LinkedIn stands as the world’s premier professional networking platform. With over 900 million registered members, LinkedIn connects millions of individuals and businesses across the globe.
It’s more than a job board. It’s a space where you can build relationships with like-minded individuals in your industry and help you discover countless opportunities.
Whether you’re an individual seeking career advancement or a company aiming to broaden your horizon, mastering LinkedIn is crucial for growth. A well-crafted profile showcases your skills and expertise, making you discoverable to recruiters and potential clients.
Engaging with content and building a strong network can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and even new career paths.
We’ll dive into the strategies and tactics that will empower you to create an outstanding LinkedIn profile and use it to its full potential. From writing a compelling headline to building a robust network, you’ll learn how to harness LinkedIn’s features to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Get ready to transform your LinkedIn presence from a mere digital resume into a powerful tool for success.
Setting up your LinkedIn account
Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started on LinkedIn:
1. Creating a LinkedIn account
If you don’t have an account, head to LinkedIn’s sign up page.
Enter your phone number or valid email address and create a secure password, then click “agree and join.” Alternatively, you can also sign-up using your Google account.
Enter your real first and last name and then your location and recent job title.
Confirm your email using the code LinkedIn will send you.
Indicate if you’re looking for a new job.
Select up to 5 job titles and locations for the type of jobs you’re looking for.
Decide whether you want recruiters to know you’re open to new jobs.
You’re essentially done! After the last step, LinkedIn will recommend downloading the up and connecting or following certain people. These are totally optional.
2. Choosing the Best LinkedIn Headlines
A great LinkedIn headline goes beyond a simple job title. It’s a concise and compelling snapshot of your professional identity that conveys your expertise. It should be keyword-rich, making it easier for recruiters and potential connections to find you in searches.
A great headline also sparks curiosity and encourages viewers to click on your profile to learn more about you. This can be achieved by using action words, highlighting your accomplishments, or using buzzwords. Ultimately, it should leave a lasting impression and be an accurate representation of you and your experience.
3. Writing a Summary for LinkedIn
Your summary, on the other hand, is your chance to tell your story and share your career aspirations. Your LinkedIn summary is your opportunity to make a personal connection with potential employers and collaborators. Write your story in the first person, using phrases like “I am” or “My passion is” to create an engaging narrative. Break your summary into concise paragraphs for easy readability. Focus on summarizing your relevant experience, highlighting your most valuable skills, and articulating your career aspirations. Remember, this is your chance to showcase your experience and value and leave a lasting impression.
Here’s a hypothetical example of a good LinkedIn summary:
“Caffeine-powered biomedical engineer with a proven track record in developing user-friendly medical devices that don’t require a PhD to operate. I thrive on merging the worlds of biology and engineering to create innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes and make healthcare more accessible.
Experience Highlights:
Led a cross-functional team in designing and developing a novel implantable insulin pump for Type 1 Diabetes patients, resulting in a 30% reduction in hypoglycemic events and a 20% increase in patient satisfaction.
Spearheaded the optimization of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine user interface, resulting in a 50% reduction in user errors and a 40% increase in patient adherence to therapy.
When I’m not in the lab, you can find me tinkering with 3D printers, geeking out over the latest sci-fi novel, or exploring the exciting possibilities of nanotechnology in drug delivery. Let’s connect and build a healthier future together!”
This summary hits all the right spots without being too long. It highlights the author’s current role, their passion, and their life outside of work. The added humor makes the summary more relatable and reveals more of the person behind the job.
Once you have your headline and summary down, make sure you do the following to optimize your LinkedIn profile:
Complete All Sections: Fill out all sections of your profile, including your education, experience, skills, and volunteer work.
Recommendations: Request recommendations from colleagues, clients, or supervisors to add credibility.
Skills Endorsements: Endorse the skills of your connections, and they’ll likely reciprocate.
Share Content: Post relevant articles, industry news, or insights to showcase your knowledge and engage with your network.
