In the previews blog, Digital Selling: How to Use Personal Branding & LinkedIn to Drive Sales, I shared a questionnaire with key questions that will help you in the process of developing your personal brand. Responding to these questions will help you in the process of optimizing your LinkedIn profile so it stands out on a platform with over 1 billion users worldwide, all competing for attention. Being noticed on LinkedIn, especially when targeting high-level professionals like CTOs, CEOs, and VPs, requires a strategic mix of valuable content, engagement, and branding.
Here are 10 tips on how you can optimize your LinkedIn profile to be seen and found on the platform.
1. Write a catchy, clear and concise headline
Many people keep their LinkedIn headline simple, listing only their job title or company. But your headline is so much more than that—it’s your personal ad, the first impression people get when they visit your profile. Think of it as your mission statement. It should capture who you are, what you do and why people should want to connect with you, all summed up in a powerful, attention-grabbing line of up to 220 characters.
Below is a prompt I’ve created to help you brainstorm LinkedIn headline ideas with your favorite AI chatbot. Just replace the text in brackets with your own.
LinkedIn headline AI Chatbot Prompt
Write a catchy LinkedIn headline of a maximum of 220 characters for a [job area] professional who is currently [Job title] at [Company name], a company that offers [briefly explain its offer]. She/He is a [very focused and hard-working professional]. Her/his key areas of expertise include [add the top 5 areas of expertise]. Her/his key goal through LinkedIn is to [add goal 1] and to [add goal 2] who are mainly [job titles of your target audience] in the [add industry/sector] industry.
2. Use a professional LinkedIn profile picture
Everything communicates, and this is especially true when it comes to your LinkedIn profile picture. Having a professional, high-quality photo impacts the way people perceive you. It also builds trust, allowing others to see the human face behind the story they are reading. A good photo helps establish credibility with potential customers, partners, and experts in your field.
Here are some tips to get your best shot:
- Wear professional attire that reflects your industry norms. For telecom and cybersecurity, a business-casual or formal look is usually appropriate. Ensure your clothing is clean, well-fitted, and free of distracting patterns.
- Use a plain or slightly blurred background to keep the focus on you. A light or neutral color works best. Take your photo in natural light or with a soft, well-distributed artificial light.
- Maintain good posture and look directly at the camera and ensure your expression is confident, approachable, and natural.
- Use a high quality image and avoid overediting
- The ideal size for LinkedIn is 400 x 400 pixels.
- Finally, make sure your photo reflects your current appearance to maintain authenticity.
3. Add a customized banner
A customized banner allows you to visually communicate your expertise and personality. It’s an opportunity to reinforce your professional brand, showcase your industry, or highlight key aspects of your work, making your profile stand out.
4. Record and display your name pronunciation
For those of us with an uncommon name, now we can make it easy for others to pronounce it correctly by recording a 10 seconds audio clip of your name on LinkedIn. It’s a simple way to ensure people get it right.
Steps to record and display your name pronunciation:
- Tap your profile photo, then View Profile.
- Tap the Edit icon from your introduction section.
- Tap Record name pronunciation. …
- Tap the recording button and hold to record your name. …
- Tap the Use button when you’re satisfied with your recording. …
- Tap Save.
Note that you can only record/edit your name pronunciation on the LinkedIn iOS/Android mobile app, not the desktop site.
5. Turn Your About Section Into Your Story
Your LinkedIn summary is essential—don’t leave it blank! It’s your opportunity to tell your story, not just list skills or job titles. Show why your skills matter and how they make a difference for those you work with. Take the time to write a compelling summary, draft and revise it, and get feedback from others. This is your most personal piece of content marketing, so make it count!
Here’s a prompt I’ve created to help you brainstorm ideas with your favorite AI chatbot. Simply replace the text in brackets with your own.
