Browsing through the “People You May Know” section on my LinkedIn page the other day, I was really taken aback at how many of the profiles were under-optimised and really poorly written. Some of these people are company CEO’s (true story).
As most of us are aware, our LinkedIn profile is the face we show to a world of potential clients. The last thing any of us want is for it not to be totally professional – as well as high-impact and engaging, of course!
So – what are some of the ways you can optimise your LinkedIn profile and get it working harder for you??
As opposed to your resume, your LinkedIn Summary is a place where you can let loose and be more creative with your writing (yay!)
Don’t be afraid to get a little personal. Describe your passions- the quirkier, the better. I find it intriguing when I read a profile featuring someone’s passion for rock-climbing or sci-fi novels; this type of “sharing” really helps to humanise the person and maintains reader interest.
I loved reading the riveting summary of digital executive Mark Lazen:
This is a Summary written in a brutally honest, yet funny and highly creative fashion.
I want to call this guy, even though we work in entirely different industries – he sounds fascinating!
You can have the most impressive Summary, be an active poster of blogs and news and an energetic contributor to Group discussions. However, a profile riddled with spelling errors and poor English expression is a major turn-off for those viewing your profile, and they won’t hang around long enough to be impressed by the amazing professional you are.
A few examples:
Contacts and potential employers will be totally turned off by these unfortunate errors (the third one in particular – eye-wateringly funny, yes. Is this person a serious candidate for my company’s next position? No.)
The quality of your profile reflects directly on you as a professional – can you afford not to look your very best on LinkedIn?