Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn is an impactful way to build your professional brand and expand your network. While it may seem like people spend hours on end using the platform, there is a lot you can do in ten minutes or less to improve your profile or to stay active on this essential professional social media platform.1. Update your headlineYour LinkedIn headline defaults to current role at current company. Your current role is just a small part of who you are as a professional. You have 120 characters in this line where you can elaborate and share mora about yourself. Consider changing your headline to a keyword list, a sentence or sentence fragment. For example Helping small businesses recruit and retain top talent or HR Advisor Recruitment Employee Engagement Diversity Inclusion. This will give people a better idea of the work you do and why they might be interested in connecting.2. Consider SEOWhen someone is searching for you on LinkedIn, what are the keywo rds they would search? These are the important words to incorporate into your headline and summary sections. Make sure your qualifications and keywords are at the forefront. You may fold these into your summary in paragraph form or leave them as a key skills word bank at the bottom of your summary. Do you know a code language, have a certification or a particular subject matter expertise? Make sure to share those items to be included in recruiter searches by highlighting them in your summary or headline.3. Get activeYoull get the fruchtwein out of LinkedIn if you are using LinkedIn, so get in there and post, like, comment or share. If youre not sure where to begin, you can contribute to a conversation that is already happening or share an article that you found particularly helpful. Simple actions will ensure that your profile is shared and you are top of mind. This can be done in just a few minutes and reach hundreds of people.4. Change to first personUnlike your resume, LinkedIn p rofiles are typically written in first person using I. This style will help the reader more easily engage with your message and allow you to use your voice and style more than in our resume where impersonal sentence fragments are still the norm. LinkedIn is where your professional personality can come through, so share your story in your voice.5. PersonalizeWrite a personalized message in your connection requests to start the relationship on the right foot and increase the possibility of them accepting the request. This small step really matters and is particularly impactful if you are requesting to connect with those you dont know, including potential hiring managers or industry leaders. You can share a bit about why youd like to connect and, if you already know the person, just mention that youd like to say in touch on LinkedIn.LinkedIn doesnt need to be complicated and these steps can be used whether youre just starting out or you have an established voice as an industry leader. After all, engaging on LinkedIn is one of the most important steps to growing and managing your professional network.--Alyson Garrido is passionate about helping women advance their careers and find jobs they will enjoy. As a career coach, she partners with her clients to identify their strengths and create a path toward a more fulfilling career. Alyson provides support around preparing for interviews, performance reviews and salary negotiations, ensuring that you present yourself in the best possible light for job search and career advancement. Learn more or book a session with Alyson by visiting www.alysongarrido.com.