LinkedIn is fast becoming one of the most used social media platforms around the world. Although it is primarily used for people and businesses to connect with each other, it is proving a great way for people to build real relationships online.
When you meet new people, first impressions always count. This is why your LinkedIn page needs to look good, if you already have a profile you would be amazed how quickly the information on it goes out of date. Did you start one a while ago and forget to polish it and give it the shine it deserves? Or maybe you just do not have one yet! Either way, this guide will point you in the right direction!
1) Sell yourself with a great LinkedIn headline
When someone clicks on your profile, you want them to get the best impression of you. The “about you” section is the best way to show people what you’ve done and what you’re doing. This section needs to draw people in, so make it punchy and interesting. Usually, businesses have generic content for you to put in, but it would be great for you to add a little something extra about what you do.
2) Choose a great LinkedIn photo
Along with your headline, you need to make sure your profile picture reflects you in a professional light. Although LinkedIn is a social media platform, its purpose is to connect people to businesses and vice versa. So, you want to look sharp and approachable.
3) Avoid buzzwords in your profile
Buzzwords are popular words or phrases that people would use to describe themselves. Words such as “I am driven and adaptive” are very generic, so to ensure you stand out, do your research to see what else you can use to structure your profile. For example, a salesperson may say "I have been responsible for generating revenue of £100,000 against a target of £80,000 within my first year", which in itself would show you are target driven.
4) Use a customised profile URL
This feature is more so for businesses, but if you are creating or updating your own profile you can do this too. You can personalise your profile URL, so it is consistent with the rest of your brand or personal image. To find out more click here.
5) Write LinkedIn articles
LinkedIn's Pulse Publishing creates a template with basic editing tools for your content, giving you options to edit headlines, text, and imagery that suits the LinkedIn post structure and its layouts.
According to LinkedIn, posting your content through their articles will increase engagement on your content. Posts that you publish yourself can quickly become lost in LinkedIn’s feed, whereas articles will always be stored at the top of your profile. This makes it easier for people to find them and revisit them.
6) Use added media on your LinkedIn profile
Imagery and video content are always going to get more engagement than plain text. It is important to utilise both, but video content is a great way to get your messages on there without people having to give their undivided attention for too long.
7) Collect LinkedIn recommendations
Getting recommendations from people is a great way to get first-hand feedback about the services you’ve given them. This will also give other people the confidence to work with you after seeing good results from other people.
8) List your Top Skills
As well as a great opening headline on your profile, examples of your skills and how you have utilised them in a job again will only boost your credibility.
9) Follow relevant LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn is great for getting yourself out there for potential connections. But it is also a great platform with lots of information and tools to help you learn. By following relevant people, businesses, hashtags and pages, your feed will be filled with useful and accurate information that can help you in your career.
10) Include educational background and awards
It is important to add your educational background to your LinkedIn profile so people can see your whole journey and how you have ended up where you are today. As long as you feel it is relevant to what you’ve done and what you’re doing presently, adding additional awards is also a great way to showcase your journey.
Conclusion
With these points in mind, you will be well on the way to self-promoting yourself online, whether that is to build relationships in your existing employment or if you are looking for a career move! If you are looking for a career change then we have added additional resources for you below.
More Resources
If you want to invest in yourself to get the best results in the job market, make sure you look at our other blog posts and articles to help you. Start with these two and you will not go wrong! How to Find a Job and our Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Dream Job! Then we have some great shorter blogs on interview techniques and CV writing below. Have a look at all these and you will be set for any interview! Remember, 'Luck favours the prepared! We wish you all the luck and success with your future!
The Top 10 Interview Questions You Should ALWAYS Prepare For!
Research You Should Consider Before An Interview
Ultimate Guide to Preparing your CV
How To Completely Nail Your Zoom, Skype or any other Video Conferencing Interview!
What questions should you never ask in an interview?
How to Answer the Question: What are your Strengths?
How to Answer the Question: What motivates you at work?
Finding a New Job? - It's Time To Clean Up Your Social Media Presence
Also, remember if you are attending interviews you may get rejected, do not take this personally! A lot of things in life are a numbers game, meaning the more you get rejected the closer you will come to getting the job. It is simple maths, the more you do the better the chance of success. It is a healthy part of the process so read the article below and don't let rejection slow you down!
10 Top Tips for Coping With Those Soul-Destroying Job Rejections!