So, how do you go about enhancing your LinkedIn profile? There are several things you can do in order to create an effective profile and make yourself stand out from other applicants. Here are some of the top tips that you can follow in order to enhance your LinkedIn profile and help you get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. This can also help you with your job search, as it will make it easier for people to find your profile, learn more about you, and possibly even contact you!
Step 1: Open a LinkedIn account
Make sure to use your real name, a photo of yourself, and include a link to your website. This may not seem important at first, but a simple Google search of your name will show that you’re not just some guy when people want to find you.
If you don’t have a website or an about page yet, then make sure to get that in place before proceeding with other steps. People don’t want to hire some guy named John Smith who doesn’t have anything about himself on his website. Be professional and take yourself seriously from day one so people know they can trust you from day one!
Step 2: Choose your photo
A great picture can make all of the difference in how people perceive you. Make sure your headshot is up to date, professional, and looks natural. Don’t forget to update your photo after any significant changes in your appearance such as weight loss or pregnancy (and then update it again later on down the road).
Also, think about if any elements of your profile will be shown in your LinkedIn profile photo—such as a big watch or a nice car—before you take a snapshot. If anything will show up behind you, make sure there’s nothing distracting that might detract from your professional appearance.
Be wary of having photos with other people in them too—if they aren’t related to work, it could give off an unprofessional vibe.
Step 3: Write an appropriate headline
A headline will typically be up to 50 characters. Since you’re writing for a website that receives hundreds of thousands of visitors per month, put yourself in their shoes and focus on what you want your content to communicate to its audience.
Do you want it to appear on Google searches? Targeted job postings? Use your headline as a chance to sell potential readers on why they should read your post. A good headline is like an opening pitch – it needs to hook readers right away.
For example, if my post is about how I made a thousand dollars in passive income within one week using affiliate marketing, I would use 1000 Dollars in Passive Income: My Secret Formula or Want Successful Affiliate Marketing?
Step 4: Fill in your profile sections
If you’re looking to attract recruiters, recruiters will be able to search and find your profile. That means filling in all of your contact information – your email address is a must – but also taking care to fill out your education section.
If you have professional certifications (e.g., CPA or CFA), add those too so that you can showcase them on your profile. If you’re currently employed, make sure to connect with other users on LinkedIn via their connections feature; doing so will allow employers who view profiles on LinkedIn to see if there are any existing connections that might be able to provide an introduction for you!
Finally, pay special attention to your profile picture: according to research conducted by Forbes contributor Margaret Muriell-Kenyon , just about 50% of people conduct online research solely based on photographs .
According to Muriell-Kenyon, A recent study discovered that employees are more likely than not to hire job candidates whose online photos match how they look in person. Which means a bad picture could cost you an interview – so follow these tips when choosing one:
Step 5: Connect with friends and family
No matter how much you’d like to keep your professional life separate from your personal one, it’s a good idea to add friends and family members that can help spread word of mouth about you, your business and whatever else.
People are more likely to follow or be interested in what others say or do. In other words, if Mary Smith says she likes your new bakery, people are going to take her recommendation into account before heading over.
One great way of doing that is by creating a list on LinkedIn called Close Friends or Family, and then inviting everyone in those categories to connect with you—and one another.
Step 6: Join professional groups and communities
Look for groups related to your field and join them. Not only is it a good way to network with professionals in your area, it’s also a great resource for learning about trends and changes happening in your industry.
And who knows—maybe you’ll find opportunities through these connections that you didn’t know were out there before. It also helps you gauge how passionate others are about their careers—and what can inspire you to take on similar interests or responsibilities in your job.
LinkedIn offers several different types of groups. Here are some of our favorites: Read more: 7 Reasons Why You Should Join Professional Groups On LinkedIn (LinkedIn Learning)
The upside to joining professional communities is huge—particularly for entrepreneurs, freelancers and independent workers who don’t have many office-mates nearby to bounce ideas off of on a daily basis.
Book reviews from amazon or other retailer websites? These can be exceptionally helpful as well if you want someone else’s perspective on specific books within your profession; look for reviews by people at higher levels than yourself within their company/field which will give you a better idea of whether it’s worth pursuing information within those books further since many times authors tend to paint an idealistic picture rather than realistic one based upon real life work experiences.
Step 7: Get endorsements from friends, colleagues and mentors
This can be one of the easiest ways to give your profile a boost. By giving you recommendations from people you know, it shows that others think highly of you and will draw attention to your skills and accomplishments. Asking for endorsements is quick and easy, so it’s worth giving it a shot when updating your profile.
Also, don’t forget to add testimonials from clients or customers! Remember, more endorsements means higher visibility for your brand, so ask for them liberally; just be sure not to come across as spammy or desperate by constantly asking for them on social media channels like Twitter or Facebook.
