5 Steps on How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile [infographic]

A LinkedIn profile can bring jobs and connections to you. But having a simple, uninspired profile will not. You can maximize your visibility with this 5-step guide to get the best results on LinkedIn.

STEP 1: Lay down the basics

A good majority of your profile’s initial setup should be spent working on this section as this serves as your first impression to the viewer, and first impressions matter.

1. Full Name
2. Headline
   1. MAKE IT QUICK – Elaborate your interests, professional background, and academic credentials in a few words. 
   2. MAKE IT CATCHY – As memorable as possible.
   3. MAKE IT YOU – Must reflect your brand and personality. 
3. Current Position
4. Education 
5. Country and ZIP Code
6. Industry
7. Custom URL – Makes your profile:
   1. Professional;
   2. Easier to find; and
   3. Different. 

STEP 2: Put your best face and brand forward

Having a profile picture and cover photo nowadays will automatically get you significantly more profile views and connection requests because it shows your authority as a professional in your industry. 

Here are some DOs and DONTs to keep in mind for your LinkedIn branding:

DOs

• Choose a recognizable photo. Choose an up-to-date image that is easily recognizable.
• Wear what you would wear to work. “Business casual” is a safe approach, but the formality of your attire will depend on the industry you belong/want to belong in. 
• Choose a non-distracting and simple background. Choose a non-distracting background that puts you as the focal point and highlight of your picture.
• Align to your niche. Different industries call for different presentations. Cater to what will make your profile stand out.

DON’Ts

• Use a poor quality photo. It makes you appear lazy and careless. Additionally, blurry, dark or blown-out pictures will make your face difficult to see.
• Use a poorly cropped photo. Pictures taken from afar, and of you with multiple people cropped, is not ideal for your professional profile. 
• Use an out-of-date photo. As you progress in your career, your features will change so keep your photo as current as possible to reflect your identity better.

STEP 3: Let your summary tell your story

Use your summary to list your goals, passions, accomplishments, and missions as a professional. In other words, tell people why they should connect with you.

Here are some tips for writing an engaging LinkedIn summary from scratch:

• Make It About You, It’s Okay To Focus On You – This is your personal brand. Use shorter paragraphs with fewer sentences and white spaces. White space will allow the reader to get a quick glance of your story without overwhelming them with text.
• Write In The First Person – Third-person summaries can sound impersonal. Write in the first person and use words like “I,” “me,” and “my.” Don’t be overly formal. Be yourself.
• Proofread, Proofread, Proofread – Spelling and grammatical errors can quickly invalidate your authority no matter how well-written and engaging your story is presented.
• Include Keywords – Everything online is now data-driven, so use data to your advantage. Recruiters on LinkedIn use keywords to filter through all the viable profiles when finding potential job candidates. Creating a keyword-rich summary is one of the best ways to make sure you’ll come up in searches. 

STEP 4: Build references, make connections, and gain credibility

Recruiters and working professionals on LinkedIn all want to work with credible people. Get their attention and confidence in your abilities by letting other people speak on your behalf. 

Collect recommendations from people you have worked with to prove your depth of experience and show that you’re good at what you do.

• Jog Their Memory – When asking for recommendations from previous hires, clients or colleagues, include little notes or anecdotes on how you helped solve challenges at work as well as your triumphs. These memory-aids will help jog their memory and remind them of your time together naturally. 
• Highlight Your Abilities – Connections love to know that you know what you’re capable of doing. Encourage your references to make your skills and accomplishments a highlight for the readers.
• Make It Personal – Ask people to share like they’re telling a story. It doesn’t have to be a long paragraph, but it should sound personal and natural for the readers.
  

STEP 5: Consistency is key

Make sure that you keep your profile current and up-to-date. Don’t show outdated information.

You can take it further, even as a beginner you can engage your connections by periodically posting or sharing content on your profile. Although, it is preferred that you do it at a lesser frequency. Quality posts and shares over quantity, always. 

Promote Your Brand and Start Networking on LinkedIn

Connect with people you know and more importantly, people you want to get to know.

Now that you’ve already reviewed and followed all the five steps above, you’re guaranteed to have a standout and professional LinkedIn profile that’s ready to win over any recruiter and engage more connections than ever before. So get out there, and get noticed.