LinkedIn is for everyone– even the fourth richest person in the world. Bill Gates authored five of the ten most compelling LinkedIn articles in November 2020. Bill Gates is an active LinkedIn user who shares essential information by answering questions that have been asked for centuries.
Did he use his computer to optimize his LinkedIn account for engagement, followers, and opportunities one day? This was a job that his marketing team did.
What about business owners, full-time marketing professionals, freelancers, and CMOs without a marketing department to rely on for a stellar LinkedIn profile?
We want to help you improve your LinkedIn profile immediately instead of fumbling around with the edit buttons in each section like a fish on land.
These tips are from a former DigitalMarketer head of partnerships and member of the LinkedIn Advisory Board! Marcus Murphy. These are not just random tips we have collected on the web and compiled for SEO.
Here are some tips from the source that will help you improve your LinkedIn profile and get more followers, engagement, and opportunities.
What else are you doing?
Stop using terrible profile photos
It seems that the professional headshot battle is genuine. LinkedIn has questionable headshots, such as those with red Solo cups, photos that look like they were uploaded to Tinder or people who forgot to wear a shirt.
There is no excuse in 2021 for having a bad profile picture. With a smartphone and a tripod that you have made yourself (it’s time to get those books off your shelf), you can take high-quality photos.
Your face should take 60% of the frame. The rest should be a simple backdrop that puts the focus on you.
Select the correct expression. This is not a moment for blue steel. It’s a moment for a friendly, happy smile that makes others feel approachable.
It’s time to swap your profile picture if it is older than five years.
Delete ‘Ninja’ From Your Headline
If you are not Ninja, the multimillionaire video gamer, it is time to press the backspace button five times.
You need to make the most of your headline’s 120 characters. You’re losing the audience when you refer to yourself as a Ninja. Clarity is always more important than cleverness.
This headline is an example that favors clarity over cleverness and provides value to the viewer.
Getting your headline right is difficult, even if you are a professional marketer. Here are some tips on how to write a headline that will get you noticed:
Write a headline with a benefit to the viewer
Keywords that others may use to find your services to separate phrases
Your title (Marketing Director, Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Marketing, etc.) will be tempting, but resist the temptation. Resist the temptation to put your title in your headline. In the Experience section, you have ample room to discuss your title.
Tell people it’s your birthday
We won’t send you a group to sing Happy Birthday to you while you awkwardly grin and wonder what you should do with your hand. This personalization works like your LinkedIn contact form. This is where people go to find you.
Website
Birthdays
We know that you are unsure about adding your birthday. Do these social platforms already have enough information about you? The data is in books …)
You’ll appear in everyone’s feeds when it’s your birthday. It means that everyone you have connected with before will receive an automated reminder of your marketing status. This boost in engagement is so beneficial, whether you’re looking to grow your brand or find opportunities. It’s almost better than eating a gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free cake.
Create a Narrative summary
Your summary is limited to 2,000 words, more than this article. You can fit a lot into your summary of work experience.
Where to begin?
Tell people what your mission statement is as soon as possible.
Consider this headline as your sales page. To get people to read further, you must be clear about what’s coming up. You’ll get your ideal LinkedIn connection to read on, while someone who does not need your services is likely to click away.
After you have written about your mission, add a personal touch to increase your likeability. LinkedIn follows the same formula. Marketing is all about knowing, liking, and trusting your audience. Make it relatable so your audience will think, “Wow, that’s me.”
Be authentic and on-brand.
Share your interests to increase likability.
Narrative
Call to Action
Add compelling media to your website (pictures, videos, and websites)
Don’t Be Shy about Your Greatness
LinkedIn’s social proof is its Experience section. The Experience section is where you can scroll down to see your accomplishments, what you have personally done, and your expertise.
Using bullet points to summarize your experience in this section is tempting. This is not what you are looking for. Keep the narrative format (from your Summary section to your Experience section). You want people to read this and not feel like they’ve stumbled across a resume.