5 Easy Steps to Boost Your LinkedIn And Get Noticed

Alainta Alcin stated that I should do a “How to Improve Your Linkedin” article.

For one, she is not the boss of me so “NOPE”. I didn’t want to at first. Once I began clicking around on my profile, it became clear that I had tons of gaps. My first job at McDonald’s was on there for no reason at all. Just taking up space. There were grammatical errors and job description Copy + Paste moments. Who was I fooling? It looked like a sophomoric mess.

Table of Contents

How to Improve Your Linkedin

Make the changes, hopefully it makes more “cents” for you in the end.

See you are not alone in this endeavor. I’ve seen many profiles that appear to be incomplete, carbon copies of Facebook (FB) or Instagram, or worst the most egregious offense — the graduation picture from four years ago. LinkedIn can be an effective networking tool if we let it or it could be a cluttered auxiliary mess on top of other social media messes. Tweak it and add it to a Linktr.ee account, you are going places.

From restructuring your current resume to having a short biography ready to roll, these small improvements can have a big impact on the larger narrative of your life. It won’t take that much. You are worth the effort.

Here are the five easy steps to amp up your Linkedin:

1. You Need A Full Revamp, Rebrand, and Update For Your Profile Settings

No worries you aren’t starting from scratch so this should be moderately easy.

If you want the opportunity for people to find you, make sure your profile is set to public. I know there are threats out there and maybe you don’t want your boss to know that you have a cool unrelated side hustle, but you stand to gain from going public. Here are 10 tips for developing a strong personal brand which include embracing your authenticity, focusing on what you do best, and remaining consistent across all mediums.

Now let’s start by checking your account settings by clicking on your profile picture and selecting Settings & Privacy under the Privacy tab.

Edit to make your profile visible

You will start popping up on searches and recruiters will hit you up every once in a while. Since we are here, under the Account tab, update your current location. It’s pointless to be seen in the wrong area. I was still marked as living in Florida whereas I’ve been in the DMV area for almost 6 years. Update the contact information. Making sure that your email, phone number (if you feel comfortable), and other relevant websites are on your profile. I’d even consider changing passwords and adding two-step verification.

One can never be too careful nowadays. Russia is everywhere!!! Back to your profile page.

Add a background picture

It gives it a more professional finish. It shows that you care. This is where your MySpace game elevates to new heights. Highlight your brand. I went with a tax form.

You can always go to google for free background pictures that support your brand. I love the pics that have you talking to a group or WeWork millennial backdrops.

Finally, update the profile pic.

Profiles with headshots are 10 times more likely to be viewed and taken seriously by headhunters. Your headshot should be clear, and professional, and only include you. And please don’t try to crop people out, we all notice it. If you don’t have headshots consider this an investment in yourself. Pay the money and be done with it. Cellphone pictures won’t cut it. Keep your eyes peeled at professional conferences, someone is always looking for headshots. I’m headed to #FinCon this year and they said they are doing headshots, I’m headed to the gym today.

2. Create a Custom URL, Stop with the Generic Unusable Nonsense

A custom URL makes it so much easier to send people to your profile. It’s better than 1234685H897416, now it’s your name instead. It’s a quick, easy way to differentiate yourself from all of the other LinkedIn users out there. If you have a common name run don’t walk to get dibs on the first Linkedin.com/Michael.Jordan.

Seriously, you may as well add “waking up in the morning” and “watching NETFLIX” as your top skills while you’re at it. Don’t get lazy with me. Use the trash box and cut all unnecessary classifications. And don’t be the friend who endorses Microsoft Word unless they invented Microsoft word.

You want your skills section to include keywords that make you more searchable and reinforce your brand. Skills that are key or buzzwords in your industry matter, stick to the script. Learn the lingo. Also, don’t forget that you can Reorder the list so your most important skills are on top where they should be.

While you are here, delete excessive verbiage. Scan around and start cutting it. Leave room for questions and mysticism. This isn’t an interrogation. Leave something for the imagination. Read 10 Examples of Highly Impactful LinkedIn Profiles by Derek Emond, March 2015.

4. Improve Your Headline with an Extra Punch

This is your opportunity to give your 1-minute elevator pitch.

Wow us.

This is your valuable real estate. Most list their current title or position, and go further by adding something unique.

For example, “Manager at Walmart” becomes “Retail Store Manager with Over 25+ of experience” and “Administrative Secretary” becomes “Revenue Finance Professional – 2 Years of Experience Providing Administrative Support.” This play on words got me promoted from $21k to $64k in about a year and a half. Read Add Punch to Your LinkedIn Profile Using These Examples as Inspiration.

Words Matter.

5. Request Key and Unique Recommendations

Personal testimonials show that you didn’t pay people to like you (hopefully). Ask your current or past colleagues, supervisors, and friends for recommendations. Only go to the ones that would put in the effort. The goal is to have a minimum of one recommendation for every role you list.

Recommendations are demonstrated proof of your abilities. Especially since we tend to downgrade what we do, this is a great space to remind ourselves of the times when we stepped up. Besides you can screen recommendations before they are ever visible so pick and choose wisely. Compiling these key recommendations, skills, and endorsements on LinkedIn is an effective way to build your personal expertise. Read Your 5-Minute Guide to Writing an Amazing LinkedIn Recommendation by Adrian Larrsen.

Boosting your Linkedin for a high-value professional outlook. Here are 5 easy ways to do so as soon as possible.

Bonus Tips: Alainta said, “try connecting to companies or people within the sector you are interested in, not only FB friends or people that you already know”. Also “make your presence known”. Don’t be the person that creates an account and ghosts for several years not checking or updating.

Recommendation:

Check out Want to become a LinkedIn Top Voice? by Brittani Hunter, MBA and founder of The Mogul Millennial, the #1 digital media platform for Black millennial professionals. She was selected out of 500+ million Linkedin users for a reason and she is sharing all the tea.