Enhancing your LinkedIn profile
Once you have the basics in place, it’s time to elevate your profile and make it stand out from the rest.
Using background images for LinkedIn
A LinkedIn banner, also known as a LinkedIn background photo, is the large horizontal image displayed at the top of your LinkedIn profile. It acts as a visual backdrop for your profile picture and headline, serving as a virtual billboard to showcase your personal brand or professional interests. It’s akin to Facebook’s cover photo.
Choose an image that aligns with your professional brand or industry. It could be a photo of you in action, a workplace scene, or a visual representation of your brand or company. There are many websites offering free, high-quality images perfect for LinkedIn backgrounds, such as Unsplash or Pexels. Just make sure your image is the correct size: 1584 x 396 pixels.
Designing a Canva LinkedIn banner
If you’re design-savvy, create a custom background image using tools like Canva. Canva makes creating eye-catching LinkedIn banners easy with its user-friendly interface and vast selection of customizable templates. Choose a design that aligns with your brand, add your personal touch, and consider including a call to action.
Canva
Changing your LinkedIn email address
If you’ve recently changed your email, updating your LinkedIn email address is a simple process.
Go to “Me.”
Select “Settings & Privacy.”
Click on “Sign in & Security.”
Click your current email.
Then click “Add email address.”
Verify using the code LinkedIn will send to your current email.
Add your new email address.
LinkedIn photos
Your LinkedIn photo is often the first thing people notice. It sets the tone for how others perceive you professionally. When it comes to choosing a profile picture on LinkedIn, you should select photos that are recent, clear and well-lit, and should exude a sense of professionalism and authority in your industry. And don’t forget to smile warmly and make eye contact with the camera.
For your LinkedIn profile picture, keep the background simple and avoid distractions. Crop your photo to focus on your head and shoulders, and use natural lighting for the best results. If you don’t have a professional headshot, consider blurring the background. If you’re representing your company, consider using a background with your company logo or colors.
Like your banner or background photo, you can use certain tools to optimize your LinkedIn profile pictures. These tools include Canva, Snapseed, Adobe Photoshop, or Lightroom. The recommended size is 400 x 400 pixels. Bonus Tip: Ask friends or colleagues for feedback on your photo before finalizing it.
LinkedIn Premium
LinkedIn Premium offers various tiers with a suite of features designed to enhance your job search, networking, and professional development.
Gain access to InMail credits for contacting individuals outside your network, uncover who’s viewed your profile in the past 90 days, and gain valuable insights into salary information and competitor data for job applications.
You’ll also enjoy unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning’s extensive library of online courses. While LinkedIn Premium doesn’t fully reveal anonymous profile viewers, it may provide partial information such as job title or company.
The cost of LinkedIn Premium varies depending on the chosen tier, starting at $29.99/month. If you want more details on LinkedIn Premium, head on over to our in-depth article.
LinkedIn posts and engagement
Like any social networking site, posts and engagement are key to boosting your LinkedIn presence. The strategies you use for other social media sites are also applicable to LinkedIn. First, come up with a content strategy.
Create valuable posts by sharing valuable news and insights about your industry, and don’t forget to incorporate visuals. Infographics, graphs, and short animations tend to do well on LinkedIn. Then, come up with a schedule.
While some research suggests a certain time for maximum engagement, tailor your schedule to your audience’s habits. Read our article on LinkedIn posts for more details on creating the best content for LinkedIn.
Engagement is also crucial to gain a foothold on LinkedIn. But let’s face it, it’s hard to get likes and shares when you’re just starting out. Luckily, there are platforms that allow you to buy LinkedIn likes to give your posts some traction.
LinkedIn Messaging
LinkedIn messaging is another powerful tool for networking. You can personalize your outreach, clearly state why you’re reaching out, and always offer value. Don’t hesitate to follow up if you don’t receive an immediate response.
