Market Yourself with a Solid LinkedIn Profile
Use LinkedIn as a Billboard to Market Your Brand
LinkedIn is a powerful professional networking platform where you might find lasting connections, a new career path, tips and tools to improve your work, or the resources that change your life for the better. Professionals from all over the world are meeting each other on LinkedIn every day, and anyone who plans to enter the workforce in the next five years should be part of that.
Whether you’re in college or already a young professional, your LinkedIn profile is an invaluable tool for creating your personal brand. I’ve written before about thinking of yourself as the CEO of You, Inc. Every successful CEO knows that marketing is key to creating the company’s brand. Think of LinkedIn as the place where you can market yourself as the perfect candidate for the career you want. In order for any brand’s marketing to be successful, a plan is required. Don’t just set up your LinkedIn profile on a whim and hit publish. Careful planning allows you to project exactly the professional you want your future contacts and employers to meet.
Spring for a Professional Photo
Keep the selfies and filter magic on all the other fun platforms. On LinkedIn, professionalism is paramount. Book a headshot appointment with a professional photographer and follow their recommendations for your outfit, hairstyle, and presentation. If you can’t afford a photographer on your own, this is a great Christmas, birthday, or graduation gift request. Another option is to see if any local photographers are willing to offer a discounted rate if you can arrange for a group of friends to all get headshots on the same day.
If you absolutely can’t obtain a professional picture, have a friend or family member help you stage a great headshot. Dress professionally, sit in front of a solid background, and make sure your light source is behind the camera. When posing for your picture, sit up straight and smile with confidence. Imagine something you’re very proud of while you pose, and allow that smile to shine through. Your goal is to look confident and approachable to potential contacts, so draw them in with the headshot that begins to tell your story.
Make the Headline Count
While many people use their LinkedIn Headline to state their job title and company, this isn’t a requirement. In fact, a great way to brand yourself is to create a headline that defines you, not one that says what you do.
Get creative for this part. Here are some brainstorming starters for creating your headline:
What are your top three strengths?
What do you want people to remember about you?
What adjective have you heard people use to describe you?
What is it that you see yourself doing for the greater good in your dream career?
Once you’ve done some creative soul searching, make various combinations of adjectives and descriptive nouns. Mix them up, play around with your thesaurus, and send a few favorites to someone you trust to get feedback. When you land on the headline that feels right, go ahead and plug it into your profile. Keep the prep work, though! You may want to change it up in a few months, and having those notes will help.
The About Section is a Story, Not a List of Facts
The About section of your LinkedIn Profile is where you really get to show everyone who you are. If you’ve ever submitted a cover letter and résumé to apply for a position, think of the About section like the cover letter. While your résumé is a summary of your experience and education, the cover letter gives you the freedom to highlight specific attributes and accomplishments.
Go back to the brainstorming notes you made while creating your headline, and start building a narrative based on your ideas. Your About section can talk about your professional values, strengths, passions, contributions, and goals. When you think about writing this story, imagine the person you want reading it. What does that person do, what will this tell them about you, and what will they do with the information? Let these goals guide your writing, and what you produce will make an impact. With a well-written About summary, you’ll attract the right contacts and cultivate a great professional network.
As always, proofreading is vital to creating your Profile. Ask a trusted friend or colleague to review your draft before you publish it to LinkedIn. If you’re still in college, your writing lab or career center might even be a great resource. It’s a good idea to get a few opinions about your summary to make sure you’re conveying what you want readers to perceive.
Once your profile is the best reflection of your professional image, it’s time to go live with your marketing billboard for You, Inc.! You’re now in a great position to market yourself to potential contacts and employers with confidence and professionalism. Keep an eye out for a blog later this year about how to fully leverage LinkedIn for professional success. If you need help creating the LinkedIn profile that shows you at your best, contact me for a complimentary strategy session and learn more about having a partner during your career search.