In this modern age, your business card alone won’t cut it. With over half a billion users, LinkedIn is the ultimate social network for the business world.
“I made my profile...Isn’t that enough?”
7 years ago – maybe. But today, when someone is choosing between 100+ business consultants, your profile needs to really shine for you to stand out from the pack.
In this article, I’ll give you actionable tips for elevating your LinkedIn from good to GRRRRRREAT!
Approaching your LinkedIn profile like a marketing opportunity—with the eyes of a copywriter—can help you get the most out of LinkedIn, and make sure you’re seen even in a crowded field.
HOW TO CREATE AN A+ LINKEDIN PROFILE...
1. YOUR PROFILE PICTURE MATTERS...
Your photo is one of the first things people see when they click on your profile page. You want this image to fit your professional image – aka your personal brand.
There are the big mistakes to avoid, like posting casual photos from your beach vacation or your latest selfie.
That said, just because you’re wearing a suit, doesn’t mean your photo is good to go. Photos that are fuzzy, poorly-lit, or obviously selfies will read as unprofessional.
If you can, invest in getting a professional photographer to take some headshots for you. If that’s not possible, ask a friend to take a photo of you and make sure you’re in front of a neutral background with lots of light.
2. MAKE YOUR HEADLINE COUNT
After your name and your photo, your headline is probably the first thing people will look at.
When you create your LinkedIn profile, it will give you the option of auto-populating the Headline Field with your current job title and company. Most users leave their headline on that default setting.
But—you don’t want to be the vast majority of people. You want to stand out. And this 120-character field is where you get the chance to share what makes you unique.
Here are some examples of how good copywriting can market you as a unique professional in your field.
UX Designer | Innovating to Create Better Online Experience
Interior Designer | Turning Your House into a Home
HR Manager | Creating Teams Built for Success
The goal is to explain both what you do, and how you actually create results that matter.
3. TURN YOUR SUMMARY INTO A STORY
Your headline gave a snippet of what you do, but your summary is also where you can use some powerful copywriting techniques to help direct visitors to your profile into engaging with you. Ready to get started?
Think about your audience. Who do you imagine visiting your profile? What do you want them to know about you? What will be interesting to them?
Focus on the value you can offer. What do you bring to the table that no-one else can? Why should a recruiter reach out to you? Why should a prospect choose you over a rival?
Give a call to action. Let your visitor know how they can engage or work with you. For example, are you open to networking opportunities? Do you take speaker requests? Are you looking to connect with other professionals in your area?
The goal of all this?? We’re getting your audience to TAKE ACTION. This marketing strategy helps to hook your target audience and then share clear next steps for how you can collaborate.
4. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO EXPERIENCE
The experience section on LinkedIn is the meat of your profile. It’s where you list the positions you’ve held, and tell people what you’ve actually done in your career. In short, this is your online resume.
Start with a brief summary of the company and role.
Example – “XYZ agency helps brands scale their e-commerce sales. As Advertising Manager I was responsible for…”
Then, include 2-3 bullet points that highlight your specific achievements in each role.
This sounds simple, but what most people do is simply list job duties. It’s okay, but it’s not going to have you stand out. Think of it as C+ grade work.
On the other hand, the A+ version showcasing your achievements, answers the two key questions:
What did you do?
What impact did it have?
5. BACK YOUR CLAIMS UP WITH PROOF
A proof point is the evidence that backs up the claims you make in your writing. Without proof points claims can end up sounding like hot air. Here are two simple, proven ways for building credibility on LinkedIn.
a) GET RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations are the equivalent of saying “Don’t take my word for it…” They’re your chance to get other people to shower you with praise—which is definitely less awkward than talking yourself up.
b) LIST YOUR SKILLS & GET ENDORSED
Your skills section is another place where you can quickly and clearly highlight your expertise to profile visitors. The social proof comes from the endorsements that other users provide for each of the skills you choose to list.