Having a sparse profile does not interest those who view it.

❑ Create A Complete Profile

Build it out with details of work experiences/projects etc. Also, a profile with a number of keywords to your industry will increase the views to your profile.

✔ Update your headline with keywords about you do (consultant, technology, sales)

✔ Fill in the summary section using the third person

✔ Add ‘open to new opportunities’ at the top of the summary section

✔ Use all 50 skills available under the skill section

Note: Keep an eye on the “profile strength” tool that guides you through how robust your profile is and what you need to fill in.

❑ Join Groups

LinkedIn groups are discussion forums where people with similar interests can share articles, ask questions, make contacts and find jobs.

✔ Answer questions that are listed in a specific group and you can establish yourself as a leading expert in that domain

✔ Share your expertise about best practices and common tools to help others, you’ll be perceived as an authority figure in that area

✔ Make a point to include others in your post as it’s not all about you — sharing is caring!

Note: We no longer have the option of the ‘promotions tab’ so being creative and posing questions and relevant articles are key!

❑ Become A Part of The Conversation

You can also increase your visibility by becoming part of the social conversation. By “sharing an update” your face, your name, and your profession stays in the forefront (via the updates feed).

✔ Like, share others content (and your own) and comment to profiles you have an interest in getting to know

✔ Follow companies and influencers you’re interested in, “like” & comment on their updates

✔ It’s important to comment to connections outside of groups. Be social with current connections 

Note: Be an ‘interactor’ — not just a ‘post-er.’

❑ Get Recommendations and Endorsements

The more recommendations and endorsements you have, the more you prove that you are good at what you do. You’ll be more favorable to a prospective client or recruiter.

✔ Ask past employers, coworkers, association colleagues and anyone you’ve specifically done work for to give a brief recommendation

✔ Use the built-in LinkedIn recommendation feature to populate it directly to your profile

✔ The best and fastest way to get recommendations and endorsements is to give them out first

Note: Although some endorsements may come from people you don’t know — it offers you exposure in the news feed.

❑ Make Connections

There is a number of ways to build connections. Organically, directly and your current email lists. Accepting and requesting connections expands your network and professional exposure.

✔ Conduct a general search using keywords for people in the industry your looking to connect with — but also utilize the advanced search

✔ Learn Boolean search capabilities (AND, OR, NOT or AND NOT)

✔ Type a personal thank you for connecting. It only takes seconds. It will go a long way to being remembered

Note: Flip over to another social platform and connect with new connections there as well. It takes time — but a great strategy to be remembered.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

About the Author

Based in the Washington, DC area Carla Deter began her career in corporate communications and marketing. She later moved to HR/job placement services within a firm in Fairfax, VA. where she worked closely with candidates who were seeking to move up the career ladder, transition their careers to other industries or wanted to enhance their overall professional branding. She has written thousands of resumes and LinkedIn profiles for top-level executives and has spent countless hours studying LinkedIn and LSEO (LinkedIn Search Engine Optimization). She is often requested for a professional study and review by authors/industry experts of Amazon’s #1 Best Seller books on the topic of LinkedIn Profile Optimization. She holds a Mass Communication, Marketing/Public Relations/Promotions bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University and is currently working on the completion of a Digital Marketing and New Technologies degree from the University of Phoenix. 

Carla recently received a Nationally Certified Online (LinkedIn) Profile Expert (NCOPE) credential (April 2019) as well as in March of 2019 was chosen by The National Resume Writers Association as an “Ask The Experts” contributor to the nationally known association for her input on key resume development issues and challenges.