Create a better LinkedIn profile in 2023
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Developing and expressing your personal brand is important more than ever today. Employers are always on the lookout for job seekers who are willing to take the extra step to make their job applications stand out. If you have included a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume, you must have a polished LinkedIn profile. Advertising an outdated LinkedIn profile on your resume will do more harm than good. Here’s what you can do to create a great LinkedIn profile in 2023:
First, choose a good profile picture
Your LinkedIn profile picture will be your calling card – the first thing someone notices about your profile. Avoid long-distance shots, dress professionally, choose a plain background, and smile! Use a professional photograph for your profile picture and ensure it is recent.
Don’t forget the background photo
Add a background photo of your choice to your profile. This is the visual element at the top of your profile that will grab the attention of viewers immediately. You can advertise your small business through your background photo or simply express your passion about a hobby.
Use the Headline wisely
You can add so much more than just a job title to the Headline of your LinkedIn profile. Consider it the same as your resume headline. Write something unique and compelling about yourself and your job. Feeling stuck with your LinkedIn Headline? Visit the LinkedIn profiles of some members who work in sales and marketing. They will have catchy Headlines that can inspire you to write yours.
Write a killer Summary
Many professionals decide to skip the Summary when they create their LinkedIn profiles. But the Summary is a great place to narrate your career story. Remember how you crafted the perfect resume summary? This is just the same! All you have to do is highlight your best skills, qualifications, and professional achievements.
Delete all the buzzwords
Buzzwords are the words you will find on nine out of ten LinkedIn Summaries, which add zero value to the content. If your LinkedIn profile features words like, ‘specialized’, ‘strategic’, and ‘experienced’, without demonstrating how you have exhibited each of these qualities in your career, you will just be repeating words that hundreds of others have uttered before you.
Expand your professional network
When you first get started with LinkedIn, you can sync your email address book with your profile. Then, LinkedIn will suggest people for you to connect with on the platform. Other than these professionals, you can find people from your high school, college, workplace, industry, and city to connect with. Once you have made connections, keep in touch with them by following up on conversations.
Add your skills to the profile
If you are on a job search right now, you can select the skills that best define your skillset from LinkedIn’s choices. Ensure that you stay relevant to the requirements of the role. Listing a few highly relevant skills for your job will be more beneficial for you than having a long list of irrelevant skills.
Fill out the Services section
You can mention the services you offer on your LinkedIn profile so that your business can gain more visibility on the platform. This step is ideal for freelancers, consultants, and members of small businesses to create brand awareness. You will be immediately boosting your visibility in search results by updating your Services section.
Share relevant content with your connections
You can add value to your connections’ LinkedIn feeds by sharing content that is relevant to what you do. It can be an article you authored or a short explanation you have written on a particular topic. If you have a YouTube channel or other social media where you share your knowledge about your field of work with others, you can share those content through your LinkedIn profile as well.