We are often so focused on building our company’s image that we often forget to develop our personal brands. One efficient way to do this is by updating your LinkedIn page and building up your profile. Although it may seem like a minuscule task on your never-ending to-do list, it will be worth the extra work. Neglecting your personal branding not only leads to ourselves falling short but also our sales opportunities. Networking is the key to getting sales, so get yourself off on the right foot by investing in your brand.
Your LinkedIn profile is the foundation for your personal branding. There are constantly new ways to increase your value and skills through this platform. So if you haven’t checked out your profile recently, you might find new ways to build your personal brand.
We’ve come up with eight tips to update your profile for success. Some are quick fixes, while others take time, but we promise the results will be worth the wait.
- Choose the Right Profile Picture: Your profile picture is the first thing people see, so make sure you make an excellent first impression. You want your picture to look professional and clean, so make sure your face takes up most of the frame.
- Add a Background Photo: Your background photo is the second thing people see on your profile, so make it stand out. It should catch people’s attention, set the context, and share more of what matters to you. Essentially, the background photo you choose will help your page leave a memorable impression and engage viewers’ attention.
- Your Headline should be more than a Job Title: There’s no rule that says your headline has to just be your job title, so get creative. Use it to share how you view your role and why you do what you do.
- Tell your Story with a Summary: The first thing to check is that you have a summary; you’d be surprised how many people leave this section blank on their profiles. This section provides a chance for you to tell your own story and explain why your skills matter and how they impact your coworkers. You should take time to think about what you want to say and then revise it as this is your more personal piece of content marketing, and it will be worth the effort.
- Grow your Network: This one may seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised how many people neglect this tip. If this seems like a tedious task, a simple way to connect with people you know is to sync your email address book to your LinkedIn page, and it will suggest connections for you to add. The best way to keep your network up to date is to get in the habit of following up with your connection requests.
- Show off your Relevant Skills: This is one of the quickest fixes. Adding your relevant skills shows your strong set and helps substantiate the description in your headline and summary sections. This also allows others to endorse you. The main thing you want to keep in mind when selecting your relevant skills is to avoid long lists that don’t really show who you are or what you do.
- Take those Skills Assessments: Have you ever noticed those notifications to take a skills assessment on LinkedIn and wondered what it was? A skills assessment test allows you to demonstrate your level of skills, and once you complete it, it will add a Skills Badge to your profile. These skills badges stand out to your potential employers and connections. It is proven that people with verified skills are more likely to be hired for the positions they apply for, so now is the time to take those quizzes!
- Share, Share, Share: Now that your profile looks good, the most important part comes into play. You need to share your own content as well as your connections. Sharing brand content allows people to understand your business and demonstrates your passion and commitment to your work. Sharing relevant content ensures that you play an active role in your network and will provide value to your connections.
Summary
Getting your LinkedIn profile up to date doesn’t have to take hours of your time. As you start improving your profile, the process will become faster and more efficient as you see the fixes provide lasting results. These quick tips will have you amazed by what LinkedIn can do for you and your professional goals.
