13 Tips to Elevate Your LinkedIn Profile

13 Tips to Elevate Your LinkedIn Profile In recent years, LinkedIn has proven to be one of the most important websites for finding a job.It is the place where all recruiters are hanging out, which helps you connect to them directly. And since they’re on LinkedIn to look for job seekers like you, where else would you want to be?evalIn order to prepare yourselves, and improve the chances of being noticed by these recruiters, make sure you portray your best professional-self in your profile.Think of yourself as a brand and use this ‘brand’ you’ve created to help impress your connections and find your next job.Don’t sell yourself short.Instead, advertise your skills to get people to like what you’re selling.It is very important for you to always showcase your profile in the best light as it makes for a good first impression.The last thing you should be doing is neglecting your profile. Always make sure your profile is up-to-date so that it highlights all of your achievements to date, in case someone chances upon you r profile.Scroll down to learn some of the best tips to make your profile one step further.1. Customize And Personalize Your LinkedIn URLevalPersonalizing your LinkedIn URL can help in more ways than you think.evalIn doing so, one may perceive you as someone who is detail-oriented and particular about how he/she is presented in their profile. It also shows that you’re technically savvy and makes an effort to present yourself in the best way.How to go about it:Step 1:Begin by clicking on the Profile Tab,and choose the first link that appears on the drop-down menu To make every detail come off as clearly as possible to the person viewing your profile, one must avoid giving ambiguous answers.For e.g., Instead of just stating what your skills are in the Skills Endorsements section, elaborate on how you’ve used them, where you’ve used them, and why you’ve used them.Also, don’t leave anything to the imagination for the person viewing your profile. Instead, talk about how your s kills have helped overcome unfavorable situations.You can do that byadding recommendations of people who would readily vouch for these skills that you possess. These recommenders could be your former colleagues, clients, etc.3. Nail Your SummaryThe summary section is of the first sections that the recruiters come across. Hence, they’re more likely to check it out. So make sure you reel them in by nailing your summary.Think of it as your first, and most crucial step towards impressing the recruiter.Here are some things to keep in mind while writing your summary:The first sentence must, without fail, include the qualities you possess that will be of value to others. It must highlight all of your key skills.It must talk about the work you have done, and the kind of projects you have been involved in. Also, include any or all professionalachievements of yours. At the end of this part, don’t forget to include your soft skills to add an extra dimension to your profile.As a whole, be s ure to use appropriate words that are often used by people belonging to the domain you’re interested in.For anyone viewing your profile on PC, only the first 220 words would be visible at one go. Hence, pack this part with impressive skills, intriguing the reader to further view your profile under the View Moreoption.Here’s an example,4) Craft A Clever HeadlineHeadlines always play an integral part in painting a picture of your profile. And since they are the first few lines that appear below your name in your profile, you must make sure it’s good enough to make people want to view your profile.Using apt keywords helps tremendously in drawing in viewers.Here are a few pointers to help you with your headline:Instead of concentrating on the “I” aspect, write about the value you will add to the recruiter.Think outside the box and be as creative with the headline as you can.Don’t include your contact information in your headline. It is more likely to be overlooked this way.I ncluding how you’ll be of value to the recruiter is always better than just stating your job title.For example,eval5) A Good Professional Picture Speaks VolumesevalYour photograph is a visual representation of who you are. Since humans are visual beings, we tend togive a lot of importance to appearances. We tend to look at something and immediately decide whether we like it or not.Hence, one can make a quick judgment on the photo you choose for your LinkedIn profile.And since LinkedIn is a business-centric networking sitewherein you help people network professionally, you need to make sure your photo looks professional.Follow the guidelines given below to help you choose a photo that’s LinkedIn-worthy:You must be in professional attire in the photograph to exhibit professionalism.You must look like the person in the photo, making sure your neck and shoulders are visible.The photo should consist of 60% of your face, at the very least, with no one but you in the photo.Last but not least, don’t forget to put on a smile in your photo since it’ll make recruiters look at you as a more trustworthy prospect.6) Make A Resume Out of Your LinkedIn ProfileIf you’ve