The Best LinkedIn Profile Tricks That Will Set You Apart
It might be challenging to explore all of LinkedIn’s features, tips, and hacks because the tool is so massive. Ensure you have the best LinkedIn cover photo in addition to a ton of other things.
Are you making the most of your LinkedIn profile?
Let us ask you a few more questions before you respond “yes.” Are your most applicable strengths highlighted in your LinkedIn headline for potential connections? Is the image on your LinkedIn backdrop presentable? Do you even have a background image for LinkedIn?
If you’re looking for a new job, may your current boss see your updates? Do you know how to let hiring managers know that you’re interested in fresh opportunities? While expanding your network, are you establishing your expertise?
Take some time to study these LinkedIn profile hacks if the answer to any of these questions is “no,” so that you may create an optimized profile that will not only draw recruiters but also make you stand out as a professional worth knowing.
Tips for a LinkedIn profile
1. Make a vanity URL first
You probably wouldn’t have a URL with nine random letters and digits if you were beginning a business. Your LinkedIn profile ought to follow the same guidelines. The vanity URL is the first thing you should consider if you’re using LinkedIn for networking, job searching, or other career-related activities.
2. Possess a fantastic LinkedIn profile picture and background image
We sincerely apologize for such an example, but LinkedIn may be a platform to promote “your brand.” Take this in stride—personalizing your work presence wherever you can is actually extremely refreshing. To borrow from our CEO’s go-to glitter and glue comparison:
Glue: The majority of your LinkedIn profile will be glue—very expert and educational.
Glitter: You have the opportunity to glam up your LinkedIn profile photo.
However, let’s expand on your profile picture. Your LinkedIn profile picture, excuse me. There are several social media sites where you can post adorable beach selfies, entertaining dancing pictures, or stunning wedding photos. The location is not LinkedIn.
No, not all of us have the resources to pay for a professional headshot. Who has the time to organize that, really? The good news is that we can pass for it quite convincingly. Most likely, the camera on your iPhone or smartphone has a resolution high enough to produce clear, crisp images.
Your headshot should demonstrate your professionalism. No images from your friend’s wedding will be cropped as a result. Use a neutral background and dress appropriately—dark hues stand out a bit better. And place yourself in front of a window for the greatest illumination.
3. Understand which keywords to use and why.
Because LinkedIn uses a search algorithm, they rely on keywords to present search results.
You want to appear in search results whenever someone looks for someone with similar knowledge and experience to you. But if you don’t identify, and then use, certain keywords all throughout your profile, you can’t.
Consider the audience that will read your profile or search for your experience as a good place to start. What will they be looking for? This could be particular work experiences, specialized software program knowledge, or particular skills.
Make a list of 10 to 15 keywords next. The following places are where you can find these:
- Look up four or five job descriptions using the title of your current position. What search terms appear repeatedly in all of the postings? Put them on paper.
- Check through the LinkedIn profiles of those with similar experience or responsibilities. What words do you notice are used frequently?
- Check out what is displayed in LinkedIn’s talents area. Are you being advised to acquire any specific hard skills? Choose the ones that are pertinent to you from this list of keywords.
- Keep to your hard skills when in doubt. Soft skills can be mentioned in different ways, but for our list of keywords, we want to concentrate on your technical abilities, qualifications, job titles, and tools or software that are pertinent to the sector because those are the terms your target audience will be looking for.
An illustration of this would be a content marketer. Although the term “content marketing” is a keyword, any recruiter will further specify it to assist them to identify applicants with even more specialized knowledge. Your task is to apply the advice provided above, and you might create the list that follows:
- Content promotion
- Written material
- Content Coordinator
- Blogging
- Online copy
- E-books
- Webinars
- Written in white
- CMS
- WordPress \Storytelling
- Strategies for email marketing
- Driving nurture
- SEO
- Ahrefs
- Paid searches
- Using social media
The list above includes both technical know-how and particular software. All of these words appeared repeatedly in job descriptions for “content marketing.”