6 steps to improve your LinkedIn profile

Whether you are building a personal brand or representing a company you work for, there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your LinkedIn profile.

1. Choose the right profile picture.

Your profile picture is usually the first thing that someone looks at when they visit your profile. Make sure your picture is recent and that your face takes up 60 percent of the frame. Long-distance shots do not stand out.

2. Make your headline more than your title.

A LinkedIn headline is important because it tells visitors who you are and what you do. Keep it simple, relatable, and compelling.

3. Add a background photo.

Your LinkedIn background image or banner image is a great place to highlight your professional identity visually. Some ideas include a workspace, city landscape, your product or services, or even an abstract texture.

4. Tell your story.

The summary section is the place to tell YOUR story. What do you do and more importantly why do you do it? This section will take some time and a few drafts to get it right, but it is worth the investment.

5. Request recommendations.

Recommendations hold far more weight than endorsements, in my opinion. Endorsements give people a quick list of your skills, but recommendations are testimonials of your skills or work. Be sure to personalize your requests and don’t be afraid to ask the person writing the recommendation to highlight specific skills or projects.

6. Grow your network.

Get in the habit of following up after a meeting with a LinkedIn connection request. It is a great way to keep your network growing. You can also synch your profile to your email address book and LinkedIn will suggest people you can connect with.

BONUS POINTS!

Don’t forget to customize your public profile URL. This makes it easier to share. Here is how to customize it.

• Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.

• Click View Profile.

• Click Edit public profile & URL on the right side.

• Under Edit your custom URL on the right side, click the Edit icon next to your public profile URL.