made sure to keep your profile updated, including in them all of your achievements and projects you’ve worked on, you can easily convert it into a resume to have it on the go. All it takes is a couple of clicks and your LinkedIn profile will get converted into a resume, in no time. Here’s how to go about it:evalStep 1:Log into your LinkedIn profile and click on the Me tab.Step 2: In the ‘Me’ tab, click onView Profile.Step 3: The next step is to click on the“…” at the top and select the “Save to PDF” option.7) Keep Updating Your Status FrequentlyTime and again, status updates tend to get ignored by LinkedIn users.Status Updateshave a major impact on job seekers who update their statuses regularly. Since a status updateoccupiesa majorportion of the feed screen,it increasesthe job seeke r’s chances of getting noticed by recruiters by tenfold.A good status update showcases features such as:The update you postedYour nameYour photoYour titleImagesThe engagement metricsLinkedIn’s research statistics show that posting status updates for about 20 times per month can help you reach up to 60% of your audience. The key is to share status updates that are likely to appeal to potential employers.8) Get Found In Search With KeywordsUsing the right keywords makes a big difference to your profile. Using appropriate keywords will help your profile rank higher in search among your competitors.Following are the steps to increase your chances of being found:Single out the words you want to be found by when people search for it on LinkedIn.Include these keywords that you’ve picked out, in your summary, your headline, and your profile in general.9) Add A Proper Call To ActionAny resume would be incomplete if you don’t include a Call to Action. Once the recruiter has viewed you r profile, they should find it easy to contact you in case of any job openings.By adding a call to action, recruiters will perceive you as someone who is proactive and easy to contact. In the process, be sure to mention it in a creative way instead of sounding too desperate.For example,“I’m always looking for a new problem to solve, so if you’ve got one contact me at “[emailprotected]” is a good example of a proper call to action.10) Upload Relevant Photos To Make Your Profile AppealingAlways make sure that your posts are supported by relevant photographs. Statistics show that any post that has a photo attached to it garners 94% more views as compared to a post without photos.It is always better to give proof of the activities and projects you get involved in with the help of these photos.The multi-photo feature of LinkedIn allows the user to post multiple (Up to 9) photos for one post. Keeping this in mind, don’t post too many photos all at the same time.In such cases, the likeliness of a recruiter to miss out on important photos is high.11) The Power Of “Who Has Viewed Your Profile” ListWhenever you end up viewing a profile, you end up on their “Who’s viewed your profile” list, enabling them to check the people that have checked their profile. This allows job seekers to catch the recruiter’s attention by landing up on the list of people who have viewed their profile.Landing upon their ‘Who Has Viewed Your Profile’ list can improve your chances of getting shortlisted by volumes. It reflects your interest in the job they’re offering, helping them remember your name and profile during the process of checking different applications.12) Be A Part Of Relevant GroupsLinkedIn groups will allow you to keep up with the latest news and trends, help you connect with people, and expose you to certain opportunities that may not be publicized anywhere other than in groups. A typicalLinkedIn user can join up to 50 groups.LinkedIn groups act as virtual rooms that are formed around similar industries, professions, and interests.In these groups, one can, post things, answer questions, share articles, and connect with the other group members. Since your photo is displayed every time you post something, other members can click through your profile and find your websites.Additionally, by posting quality content in groups, you also position yourself as an expert in your field.13) Make Use Of NumbersJust like you would in your resume, make sure to include past results in your summary. Try and include case studies and numbers wherever you can, to prove the work you’ve done in your past. Numbers help in giving more credibility to the facts stated in your profile.For example,Statements such as “In my past work experience, I have helped acquire 150+ targeted clients in a matter of three months.” add more value to your profile instead of just mentioning that you worked in the Client Acquisition department.Following these tips wi ll help double your chances of getting noticed and contacted by recruiters. All that remains to be done is minor tweaks here and there which will end up having a major impact on your profile.Also, implementing these tips won’t take up much of your time and effort. So go ahead and see for yourself how a couple of changes can help you revamp your LinkedIn profile, for the better.Looking for more tips? Check out â€" Top 33 Linkedin Profile Tips for Job Seekers In 2017