LinkedIn profile, then please feel free to reach out for a confidential session.