50 Tips to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

By Rachel Simon

When preparing to meet with someone, do you look them up on LinkedIn? There is a high probability that you said, “Yes.” So flip that around. Do you think people are looking you up? If the thought of that makes you cringe a little because of the state of your profile, there are simple updates you can make to improve your LinkedIn profile and the impression you are making.

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a job seeker, you want your profile to work FOR you – helping you to meet your specific goals. When you optimize your LinkedIn profile, you will be found in more searches, get in front of your target audience, and connect with the right people.

Here’s a top-to-bottom list of profile tips and tricks to help you build a strong foundation on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Profile Photo Tips

1. Your photo needs to be up-to-date. If it’s more than five years old, it’s time for a new one. It needs to look like you do in the real world.
2. Choose a professional headshot where you are smiling and making eye contact with the camera. Your photo should be friendly and approachable.
3. Your head and shoulders should take up the majority of the frame.
4. Do not crop yourself out of a group photo. Don’t use a photo with your kids, your dog, or other people. And please, no selfies.
5. Check that your profile picture visibility is set to PUBLIC. If not, you will be a gray silhouette to anyone outside your network.

LinkedIn Banner Photo Tips

6. Your banner image is the equivalent of a billboard. When it is blank, it’s saying “Your Ad Here,” so don’t leave it unused.
7. The size is 1584 x 396 pixels.
8. If you work for a company, see if the marketing director can create an image branded to your employer.
9. If you work for yourself, use this to cement your brand, promote an offer, a book, a podcast, etc. Include your logo.
10. Limit the text to keywords and phrases, and always check how this looks on mobile.
11. Your profile image will obstruct the lower ⅔ of the banner image on the left. Leave this blank.

LinkedIn Headline Tips

12. Your LinkedIn headline goes EVERYWHERE with you on LinkedIn, so leverage it.
13. You have 220 characters to work with, but the first 40-50 characters are the most important. Front-load it!
14. Don’t default to your current title and company – Speak to your industry, area of expertise, and the value you offer
15. Think about conveying who you are, what you do, why you do it, and who you do it for.
16. You can add some personal information, such as hobbies, sports teams, etc., towards the end—these are great conversation starters.

A Few More Tips for your LinkedIn “Top Card” (i.e – the top section of your profile)

17. If your name is challenging to pronounce, you can record a pronunciation (you have to do this on mobile). Some people use this 10-second sound bite for a quick introduction.
18. For your location, always default to your broader metropolitan area vs your specific city or town. 

LinkedIn “About” (Summary) Tips

19. This section is a narrative – don’t just use the top section of your resume here.
20. It should be written in the first person so you can engage and connect with your reader. It’s not about YOU; it’s about your client/ customer/ audience.
21. Start with a strong hook to get the reader to click SEE MORE. What is the key problem your target audience is facing?
22. Your About section should speak to the pain points of your target audience, using relevant keywords so you are found in LinkedIn searches. (But don’t go crazy with keywords here)
23. Some questions you can ask yourself for this section:
    1. Who are you?
    2. What do you do?
    3. Why do you do it?
    4. What services do you offer/what is your area of expertise?
    5. Why should someone work with you/ buy from you?
24. Show your personality! Your LinkedIn profile is not a CV or a run-down of everything you’ve ever done in your professional life.

LinkedIn Experience/ Volunteer/ Education Section Tips

25. This section can mirror your CV or resume, for the most part
26. Add your relevant experience going as far back as you feel makes sense.
27. Focus on your accomplishments vs responsibilities, especially if you can add in metrics.
28. Always link to the LinkedIn company page (if one exists). If you added a position a while ago, there may be a company page now – it’s worth looking at.
29. If you own your business (even if it is a business of one), create a company page so your branding is pulled into your profile.
30. If you have multiple current roles, you can put them in whatever order you prefer but the role at the top will be visible in your “top card.”
31. If you have served in a volunteer leadership role, add that under Volunteer Experience. Connect to company pages (if possible) and highlight how you served in that role.
32. Under Education, you don’t have to have graduated to add a college or university here.
33. You can choose to add the dates you attended your school(s) or leave that off
34. Your High School is not necessary to include here.

LinkedIn Skills Section Tips

35. You can add up to 100 skills – try to hit somewhere between 50-75
36. These are indexed by search on LinkedIn so it’s important to use the right words so you are more easily found
37. Repeat words and phrases. An example would be to list: Strategy, Business Strategy, and Marketing Strategy.
38. Do not include skills like Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. These are a given for most people.
39. Choose two that are your Top Skills – the ones that you are most knowledgeable about and put those at the top of the list.
40. You can add skills to your different roles under Experience (5-10 max) and be sure to add the top 5 skills in your About section.
41. Endorse people for skills you know they possess. They will often return the favor. When someone does endorse you, be sure to thank them!

Other LinkedIn (Recommended) Profile Sections

42. Choose 4-5 pieces of content to add to your Featured section. If you have a LinkedIn Newsletter, you can now link that here. You may also want to add any specific content that serves as a Call to Action for you – subscribe to your email list, download a freebie, or sign up for a workshop or course.
43. Add any licenses and certifications you have completed
44. Request recommendations from past clients, colleagues or other valuable connections. You should also get in the habit of giving out recommendations.
45. Add any languages you speak (besides English)
46. Add any honors or awards you have won
47. Add any publications you have been featured in. I like to include podcasts in this section if you have been a guest on any. 
48. Add any organizations you are a member of if you serve in a leadership role, that goes under Volunteer Experience.
49. Once a year, go through all your settings to ensure they are accurate and current.
50. And please turn on 2 Factor Authentication on your account to protect it from hackers!

You can get a copy of a complete LinkedIn profile checklist HERE. And if you need more hands-on support to get your profile working for you, let’s chat!

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