For inspiration or reference, revisit saved posts by navigating to the “Items you saved” section under your profile icon.
LinkedIn for business
LinkedIn isn’t just for individual professionals. Businesses and companies can also use LinkedIn to connect with potential clients, partners, and employees.
Creating a LinkedIn business page
A LinkedIn Business Page is a free profile for your company. It’s where you can share updates, showcase your products or services, and engage with your target audience.
Log in to your personal LinkedIn account.
Navigate to the “For Business” icon at the top right corner of your homepage.
Select “Create a Company Page” from the dropdown menu.
Select the appropriate category for your business (Company, Showcase Page, or Educational Institution).
Fill in your company name, website URL, industry, company size, and type, and add a logo and a compelling tagline.
Fill in your company description, specialties, location, and other relevant details.
Examples of effective business profiles on LinkedIn
Here are two examples of effective business profiles from different industries:
Microsoft
Microsoft uses LinkedIn’s showcase pages to highlight their various products and services. Each showcase page has a distinct visual style for each product, while still maintaining that iconic Microsoft identity.
They regularly post articles on product announcements as well as tutorials. They also share updates on industry events and conferences.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy uses LinkedIn to expand the reach of their conservation efforts. They post weekly content that addresses pressing environmental issues and how businesses all over the globe can help contribute to their advocacy.
They use a blend of striking photos and informative videos to complement their articles.
Using LinkedIn AI for business growth
LinkedIn AI is revolutionizing the way businesses approach sales and growth. The platform’s AI-powered tools, particularly within LinkedIn Sales Navigator, offer invaluable insights and can streamline your prospecting efforts. LinkedIn Sales Navigator has added two new AI tools to make sales easier.
The first tool, Account IQ, quickly gives you a summary of potential clients. It gathers information from LinkedIn and other sources to show you the company’s goals, challenges, and financial situation. This helps you understand the company better and have more meaningful conversations with them.
The second tool, Relationship Map, helps you keep track of the people involved in a potential sale. It shows you who’s who at the company and their connections. It also highlights any important changes, like new hires or mentions in the news. This helps you build relationships with the right people and close deals faster.
LinkedIn Ads and advertising
LinkedIn also has ads that allow your brand to reach a professional audience, and possibly, the eyes and minds of influential individuals in your industry. LinkedIn has a built-in campaign manager to streamline ad creation, management and campaign analysis. Like other social media ads, you can tailor your LinkedIn Ads to reach specific demographics, job titles, industries, and interests. To ensure your ads make an impact, familiarize yourself with LinkedIn’s official guidelines.
Compared to ads in other social media platforms, LinkedIn ads generally command a higher price. However, the cost will ultimately depend on your chosen targeting criteria, ad format and bidding strategy. While LinkedIn ads are pricier, their ability to give you high-quality leads often justify the investment. Head on over to our article on LinkedIn Ads to learn the ins and outs of LinkedIn advertising.
Networking on LinkedIn
Networking is the heart of LinkedIn. The connections you make on the site can lead to career opportunities, partnerships, and valuable insights in your industry.
In LinkedIn there are two ways you can add a person to your network: Follow and Connect. Following allows you to see someone’s public updates in your feed without being directly connected.
Connecting, on the other hand, establishes a mutual connection. This allows you to view each other’s full profiles, send messages, and see each other’s connections.
Aside from optimizing your profile, here are other ways you can widen your network on LinkedIn
Connect Strategically: Don’t just connect with anyone. Focus on people in your industry, field of interest, or those who can offer valuable insights.
Personalize Connection Requests: When sending a connection request, always include a personalized note explaining why you want to connect.
Engage with Content: Like, comment, and share posts from your network to start conversations and build relationships.
Join Groups: Join LinkedIn groups related to your industry or interests to connect with like-minded professionals.
Attend Events: Participate in LinkedIn virtual events or webinars to expand your network and learn new things.
