It’s time to put yourself out in the market and you are asking How to make my LinkedIn profile stand out? I’ve been there and I’m here to share some awesome tips so you can rise above the pack.
There are 7 steps to take to make your LinkedIn profile stand out:
- Include a photo
- Use click-bait … sort of
- Fill ‘er up
- Titles aren’t everything
- Go multimedia
- Be findable
- Link up
Some have labeled it ‘Snitched-in’ … because it sends an alert whenever someone looks you up. And while it began as a professional job-based network, it has progressively adopted the techniques used on other social networking platforms. Today’s employers often peruse your socials to get an idea of what you’re like, and Linkedin is where they start.
It displays your hard skills, and that’s essentially what employers are looking for. Soft skills are a valuable bonus, while the habits, hobbies, and character traits exposed on your other socials are more about troubleshooting. By the time they’re looking up your Twitter and Insta, it’s because they’re already impressed with your credentials. They just want to be sure you don’t have any red flags. Now we are going to dive into each step in detail so you can ensure you make your LinkedIn profile stand out…..
Table of Contents
1. Include a photo
It’s not typical practice to put a headshot on your resumé – you don’t want people to judge your looks, gender, or skin tone. But in this age of identity theft and cat-fishing, you want that photo.
Also, Linkedin is one of the first page results when someone Googles your name. When you save the image file with your name, that name displays whenever someone tries to use your image. (Unless they change the file name, which few image-knappers do.)
This simple move will outrank cat-fishes and potential impersonators, benign or otherwise.
You need to also consider the actual photo. LinkedIn shared 10 Tips For Picking the Right Profile Picture.
2. Use click-bait … sort of
We know the content is trashy and fake. And we hate that we’ll click through. But we can’t stop ourselves. Top experts on Linkedin profile tips use this to their advantage.
Your LinkedIn profile header has 120 characters, and it should pull people in. Nothing cliché like ‘content ninja’ or drab like ‘trained accountant’. You want something useful and descriptive. It pushes you above the chaff.
Example: ‘Accountant with 3 years experience in CBOs, blue-chip firms, and creative spaces’. This profile headline makes the reader want to know how you did all that in three years.
Here’s an awesome video I uncovered that dives into the LinkedIn profile headline in greater detail and also has some examples:
3. Fill ‘er up
Now you have their attention, and 2,000 characters to describe yourself. This is where your elevator pitch goes. Keep it concise, task-based, and direct. Focus on your strengths and use plain language. Don’t repeat what’s on your resumé. All that information is on other parts of your profile.
In your summary, tell them what you can do for them, using as few words as you can. You don’t have to hit the 2,000-mark.
4. Titles aren’t everything
They don’t explain how you differ from others in your field. And even blatant titles like ‘neurosurgeon’ don’t highlight your selling point. So under each job you mention, add two or three descriptive bullet points. Keep it direct – no buzzwords.
Here’s a practical example of Linkedin profile tips for your summary. Under ‘Junior Accountant at Company X’ you can add:
- · Balanced books on *insert company names* merger.
- · Generated financial reports for *insert project name*.
5. Go multimedia
You can add a header background (like the ones of Twitter or Facebook) to make your profile pop. You can also shoot a profile video and add it to your Linkedin.
Here’s a quick video that shows you how to do it:
Add any other videos or audio content you may have. Something like a podcast interview or a short film you crewed for. You could even post a relevant DIY video you made. Put all that up.
Color draws attention, so keep that in mind for your videos and visuals. Make sure you put some thought behind it so it doesn’t look scammy.
6. Be findable
Getting your profile in front of high-quality employers isn’t only about content. ‘Searchability’ is seldom mentioned among Linkedin profile tips.
Facebook groups and pages that have urls with endless letters and numbers. On Linkedin, you can edit yours. Instead of www.linkedin.com/in/Dan-746873-oedbf/ you can tweak it to www.linkedin.com/in/awesomedan. Click the ‘edit url’ tab on your profile’s upper-right sidebar.
This makes you more visible to search engines, and it’s a three-second process. This makes your link more professional when you share it with potential collaborators.
7. Link up
Linkedin is the one place where asking for recommendations doesn’t feel smarmy. Connect with professional acquaintances. The platform’s ‘people you might know’ feature is helpful here.
Get people you’ve worked with to recommend you and return the favor. There’s a handy ‘Ask for recommendations’ tab you can use. A typed-up review holds more weight than clicking ‘endorse’ on listed skills, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Make sure it’s someone you’ve actually worked with (and impressed). Your mother doesn’t count …
Once you’re done, check your profile strength. Your target is to create an All-star profile. The platform itself prompts you with Linkedin profile tips to improve your rating. Review them, apply them, and your profile is sure to reach the right eyeballs.
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After your quest to learn how to make my Linkedin profile stand out you will land that opportunity you have been searching for. Then it will be time to raise your social media game. As I mentioned in my last post What is LinkedIn sponsored content 80% of all B2B leads come in from LinkedIn.
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So now you should feel like you have the answer to how to make my LinkedIn profile stand out?
Taking all 7 seven steps will ensure you separate yourself from the pack, but there is always room to improve. Let us know in the comments what other ideas you have to make your profile stronger.
We have other posts to help you with your LinkedIn journey. You can find them all here.
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