A Step-by-Step guide to making an attractive profile on LinkedIn

 A Step-by-Step guide to making an attractive profile on LinkedIn

Whether you are a fresh graduate, a business owner, or a marketing executive of a major company, it’s quite impossible that in today’s world you haven’t heard of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social networking site where you can meet potential recruiters or network with people. It is a perfect platform to showcase your expertise, experience, education, skills, etc. In other words, it is a place where you get to boost your personal brand.

 The profile page of LinkedIn is the basic foundation for your personal branding. As it helps you stand out from your peers working in the same field or niche. A LinkedIn profile page helps you to seek jobs that match your skills and expertise and it also helps you to build connections with people and even role models in your field. 

So, let's see what makes an attractive LinkedIn Profile 

The right profile picture

Like in any other social media platform, your profile picture in LinkedIn is your calling card, it's how people are introduced to you, being visual creatures, it determines their perception of you from the beginning. Here are some recommendations to help you figure it out :

 1. Make sure the image is recent and looks like you.

 2. Your face should ideally fill up roughly 60% of the space 

3. You should wear what you’d want to wear to work 

4. You should smile with your eyes. 

A background photo 

The second visual element at the top of your profile page is your background photo. It catches people’s attention, establishes the setting, and reveals a bit more about what is important to you. Above all, the correct background photo makes your page stand out and remain memorable.

A head-turning-headline

No rule says that the title at the top of your page must only be a job title. Use the headline area to elaborate on how you perceive your role, why are you doing what you are doing, and what motivates you. If you have salespeople at your organization who are on top of social selling, have a peek at their profile page headlines for ideas. They will most definitely include more than just their job titles. 

Story-like summary 

It’s incredible how many individuals still leave their summary section empty while creating their LinkedIn profile. Your summary is your opportunity to convey your own story, so don’t just list your talents or work titles. Try to explain why such talents are important- how they may benefit the individuals with whom you work. Don’t be afraid to put in some effort, attempt a few revisions and run your summary by individuals you know. This is your most personal piece of content marketing and it’s well worth the time and work. 

War on buzzwords 

Buzzwords appear so frequently in LinkedIn headlines and summaries that they have practically no meaning. The most overused buzzwords include phrases like: ‘Strategic’, ‘focused’, ‘expert’, ‘innovative’, ‘specialized’, ‘certified’, ‘leadership’, ‘passionate’, and ‘experienced’. Though it is possible that you identify as these things, however simply describing these attributes will not persuade others. You must also display them-both in how you define yourself and in how you use your LinkedIn profile elements to convey what you’re about. 

A Network worth networking 

Syncing your LinkedIn profile with your email address book is one of the simplest and most effective methods to expand your LinkedIn network. This allows LinkedIn to recommend individuals for you to connect with. It’s astonishing how successful this can be at uncovering relevant people for you to contact, yet no connection requests are issued without your approval, allowing you to assess all potential connections. Aside from that, making a habit of following up on meetings and discussions with LinkedIn connections is a terrific way to keep your network active and up to date. 

Revelation of skills 

In LinkedIn, you can just read through the list of talents and pick ones that apply to you. This helps to validate the description in your headline and summary and gives others a place to endorse you. The goal here, though, is to remain relevant. A comprehensive list of abilities that aren’t truly fundamental to who you are or what you do might become cumbersome. Every now and then, do a spring cleaning of your talent list. 

Endorse and be Endorsed

To get an endorsement on LinkedIn, browse through your network and choose contacts that you believe actually deserve to be endorsed by you -this typically triggers people to return the favor, so don't be scared to approach with a courteous note asking for endorsement for a few essential abilities. However, keep in mind that relevancy is important. Contact persons whose approval you would much appreciate. 

An assessment of your skills 

A skills assessment allows you to show the level of your skills and it generates a verified skill badge for your profile. According to data, individuals with verified skills are around 30% more likely to get hired for the positions they apply for-and providing proof of your qualifications boosts your personal brand. Displaying the results of your skills assessment is completely optional, and you may retake the exam as many times as you want before confirming that you’ve passed. 

Request for recommendations 

Endorsements provide visitors to your profile with a fast, visual idea of what you’re recognized for. Recommendations take things to the next level. They are written personal testimonials that show the experience of working with you. In your profile’s Recommendations section, there’s a useful drop-down box that allows you to reach out to particular contacts and seek recommendations. Consider who you would most value a referral from then personalize your request. This extra effort is worthwhile.

Share content from your LinkedIn feed 

Sharing relevant content with your network is one of the simplest methods to have an active role in the appearance of that network in your connection’s LinkedIn feed in a way that gives value to them. You may begin by monitoring your LinkedIn feed and posting content that you find really fascinating and that matches your point of view. 

Comments add credibility 

When you leave a comment on the posts you share, you give yourself more visibility in the stream and it conveys why you believe a certain piece of material is important. Well-written comments also allow you to share a wider range of topics. It's possible that you disagree with a point of view yet still find it intriguing, a comment on a post like that begins to develop your perspective and thought-leadership and is likely to elicit more remarks, which will enhance your profile on LinkedIn. Keep in mind, while you write your comment make sure you’re expressing something you’re comfortable with others associating it with you. 

Long-form content starts conversations

The more content you share and comment on, the more your expertise and thought-leadership will be established on LinkedIn. The inevitable next step is to publish long-form pieces. Monitoring the response to your comments and shares is a good place to start. Are there any topics or points of view that resonate with your network? Are there any comments you’ve made that you think you could build on in a post? Developing your thought leadership in this way makes it authentic and keeps you connected to the topics your connections are discussing. Be prepared for your long-form pieces to spark fresh discussions. Maintain an eye on the comments and be prepared to answer. 

These are some of the few things to keep in mind while making a LinkedIn profile that would make it attractive and increase the chances of you getting your desired opportunity. As you see making your LinkedIn profile work harder for you does not have to consume hours of your time. Try going through these concepts and you can make good progress even if you only spare a few minutes in the evenings or during your lunch break. 

When you fully use the benefits of your LinkedIn profile, you’ll be shocked at how much of a difference it can make both for you and your business