LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform. It provides a place for professionals to network with one another and businesses to promote themselves and grow.
Your LinkedIn profile tells others on the platform who you are as a professional or business — you get to showcase your expertise, what your work or business is all about, and what you've accomplished.
However, on a platform with more than 720 million users in more than 200 countries and regions worldwide, it's not enough to just have a profile. To gain attention, establish your brand, and earn more leads, you must learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile. In this article, we'll provide you with some tips to help you improve your LinkedIn profile.
1. Pick Your Niche
One secret to a great LinkedIn profile is to select a niche. Your niche can be in one of four areas:
- Industry
- Job title
- Job function
- Location
By selecting a niche (or niches, because you can choose more than one), you can customize your profile with:
- Pictures relevant to your industry.
- Relevant case studies.
- References to your prospects' pain points.
- Industry or prospects' insider lingo.
2. Select a Great Profile Picture
Your photo is the first thing a visitor will see when they come across your profile. A great profile picture will help to ensure a great first impression.
Let's start with some things you'll want to avoid in a profile picture:
- Fuzzy or pixelated images.
- Full-body photographs.
- Wearing a negative expression on your face.
- Dim or dark lighting.
- Too casual.
- The photo isn't visible to the public.
A great profile photo matches your target audience. Locate a few of your ideal prospects on LinkedIn and study their pictures. What are they wearing or doing? Matching their photographs will help you to attract other profiles like them.
You can also use your picture to speak for you on LinkedIn. For instance, an action shot that shows you working will say a lot about who you are and what you do. Some tips for a compelling image include:
- Use a professional picture.
- Make sure it's high-quality and well-lit.
- It should give off a positive vibe.
- The photo should be visible to the public.
To ensure a great profile photo:
- Assess your current image using Snappr.
- Take a look through your phone, computer, or other social media profiles for images that meet the recommendations above. If you can't find one that you like, don't hesitate to ask for some help.
- Put on a nice shirt and ask a friend or co-worker to take a photo in portrait mode on your phone.
Just be sure that you stand in a well-lit area and use a single-color background.
3. Add a Cover Photo
In addition to your profile picture, you should also be sure to include a cover photo on your LinkedIn page. A great cover photo will do one (or more) of the following things:
- Match your audience.
- Show off your personality.
- Pitch or show your credibility.
No matter what way you choose to go, your photo should be clear, properly sized, and relevant to your target audience. If you're looking for free tools to create your cover photo, check out Canva.
4. Craft a Compelling Headline
Your headline should be more than your job title. It serves as an icebreaker, giving you one line to describe yourself and what you do.
When writing your headline, you should tailor it to your audience. Use their language. Keep it clear and compelling. Consider including "humanizers" like "optimist," "parent of 2," or "bookworm." Don't forget to state your role in your company.
There are five proven formulas for effective headlines:
- The Big Shot works well if you have a senior title. Include your title and interesting humanizers.
- Problem/Solution may prove valuable if most of your prospects have the same problem. Let them know what problem(s) you solve.
- The Irresistible Pitch can be helpful if you have something new and unique to offer the market. It states that if they do X, Y will happen.
- The Leveler helps you to disguise a sales or junior title. It proves your work is relevant to your prospects.
- Massive Social Proof works best if you have something your prospects would find credible. It allows you to show off specific results, years in the industry, and other relevant facts about you.
5. Write an About Section That Inspires Action
Your “About” section should inspire your audience to take action with you. It should describe your main value proposition and provide a free offer or valuable content.
There are a few ways you can encourage your prospects to take action with your company:
- The Clear Pitch: You help your target audience achieve their desired outcome with a specific process.
- The Switch: A majority of your target market is doing something that leads to particular pain points, and they're turning to your business to help solve those issues.
- The Social Proof Story: Tell a story about your industry's unique experience or your past that provides credibility.
- The Irresistible Offer: Speak to something that your target audience wants to do better, then give them the action you want them to take with an irresistible offer.
- The Features/Benefits Bullets: Showcase what your product or service helps your target market achieve by listing specific benefits.
Don’t forget to include a clear call to action (CTA) at the end.
6. Showcase Your Experience
Finally, showcase your experience. Again, you don't have much space to achieve this; your experience section should clearly describe what your company does in one to two sentences. Use specific stats or numbers to show off your accomplishments at your business. Attach valuable content such as case studies, blog articles, and videos. You may also consider including a link to your business's optimized LinkedIn page.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Today
With a well-optimized LinkedIn profile, you can attract more prospects, showcase your expertise, and grow your business. Cleverly can help. We can take care of all aspects of LinkedIn profile optimization, allowing you to stand out from the crowd, increase your views, and boost your conversion rates. For more information and to schedule your free consultation, contact Cleverly today.