LinkedIn About AI Chatbot Prompt
Please write a LinkedIn 'About' section summary for a [add your job title] in [add industry/sector] industry. The summary should: Discuss my current role and the innovative solutions my company provides such as [add]. Highlight key skills, such as [add your top 5 skills]. Include measurable achievements such as: [e.g., revenue growth percentages, successful projects, or other key metrics]. Demonstrate the unique value I bring to customers, such as [add the most relevant ones]. Provide a glimpse into my personality and passions, such as [e.g., my dedication to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership in technical teams]. Be optimized with [sector] industry-relevant keywords to boost visibility. End with a call to action encouraging [add job titles of target audience] to connect with me for discussions on [e.g., telecom innovation and future trends]. Ensure the summary fits within LinkedIn's 2600-character limit. The tone should be professional yet approachable, targeting [job titles]. Make it engaging, impactful, and inspiring.
6. Add Your Top Skills
Highlight up to 5 skills you want to be recognized for -They’ll also appear in your Skills section. This isn’t the “Skills” section at the bottom of your profile—it’s the “Top Skills” box, which remains hidden until you activate it.
To add it:
- Go to your “About” section and click Edit.
- Look for the Add Top Skills option at the bottom.
- Select your top five skills from the available list.
While not all skills are included, many relevant options are, so choose those that best represent your expertise.
The skills you select will be displayed in a box as shown below:
7. Generate Trust By Verifying Your Workplace
Last year, the GSMA informed that a recommendation had been implemented by LinkedIn. This recommendation addresses the threat of fake LinkedIn profiles by enabling users to prove they work for the company they claim by verifying their employment through a corporate email address
As a result, LinkedIn now offers users the option to obtain a workplace verification badge. This optional feature helps build trust, especially when messaging or connecting with new people. It’s particularly valuable for professionals in recruitment and sales roles.
Verifying your workplace is simple. Use your company email address to receive a code, confirm your workplace, and display your verification badge.
Important: Verifying your workplace via your work email address does NOT affect your primary personal email address. LinkedIn uses your work email strictly for verification purposes, and it will not be linked to your personal account. You can add or remove your verification badge at any time.
Steps to verify your work email on Desktop, iOS, or Android:
- Click Resources or the
- Resources icon on your LinkedIn profile, and then click Verify now.
- Click Verify your workplace to start the verification process.
- Enter your work email for your current company and click Send code.
- Access your verification code in your work email account. If you do not receive a code, click Resend code.
- Enter the code and click Confirm. The code will expire 15 minutes after receipt. Your work email is now verified.
- Toggle the switch to Off or On next to Save your work email to autofill for future lead forms. By default this toggle is switched to Off.
8. Customize your LinkedIn URL
Many people are unaware that you can customize your LinkedIn URL, but it’s a simple and powerful way to enhance your profile’s visibility and personal brand. By including your name and a focus keyword in your custom URL, you make it easier for others to find you on LinkedIn and even through Google searches.
For example, if you’re in sales, you might use a URL like: linkedin.com/in/name-lastname-cybersecurity-software-sales .
Note:
- The maximum URL length is 100 characters
- You cannot use spaces, symbols, or special characters.
- The customizable part of your LinkedIn profile URL is NOT case-sensitive
- You can change your URL up to 5 times in a maximum of 6 months
Take a few minutes to update your URL and give your LinkedIn profile a small but impactful boost!
9. Review, connect, engage
Building strong connections with prospects and customers is key to achieving your goals. Start by reviewing your LinkedIn connections—are there recent contacts or clients you haven’t added yet? If so, send them a follow-up message and connect. Look for colleagues, partners, or industry professionals you’ve worked with but aren’t yet in your network, and add them too.
Take the time to evaluate the groups you’ve joined. Are they active, relevant, and filled with experts and prospects in your industry? Engage in discussions, share insights, and contribute value. If some groups no longer align with your goals, consider leaving them and exploring new, industry-relevant ones. Being part of and actively participating in the right groups, helps you connect with prospects, exchange expertise, and discover new opportunities.
10. