6 things that set your LinkedIn profile apart
The Momentum Files #50
How your LinkedIn profile can help you stand out from the crowd
“I’ve set up my LinkedIn profile, but I’m not sure what steps to take to enhance it and attract more attention. It feels like my profile is just sitting there, not really working for me.”
“I need help understanding how to leverage LinkedIn to showcase my skills and connect with potential employers or professional contacts.”
“I see others getting noticed and making connections, but I don’t know how to do the same with my own profile.”
I heard these statements from my clients - high-achieving professionals - and have recently been hearing similar statements from other professionals looking to utilize LinkedIn but not knowing where to start.
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professionals, hiring managers and recruiters. And for a professional looking to transition careers, grow within a current role, network or build their professional reputation – this platform provides the perfect online space to show people who you are, what you can do and what you’re looking to do next.
But getting noticed in a sea of fellow professionals looking to do the same can be a challenge and leave you feeling lost and invisible.
Let’s explore six powerful actions you can take right away to transform your profile, boost your visibility, and attract the right opportunities.
#1: Add a professional profile photo and banner image.
→ These images (along with your headline… which I’ll cover next) are two of the first things people see of you on LinkedIn. Having crisp, professional images in place allows you to make a great first impression while showing people who you are and what you do.
Use high-quality images and avoid those that are blurry or too casual (save the vacation selfie for another social platform). Your LinkedIn banner image can display your branding and include things like your logo, website URL and eye-catching imagery. If you’re feeling creative and want to create a banner image yourself, you can use Canva for an easy do-it-yourself task.
#2: Create an optimized headline.
→ LinkedIn is a search engine that people use to search for things. Like any search engine, it requires strategic use of relevant keywords to get found and seen by the most people. The better your keywords, the higher you’ll rank in searches. This means more visibility, more people enticed to open your profile and more opportunity.
And remember, recruiters and hiring managers utilize keywords to search for potential employees.
Your headline is a crucial piece of your LinkedIn profile, and optimizing it is essential to your LinkedIn success. Think of it as the hook that grabs attention and pulls people to your profile. Here are the tips you need to create an optimized headline.
Make the most of your space. LinkedIn gives you up to 220 characters on desktop and up to 240 characters on mobile.
Ensure that your headline is relevant to what you’re currently doing and/or what you want to do next.
Ask yourself:
What industry keywords are important?
If someone is searching for me, what keywords would they be searching for?
Who am I trying to help?
What problem do I solve?
What results do I achieve?
What professional attributes or credentials do I have that will help me stand out?
What unique value do I bring?
How do I want to present myself?
Search for people on LinkedIn who do what you want to do and look at their headlines. Take inspiration from the good ones. The good ones are specific, relevant and showcase something about you.
Gather relevant keywords by performing LinkedIn searches. LinkedIn will suggest keywords based on your search history. You can search companies, positions, skills and more. I recommend starting by looking at the company pages of companies you’d want to join.
Use these formulas to get you thinking clearly about your headline.
Formula #1: Role Keywords | Industry Experience | Unique Value
Example #1: CPA at Company X | Billing and AR Consultant | Financial Planning & Analysis
Formula #2: Title or Target Title | Specialization or Key Skills | Industry Related Keywords | Accomplishments & Passion
Example #2: Senior HR Manager | Expert in Performance Management and Training | Workforce Planning Strategist | Reduced Turnover by 20% | Volunteer for HR Mentorship Programs
Feeling stuck? Try putting your headline into ChatGPT and asking it to create a better one. Use a prompt like: Create a LinkedIn headline better tailored to a [enter your job title] who solves [enter problem you solve].
Having a headline that encapsulates you so well that someone can read it and understand who you are is the goal!
#3: Create a custom URL.
→ You can make this update right now in a matter of minutes!
When you share the direct link to your LinkedIn profile, you want it to be clean and professional. That means creating a custom URL to eliminate those random characters that appear at the end of a non-customized link.
Go to your LinkedIn profile page. On the right-hand side of the page, click the pencil/edit icon next to Public profile & URL. Then, on the right-hand side of this new page, click the pencil/edit icon next to Edit your custom URL. Here is where you will be able to make the edit.
My custom URL is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyhaba/.
A non-custom URL might look like this: /cindyhaba-551879184
The winner is clear.
#4: Take advantage of the Featured section.
→ The Featured section on LinkedIn is a powerful tool that too many professionals overlook. However, it can significantly enhance your profile's visibility and credibility by showcasing your best work and achievements.
Professionals who take the time to enhance their Featured section can stand out more effectively, as it provides a visually appealing and direct way to highlight key accomplishments, projects and media.
Use the Featured section to get more eyes on the best samples of your work, such as: videos, an exciting project overview, an article you’ve written, a volunteer event that has meaning for you, share client testimonials and successful collaborations. You could also provide links to significant professional achievements. Use this section to shine a light on your expertise, values and credibility.
#5: Ask for recommendations and endorsements!
→ This one might nudge you out of your comfort zone, but I highly recommend asking for them! Having recent recommendations and endorsements on your profile positions you as an expert and gives people a glimpse into how it might be to work with you or employ you.
If you’re up for pushing even further outside of your comfort zone, ask people to include something specific in your recommendation. For example:
Will you mention the creative problem-solving we tackled on this project and the fact that we innovated a brand new process to get this done?
When people endorse you for your expert skills, you can then organize this profile section and select the top skills you want showcased at the top of the list. They’ll get seen the most!
And remember to give the same consideration to others. When you recommend or endorse someone, they’ll see that you made the effort to do this for them… and will likely return the favor!
#6: Get your Groups on!
→ Joining LinkedIn Groups is a fantastic way to grow your network, broaden your exposure to the right people, ask and answer questions in a group setting (a great way to highlight your expertise!) and build genuine connection.
You can search for groups by geography, industry, professional associations, job search and career development, alumni networks, and special interests. Seek out groups that spark your curiosity and align with your career aspirations. Once you join, start engaging by actively participating to maximize your learning and networking opportunities (it’s all about growing your visibility!).
Tip: Some groups even share job postings and opportunities before they’re out there for everyone. A big deal if you’re seeking a new career opportunity!
Bonus Tip: Update your LinkedIn profile every six months.
→ Without fail, every person I talk to who is in a job for a while admits that they have not touched their LinkedIn for a LONG time. That’s why I decided to throw in this reminder!
Whether you’re comfortable in your current job or looking for a change, the goal is to maintain a current and relevant profile.
Then, when you are in a transitional phase, you won’t have to break out in a sweat and think, “Oh no! What do I do with my LinkedIn profile?”
Make LinkedIn an active part of your professional career… whatever you’re doing.
Let’s Connect!
If we’re not already connected on LinkedIn, feel free to send me a connection request so we can stay in touch!
I regularly post about professional development, job search strategies, success mindset and networking. Engaging with posts, including “likes” and comments, not only keeps our LinkedIn community active but also boosts your own visibility. The more active you are on LinkedIn, the more opportunities you create for yourself to be noticed by others and stay engaged with the latest industry insights. [Check out today’s post on how tolerations hold you back from reaching your goals]
If you’re ready for a LinkedIn upgrade that helps you to stand out and attract more visibility and opportunity, implement these strategies to kick things up a notch.
Then, reply to this email and share with me the changes you made, your optimized headline, how it’s helping… any update or question you want to share! I’d love to celebrate with you.