5 Tips for Optimizing your LinkedIn Profile

According to Jobvite Recruiter National Report, 87 out of every 100 recruiters use LinkedIn to assess a potential candidate. There are more than 20 million job openings posted on LinkedIn every day. If you’re a job seeker with an incomplete profile, it limits your chances of getting hired.

And it’s not job seekers alone. If you’re a company, you need LinkedIn to find suitable candidates. A comprehensive profile places you in a better position to attract quality talent.

Adopt the following strategies to optimize your LinkedIn profile and boost conversion rates.

1. Clear Profile Picture

A picture tells a lot about an individual or brand. The best images are those with people in them. That’s because human beings are drawn to pictures of people. If the LinkedIn profile is for a business, it will include a picture of people working in the company offices. For a personal profile, attach a picture of yourself with a clear headshot. Hire a professional photographer to take your picture for the best results.

2. A Superb Headline

Don’t add your job title in the headline and leave. LinkedIn grants you the option of adding up to 120 characters to your headline. Your headline should capture the audience’s attention. But how can you achieve this? Use commonly searched keywords in the headline. Be careful because most people tend to overdo it. Use at least two popular keywords associated with your profession. Do the same with your business headline.

Below the headline is the summary section. Don’t leave this section blank because it’s the best place to sell yourself. Your summary should complement your headline. Talk about your qualifications and the industries you have worked in. Moreover, use keywords in your summary to make your profile more visible.

Keep your summary short – two to four brief paragraphs are enough. Utilize the media features on your LinkedIn summary to show people how passionate you are about your work. Post short videos or images of yourself doing what you treasure.

3. Work Experience

Your work experience and history are a continuation of your headline and summary. Talk about your accomplishments in your previous roles. Quantify those accomplishments – employ numbers and percentages to highlight the progress made in those positions.

Be honest about your work experience and skills. It's best to list a few skills in peak demand and get endorsed by leaders in your circle rather than fill your profile with skills that don’t apply to your profession.

A recommendation is another way for people to recognize their skills and expertise. To receive a recommendation, send a direct message to a connection requesting them to recommend you. Be polite and make sure you know the connection well.

If you’re a consultant, use the services feature to inform people about what you do. Use popular keywords when listing your services. To get keyword ideas, type a word associated with your profession in the search bar, and look at the list of suggestions.

4. Customized URL

LinkedIn will generate a random URL for your profile when you sign. There’s a section called ‘edit public profile and URL’ on your profile page. Use it to give yourself a customized short URL that’s easy to remember. Most users use their full names.

5. Active Engagement

People get on LinkedIn because they want to connect with like-minded individuals. They want to be inspired and challenged. One way for you to challenge your network is to publish thought-provoking articles on a topic you’re familiar with. Add a call-to-action on your articles to encourage people to comment or share them with their network.

You can inspire your network by sharing content on your feed. It could be an article from a renowned publication or a comment from a public figure in your industry.

Comment on posts on your timeline. When you engage your audience, you foster a relationship. They will remember you whenever they think of what you shared.