Aleksi
April 3, 2024
This ultimate guide shows you various steps in creating an optimized LinkedIn profile that gets people to view it.
Having a great LinkedIn is important so prospects can see a preview of who you are and what you do. According to the 2022 LinkedIn State of Sales Report US and Canada Edition, 42% of buyers research sellers who reach out to them by checking their LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B social selling. It helps connect you to target prospects and bridges the gap between you and potential sales.
Here’s a quote from the co-founder of LinkedIn Reid Hoffman:
“If you can get better at your job, you should be an active member of LinkedIn, because LinkedIn should be connecting you to the information, insights, and people to be more effective.”
Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn
Setting Up Your Profile
Have a great profile picture
Your profile picture should have good lighting and a plain background. Refrain from using group or casual photos.
Additionally, you don’t need a professional photographer to take your picture. You can use your phone to take a picture in portrait mode or ask another person to take a picture.
Here are the things that you need to remember when taking a picture:
Close-up, preferably from head to shoulders
Look at the camera
Smile and show a little bit of your teeth
Neutral background with good lighting
Business attire
LinkedIn’s profile picture dimensions are 400 by 400 pixels in a circular image. You can upload your photo in either JPG or PNG format.
Write an effective headline
Your headline is the short text at the bottom of your profile picture. This is one of the first things people will see so you need to provide a personalized and specific headline that tells people what you do and what you know.
These are some of the things that you need to keep in mind when writing your headline:
Be Clear and Specific: Your headline should clearly state who you are and what you do. Use relevant keywords to make it easy for others to understand your expertise.
Highlight Your Value Proposition: Showcase what sets you apart from others in your field. Mention any unique skills, experiences, or achievements.
Include Keywords: Use keywords related to your industry and role to improve your profile’s visibility in searches.
Keep It Concise: LinkedIn headlines have a limit of 220 characters, so keep it concise and to the point.
Add Personality: While remaining professional, you can also add a touch of personality to make your headline more engaging.
Here are some sample templates that you can use to stand out.
Create an eye-catching background photo
The banner is a horizontal profile that contains additional information on who you are and what you do.
These are some notes that you need to keep in mind when making a LinkedIn banner:
Your brand colors need to be present
What services do you offer?
Your brand logo
Delivery methods
You need to keep most of the information on the right side of your banner because your profile picture will be placed on the left.
The dimensions of the LinkedIn banner are 1,584 by 396 pixels.
Personalizing Your Profile
Write an About section
The About section is located in the middle of your profile page. People can only see the first three lines of your About section before it gets cut off and they have to click “See More.”
Avoid writing big blocks of text. Ensure you present an easy-to-read About section to ensure people can get the entirety of the information. You can use emojis as paragraph breaks or as bullet points.
An About section can look like this.
Follow and connect with like-minded people
Building a LinkedIn network is a crucial part of making your profile. You have to follow and connect with people within your industry and space so you can see content on your feed that relates to what you’re doing.
Connecting with people allows you to directly message them while following people allows you to see their content.
Make a detailed experience section
Make sure you highlight your relevant experience and current job in your experience section.
Job Title: Use clear, descriptive titles that reflect your role’s responsibilities and level.
Company Name: Include the full name of the company and its industry to provide context.
Description: Write an overview of your role, highlighting key responsibilities and achievements. Use bullet points for clarity and readability.
Achievements: Quantify your accomplishments with specific metrics and results.
Ask for recommendations on your profile
Having recommendations provides social proof for prospects that visit your profile. You can request reviews from your peers, superiors, and coworkers.
Recommendations are where people can discuss your skills, achievements, and contributions to work or a project. A great way to approach requesting recommendations is to offer one back.
Here’s a sample recommendation message template that you can follow.
Copy this template
Hi [Name],
I’m reaching out to request a LinkedIn recommendation from you. Your endorsement would mean a lot to me and would greatly enhance my profile.
As you know, we worked together on [specific project or initiative], and I valued your insights and expertise. If you could highlight our collaboration and any key achievements, I would be grateful.
I’m also more than happy to write a recommendation for you in return. Thank you for considering my request.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Optimizing Your Profile
Have a lead magnet on your Featured Post
The featured post section of your profile is a great place to put your lead magnet. A lead magnet is something that attracts customers to your business.
Additionally, the goal of the featured post is to get people to want to know more about your product or service. You need people to move from LinkedIn into your website.
These lead magnets in your featured post could be:
Work examples
Testimonials or results
Demo page
High-performing post
Turn on Creator Mode
LinkedIn Creator Mode is a feature on LinkedIn that allows users to showcase their expertise and build their professional brand.
When you enable Creator Mode, your profile will be optimized for content creation, making it easier for you to share and engage with content.
Some key features of Creator Mode include:
Followers: Your followers will be prominently displayed on your profile, making it easier for others to see your following and follow you.
Featured Section: You can showcase your best posts, articles, or media in a dedicated Featured section at the top of your profile.
Activity Insights: You’ll have access to insights about your content performance, including views, likes, comments, and shares.
Connect Button: A prominent Connect button will be displayed on your profile, encouraging others to connect with you.
Creator Dashboard: You’ll have access to a Creator Dashboard where you can track the performance of your posts and engage with your audience.
Creator mode is an excellent way of optimizing your profile to be more visible on the platform.
By continuously posting high-quality content you can gain a lot of followers. According to 2022 LinkedIn data, 76% of top sellers said they’re committed to publishing more articles on LinkedIn.
Join and participate in groups
Joining and participating in LinkedIn groups is a great way to expand your network, engage with like-minded professionals, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
If you find someone’s contributions valuable, consider connecting with them outside the group. You can also participate in discussions by commenting on posts, sharing your insights, and asking thoughtful questions.
By actively participating in LinkedIn groups, you can expand your network, share your expertise, and stay informed about industry trends and best practices.
