Your LinkedIn profile communicates who you are. It’s a way to tell your story, get heard, and be discovered. But what makes a great profile? How do you break through the crowd to get noticed by recruiters, peers, and others who will connect you to the opportunities you want? A compelling profile starts with better expressing the amazing individual you are: who you are and why you are unique.
1. Speak to your target audience
The first step is to define who your key audience is. Then craft a story focused on your contributions, your career journey, and the values that are important to you—all tailored to the right audience. For example, are your audience industry peers, customers, or executives? Think about how you’d tailor your content differently for each and customize.
2. Make simple updates to your intro
Listing industry information—such as Internet, Financial Services or Education Management —leads to up to 9x more profile views and can help you get discovered up to 38x more in recruiter searches, according to LinkedIn data. Plus, adding something as simple as your location in your profile can help you get up to 19x more profile views.
3. Lean into your story with a strong “Summary”
Many people ask me where they should invest their time when it comes to improving their LinkedIn profiles. My answer is always to focus on the “Summary” section. This is the first section everyone will see, and you want it to catch people’s attention. Use this space to make a bold first impression and draw others into your story.
4. Lead with impact and results
Remember: your LinkedIn profile is NOT a resume. Yes, it’s important to paint a picture of what you do day-in and day-out in your role. But, to really make your LinkedIn Profile sing, speak to the impact you’ve had, the change you’ve created, the initiatives you’ve led, and the results you’ve delivered.
5. Don’t skimp on the visuals
Pictures are worth a thousand words—and then some. It’s one thing for you to tell people what you do for a living, but it’s quite another to bring that to life with images. To help showcase your accomplishments, add rich media such as photos, videos, presentations, and websites.
