How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Do you know how to improve your LinkedIn profile to gain visibility in your industry sector and find good job opportunities? With more than 1 billion users across more than 200 countries, LinkedIn is a business and employment-focused social media platform that can connect you with the right people.

By creating a high-quality profile and highlighting your main professional experiences and skills, you can catch hirers' attention. You can also publish articles about your business area to gain credibility and become known as an expert in your field.

10 Tips on How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile#

1. Choose the Right Profile Picture#

Your profile picture is one of the first things people see about you on LinkedIn. It's important to make a good first impression, therefore choose a professional picture. Funny filters or a vacation picture aren't proper in this case.

Choose a recent picture, where your face takes up around 60% of the image. You can use your office as a background. Avoid using sunglasses, and make sure you are recognizable in the picture.

2. Add a Background Photo#

The background photo is another important visual element that impacts users when they visit your LinkedIn profile. Choose an image that adds more information about who you are, for example, a banner with your business logo, a phrase that represents you, or your website URL.

3. Write an Outstanding Headline#

The headline is usually where LinkedIn users put their job position, but it can be more than that. Enjoy that space to make you stand out from the crowd, and drive the reader's attention, to make them want to know you better. It can be just a short, but impactful phrase.

4. Use the Power of Storytelling in Your Summary#

The LinkedIn summary is where you can talk about your professional experiences and skills, and let people know you better. You need to be convincing and engage with your audience to avoid them moving on to the next profile.

Instead of listing what you are good at, or where you have worked, create a storyline that highlights your personality and qualities without being boring. Show what you are passionate about in your work, and how you have achieved your most relevant job goals.

5. Create a Network#

Learning how to improve your LinkedIn profile goes far beyond what you will write, it's also related to connecting and nurturing your network, which can bring you more visibility. LinkedIn suggests profiles based on their connections to other users, so your reach grows as you build your network.

You can start by adding your co-workers, and college friends, and expand by looking for professionals who are authorities in your sector. Always check your pending invitations as well, to avoid missing out on important connections.

6. List Your Most Relevant Skills#

In the "Top Skills" part of the LinkedIn profile, you should add the abilities that make you a good professional in your field. You will see a list of skills you can choose from, analyze them carefully. Don't add skills just to have a long list, and avoid being too generic. Always keep in mind that you need to show what makes you unique.

7. Ask For Recommendations#

Having the endorsement of former co-workers, professors, and bosses gives you credibility. The recommendations part in your profile is very important and helps to emphasize your qualities even more. Ask for people who you work with or have worked with to write their recommendations for you.

8. Keep Your Feed Interesting#

Your LinkedIn feed is a space where you can share relevant business news, and engage in fruitful conversations with your connections. More than reposting news, try to comment about them and show your point of view.

If it's a topic that you are an expert in, give your professional opinion. This shows your skills and also that you keep up to date with your business sector.

9. Turn On Open to Work#

If you are looking for a new job opportunity, let recruiters know you are available by turning on the "Open to work" tool. You can share this information only with recruiters or put it in your profiles so all your network can see it.

10. Use Strategic Keywords#

Make sure you use industry-related keywords in your headline and summary. Recruiters often search for them to find potential candidates, therefore you increase your chances of getting noticed by them.

Enjoy LinkedIn Tools#

Now that you have learned how to improve your LinkedIn profile, open your LinkedIn page and analyze what tips you have already implemented and what you can change. Explore the platform to get to know its features and make the most of it.