Get Visible on LinkedIn, Part 1
Earlier this week, I co-hosted a workshop with Codecademy on creating visibility on LinkedIn. 343 people RSVP’d! Afterward, many attendees contacted me to share how valuable the tips were, so I KNEW I had to share them with you.
You might be wondering, why LinkedIn? Isn’t it a bunch of CEOs posting crying videos during layoffs or a bunch of humble bragging? Okay, yes, there is that.
But let’s not ignore the facts —
LinkedIn has been around for 21 years and is the world’s largest professional networking and social media site, with 930M users.
People are there to build professional relationships and share relevant insights vs. posting dance moves or memes (at least for now).
It’s where recruiters and hiring managers hang out, and they’ll likely see your LinkedIn profile before your resume or cover letter.
Here are 6 things you can do today to make your LinkedIn profile stand out.
Visuals - headshot + background. Eye contact establishes an instant connection, so choose one where you’re looking at the camera. You look cute in your bridesmaid dress, holding a glass of Aperol spritz. Skip it. Opt for something professional and clear. And then your background image should reinforce who you are. So if you’re a graphic designer, maybe it’s your favorite Pantone color.
Headline - this 220-character real estate is so underutilized. It appears in search results underneath the name, yet people use generic titles like “VP of Sales” or “Product Manager.” The headline is designed to pull employers or potential clients in to learn more about you. Instead of “UX Designer,” your headline could be “I design user experiences through a female-centric lens to create more equitable products for women.”
Name - you could add a 10-second audio clip from the mobile app where you can introduce yourself and highlight your expertise or your career objectives. Not only can this help with pronouncing difficult names, but by sharing your voice and personality, you give potential employers a glimpse into your character.
Customized URL - you are assigned a profile ending with gibberish numbers and letters by default. You can change that by going to ‘customize url’ and choosing something that represents your name better. This will be much easier for people to find you, help with SEO, and be easier to read when you add to your resume.
Keywords - sprinkle keywords throughout your profile in your About section, Experience, Headline, etc. If you are a “Front-End Developer,” you’ll want to put those exact words throughout. This will differentiate you and help you rank higher in search results. You could also pull keywords from the job descriptions you are looking to apply for to populate your LinkedIn profile, making it easier for employers to find you.
Recommendations - ask trusted colleagues, managers, professors, etc., to vouch for your skills and character. These endorsements offer valuable social proof, giving employers insights into your achievements. When asking for recommendations, it’s always good to give prompts so the writer knows exactly what to focus on. Make it easy for them! And offer to return the favor.
Having a polished profile is step one! Next week, I’ll share Part 2 — on how to be proactive with your networking on LinkedIn because this will make ALL the difference in your career growth.
If you need help creating a LinkedIn strategy to grow your network and land your next job, I’m offering Intensive Strategy Sessions for June and July.
I will audit your profile and resume and then meet with you 1:1 with a proven strategy on how to:
Leverage all of its features to maximize your visibility.
Create an effective outreach strategy on LinkedIn.
Grow your professional network.
Create visibility on the platform with strategic content.
Without a clear strategy on LinkedIn, you are missing out on opportunities and likely getting ignored with your outreach messages.
However, with a well-executed plan, you can stand out to potential recruiters AND grow your professional network without appearing desperate or cringy.
Book an Intensive Strategy Session today. It's time to take action and end the overthinking and anxiety you may be experiencing when it comes to using LinkedIn. This intensive strategy session with me is your first step.
And if you book a future session within the next 24 hours (expires end of day Friday 6/30) I’m offering 20% off, so BOOK NOW
As always, I’m here for you. Hit reply with questions.
-Carolyn
