Certain details make a LinkedIn profile stand out.
In most cases, it’s much simpler than you might think. Filling out your profile in full, adding a great image and connecting with people you know.
But if you want to make the most of LinkedIn, you need to pay careful attention to detail. First impressions do matter, and people will judge you based on what they see.
Here are seven details experts get right on their LinkedIn profiles.
1. Getting a Custom URL
Anyone spending a lot of time on LinkedIn should be setting up a custom profile URL. This makes it easier for you to share your profile and for others to find it. It only takes a moment to set up your custom URL, so be sure to do it.
2. Choosing an Appropriate Profile Photo
This is the photo people will see whenever visiting your profile or even when viewing your updates. The top mistake people make is not uploading a photo at all. The next biggest mistake you can make is using a photo that’s either too polished or completely unprofessional.
Your photo should be both professional and friendly. If in doubt, have a look at your connections and see what kinds of photos they’re using.
3. Make Your Headline Stand Out
Many people just put their job title in their headline. That’s a good start. But if you’re not looking for a job and you want to make the most of this space, why not tell people what you can do for them? Make your headline your value proposition to make it more exciting.
4. Share Updates Daily
It’s important to stay top-of-mind with your connections. Now, on LinkedIn, you don’t want to go overboard. There’s nothing professional about someone who’s continually spamming their network with sales messages. But if you share one update per day – and you can skip weekends if you want – your overall visibility will increase, and you’ll be able to better leverage your LinkedIn presence.
5. Publish Articles on LinkedIn
Nothing builds your authority like well-researched and well-thought out articles that appeal to your target audience. Study the types of articles that perform well on LinkedIn and begin publishing your own based on your findings.
6. Join & Participate in Groups
Much has been said about LinkedIn Groups, and that’s because this is where the most important conversations are taking place. If you come across questions that you can answer, answer them! If it would be appropriate to share content you’ve published on your website, share it. Also, share other worthwhile content you find on the internet.
But don’t get carried away. Always review the guidelines before doing anything in a group. Otherwise, you might end up getting kicked and banned, which doesn’t help you at all.
7. Build Your Connections
The more connections you have, the more your updates will spread. Plus, it will show you’re more active if you have more connections. But don’t add people you don’t know. LinkedIn could shut down your account if enough people reject your request to add them as a connection.
Final Thoughts on Creating Effective LinkedIn Profiles
If you want to leverage LinkedIn better, you must pay attention to the details. After all, those viewing your profile are. They want to know if they can trust you and whether they should work with you. If you’re going to grow your business, then everything you do should be motivated by one thing – earning the trust of your prospects and customers. If you are successful at this, closing more sales should be a walk in the park.
How are you using LinkedIn to grow your business? What details do you pay attention to?
Let us know in the comments below.