Linkedin has more than 810 million users and it is the largest business networking platform for professionals. It gives you the chance to build networks, hire, find a job or even attract investors. 

A professional Linkedin profile helps you create an online professional brand that opens many new doors and opportunities you never imagined before.

Your Linkedin profile will showcase your knowledge and let others identify the value of what you are good at. 

However, many professionals still underrate the power of Linkedin and what it can do to distinguish their expertise and achievements.

Build your profile to let the community know who you are and use it as a personal spotlight to show your interests, abilities and to completely represent you.

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Here is how to make your Linkedin profile standout:

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A professional profile picture

Start with a high-quality profile picture which is an important part of your Linkedin presence. Studies show that just having a profile picture increases the chances for you to be viewed 14-21 times more by others.

Recruiters will do their research about you and that image is among the first thing they see, so make sure your profile picture is up to date and reflects the real you, just like you look on a daily basis. 

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Add a background image

Many people use the default blue image with dots and lines, but your Linkedin background banner should strengthen your presence and support your professional identity.

Background image is a great place to really show what you represent and visually highlight your personal brand and what’s unique about you. 

Find an image that stands for you and upload one that you have the rights to use. Unsplash is a great source, free photos and images you can download for any project. 

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Make a notable profile headline

The Linkedin headline is an essential part of your profile and one of the most visible sections.

When recruiters are in search to fill a certain role in their companies, the first profiles that come up on Linkedin are the ones with the same headline as the keywords they use to search for candidates. 

Your account will be discovered more easily if you put the most relevant keywords to your headline profile.

There are 220 characters to work with and that is enough space to include the right details that will make your Linkedin stand out. 

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The importance of the “about” section

The “about” section is crucial in providing you with an advantage over other professionals.

It is the place that allows you to let others know about your strengths, challenges, and what you have achieved throughout your journey. Try to express what motivates you, your goals, and the skills that will set you apart. 

You can use one to three paragraphs with maximum characters of 2,000 to help pitch your professionalism in the best way possible.

Don’t forget who you are addressing. Know your audience and try to summarize your profile around that. Include the main things that highlight your achievements and show your personality. 

End your summary with what you are focused on and your objective that states your career goals. Along with this, finish it with your contact details and how they can reach out to you. 

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Add the skills you have mastered

Skills on your profile demonstrate your abilities to other members and recruiters. Add the most relevant ones that you feel you have mastered.

It’s interesting that once you have added these skills, your Linkedin connections can endorse you for them, and you can do the same thing in return.

The more you get skill endorsement, the greater are the chances for you to get discovered by recruiters for the skills you have mastered. 

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‍How to write the work experience section

More than 45% of Linkedin users have their profiles outdated. Generally, people on Linkedin skip filling the ‘Industry’ keywords and ‘Description’ in the work experience section.

Try to be specific. Talk about your role and accomplishments and not about what the organization does. Professionals who check your profile want to see what you have done and your achievements in that role.  

Put your most recent roles and focus on developing this section, knowing the next position you are targeting.

Shorten your description of your older jobs and make your most important ones lengthier. Research the keywords that you should use for each previous job. Also, use some keywords from the job descriptions for positions you aim for in the future. 

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The importance of recommendations from connections

Linkedin recommendations from your connections have an extra impact in strengthening your profile. Ask your connections to write one for your Linkedin profile and let them know for the comments you want them to say about you. 

If recommendations come from your colleagues, business partners, or people you have worked with have more value and are considered reliable.

When someone writes you one, you get notified, and you have the opportunity to accept or dismiss it before you post.

If you accept the recommendation written by someone, it will become visible and shared on your Linkedin network. You can do the same for your connections as this feature usage is to add value to each other. 

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Don’t forget to update your Linkedin profile regularly. A large number of users do it very rarely. Be the kind of profile that freshen the information at least once a year when changes happen in your professional career. 

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