Offer Help: Be willing to help others in your network with advice, introductions, or resources.
Follow Up: Stay in touch with your connections by sending occasional messages, sharing relevant articles, or congratulating them on their achievements.
Buying LinkedIn Accounts: If you need a quick, extra boost, some platforms allow you to buy legitimate LinkedIn accounts.
Using LinkedIn InMail for communication
InMail is a LinkedIn Premium feature that allows you to send messages to people you’re not connected with. It’s a useful tool for reaching out to potential clients, recruiters, or industry leaders. However, use it wisely and craft personalized messages that offer value to the recipient.
Managing LinkedIn connections
Like other social media platforms, sometimes you need to tidy up your LinkedIn connections to maintain a professional network that aligns with your goals.
LinkedIn offers a “Network Manager” tool that lets you see and manage all your connections and followers in one place. You can clean up your network and feed by unfollowing, removing a connection, or by blocking an individual.
You can do this by going to the “My Network” tab at the top of your homepage.
Or you can go to the individuals page and follow these steps:
Unfollowing people on LinkedIn
Unfollowing someone means you’ll no longer see their posts in your feed. If you’re connected with the person, you’ll still remain connected on LinkedIn.
Go to their profile.
Click “More.”
Click “Following.
Click “Unfollow” in the pop-up window.
Removing a connection on LinkedIn
Removing a connection means you’ll no longer be connected to that person on LinkedIn, and they won’t see your posts and message you either.
Go to their profile
Click “More.”
Select “Remove connection.”
Blocking someone on LinkedIn
Blocking someone on LinkedIn prevents them from seeing your profile, sending you messages, or viewing your activity.
Go to their profile.
Click “More.”
Select Report/Block.
Choose Block.
Contacting LinkedIn support
If you encounter issues or have questions about your LinkedIn account, you can contact LinkedIn’s Customer Support:
Click on the “Me” icon at the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage.
Select “Help.”
Use the search bar to find relevant articles or help topics related to your issue.
If you can’t find a solution, click on “Contact us” at the bottom of the help page to submit a support request.
Deleting your LinkedIn account
If you decide to leave LinkedIn entirely, you can delete your account:
Click on the “Me” icon at the top right corner of your LinkedIn homepage. Then select “Settings & Privacy.”
Click on Account Preferences.
Scroll down and select “Close Account” under “Account Management.”
Select a reason for closing your account.
Enter your password to confirm your identity.
Click on the “Done” button to permanently delete your account.
Remember, deleting your account is irreversible. All your data, connections, and content will be permanently erased.
Tips and Tricks
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, these LinkedIn tips and tricks will help you optimize your profile, boost your visibility, and unlock the full potential of this powerful networking platform.
Best LinkedIn headlines for different industries
Here are some example LinkedIn headlines you can use for various industries:
Tech
Software Engineer at [Company Name] | Building Scalable Solutions for [Industry] | Python, Java, AWS
Data Scientist | Passionate about Turning Data into Actionable Insights | Machine Learning Enthusiast
Marketing
Digital Marketing Strategist | Helping Brands Grow Through SEO, PPC & Social Media
Content Marketing Manager at [Company Name]| Crafting Compelling Stories that Drive Engagement | SEO & Storytelling Expert
Finance
Financial Analyst | Delivering Strategic Financial Insights & Driving Business Growth | CFA Charterholder
Investment Banker | Advising on M&A, Capital Raising & Restructuring Transactions | Passionate about Finance
Healthcare
Registered Nurse | Compassionate Caregiver | Dedicated to Improving Health Outcomes
Physician Assistant | Providing Comprehensive Medical Care | Focused on Patient Education & Empowerment
Creative
Graphic Designer at [Company Name]| Transforming Ideas into Visual Masterpieces | Brand Identity & UI/UX Design Specialist
Copywriter | Crafting Words that Captivate & Convert | SEO-Optimized Content Creator
Example summaries for LinkedIn profiles
Here are great examples of LinkedIn summaries you can take inspiration from:
Karen Abbate
Gijo Mathew
Damilare Odueso
Apps to increase your productivity on LinkedIn
Boost your LinkedIn efficiency with these helpful apps:
LinkedIn Sales Navigator: For sales professionals, this app helps you find leads, build relationships, and close deals.
