5 Ways to Upgrade Your LinkedIn

In today’s world of networking and connecting, branding yourself has never been more important. LinkedIn is exactly that - creating a profile to professionally show yourself to the world.

Creating your LinkedIn profile doesn’t have to be hard or even a timely process. Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT (BBB) has come up with five easy steps to take your LinkedIn to the next level and use it to your full advantage:

Customize your URL

Which is more appealing: /emma-389a376x70o or /emmakandrac? Your LinkedIn URL is the direct link to your profile. Whether you want to include your LinkedIn URL on your resume, business card, or just want to send it over to a colleague, having the option to change how your URL looks is actually possible on LinkedIn. For the most professional URL, try something along the lines of: linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname. If you have a common name and your first and last name isn’t available, try adding your middle name or initial or switch up the order: linkedin.com/in/lastnamemiddleinitialfirstname.

In order to customize your URL, you’ll need to:

1. Go to your LinkedIn profile
2. Click “Edit your public profile” on the right side of your profile to take your to your Public Profile Page
3. Click the settings button that looks like a pencil next to your LinkedIn URL on the right side of the page under “Edit public Profile URL”
4. Customize to your liking

Easy as that!

Use a professional photo

Remember the expression, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”? Unfortunately for many LinkedIn users along with other social networking sites, the people who view your profile will be judging you based on the photo you have chosen. You should always have a photo for your LinkedIn profile. Having a blank photo can come off as lazy or unfinished and leaves the viewer uncertain if you are actually the person he or she is looking for.

Many users tend to use a picture of themselves they found off of Facebook or another social media site, but those pictures don’t tend to be the best choice for the LinkedIn audience. Your LinkedIn photo needs to be a professional headshot - that means no selfies and no photos taken from your webcam at your computer. After all, LinkedIn isn’t just any other form of social networking - it is specifically for professional networking, meaning your audience is business-oriented. Don’t have a professional photo on hand? Dress nicely as if your were getting ready to go to work and have someone take a picture of you in front of a plain backdrop (this could be as simple as a wall).

Edit your headline

According to LinkedIn, your headline is one of the first things connections and recruiters will look at when they visit your profile. Here’s why: it is there to sum up the current state of your career - what your latest job is or was, where you work, and what you do.

You want people to know who you are and what you do - so be as descriptive as possible while still keeping it short. For example, instead of just writing ‘Copywriter’ under a description, you could write ‘Communications & Marketing Copywriter for Better Business Bureau’.

Give samples

It’s important to add examples and details to your work experiences. Instead of merely stating the titles, companies, and timeframes of your past work experiences, give a detailed description of what your responsibilities and accomplishments were - just like you would on a resume.

LinkedIn also provides a way to add examples to your work experiences that resumes can’t. Use anything that is accessible online to your advantage. Add your company’s website and social pages to your work experiences. If you participated in a specific page or aspect of the company that is available online, you should definitely be adding a link to that as well. Adding these links gives your viewers a better idea of what you do, who you work for, and how you specifically impact the company you are working for.

Connections are key

Last but not least - LinkedIn was created for connecting. Make the most out of your LinkedIn experience by following people who inspire you, connecting with your friends, family, and team members, and joining groups.

LinkedIn groups is a way to gain access to different communities, engage in conversations, and receive the latest ideas and news. Join groups that interest you and that will provide value to your work. LinkedIn groups are there to connect with users that have the same interests, occupations, and questions as you do, so use these groups as a way to learn, exchange ideas, and network.

For more information you can trust, visit us at bbb.org/boston, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Source: www.linkedin.com/learning