LinkedIn Recruiter: For recruiters, this app streamlines the hiring process with powerful search and candidate management tools.
LinkedIn Learning: Access thousands of online courses to enhance your skills and knowledge.
Crystal: This app analyzes LinkedIn profiles to provide personality insights, helping you tailor your communication for better results.
Using AI on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is not spared from the rise of Artificial intelligence (AI). AI-powered tools are now available to optimize your profile, making it stand out to potential employers or clients. These tools can analyze your existing profile and suggest improvements to your headline, summary, and experience sections. And like in other social media platforms, AI can help you create more content. By analyzing your network and industry trends, certain AI tools can suggest relevant topics and even draft posts for you.
Beyond content creation, AI can also help you schedule your posts, ensuring your message reaches the widest possible audience. AI-driven analytics provide valuable insights into your LinkedIn performance, tracking metrics like post views, likes, and comments. This data can help you understand what type of content works so you can refine your strategy accordingly. Furthermore, AI can streamline your networking efforts by identifying potential connections based on your interests and goals, as well as suggesting personalized messages to initiate conversations.
While AI can be a valuable asset, it’s important not to rely on it too heavily. LinkedIn is a platform for building authentic connections, and your personal touch is essential. Use AI as a tool to enhance your efforts, not replace them.
Final thoughts
Your LinkedIn profile is more than just a digital resume; it’s your professional persona in the online world. A well-crafted profile can open doors to new opportunities, connect you with industry leaders, and propel your career or business forward.
By taking the time to optimize your LinkedIn profile, you’re positioning yourself for success. Regularly update your profile with fresh content, engage with your network, and actively participate in relevant groups and discussions.
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for career and business growth. Whether you’re seeking new job opportunities, expanding your professional network, or establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry, LinkedIn can be a game-changer. Embrace the platform’s potential, invest in your profile, and unlock the endless possibilities that await you. Your future success might just be a connection away.
FAQs
Can people see who viewed their LinkedIn?
LinkedIn offers a feature that allows you to see who viewed your profile in the last 90 days. However, if you view profiles anonymously, your views won’t be visible to others.
How to add a certification on LinkedIn?
Go to your profile.
Click “Add section.”
Select “Background” and then “Licenses & certifications.”
Fill in the required information and click “Save.”
How to deactivate a LinkedIn account?
Go to your “Settings & Privacy.”
Click “Account Preferences.”
Go to “Account Management.”
Select “Close Account.”
Follow the prompts to close or deactivate your LinkedIn account.
How much is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium offers various tiers with different prices. Basic Premium starts at $29.99 per month, but there are also higher-tiered plans with additional features.
How to add a promotion on LinkedIn?
Go to your profile.
Scroll down to your job experience section.
Click the pencil icon and select “add position.”
Fill in the details of your new role and click “Save.”
How do I find my LinkedIn URL?
Click on the “Me.”
Select “View profile.”
Your LinkedIn URL will be displayed in the right side-bar.
How to add a resume to LinkedIn?
Go to your profile.
Click “Add profile section.”
Select “Featured” and then “Media.”
Upload your resume file.
Can LinkedIn Premium see anonymous views?
LinkedIn Premium doesn’t reveal the names of anonymous viewers, but it may provide partial information like job title or company.
How to create a company page on LinkedIn?
Click the “For Business” icon on your homepage.
Select “Create a Company Page.”
Follow the prompts to fill in your company information.
How much is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning offers a monthly subscription starting at $19.99, with a free trial available for new users.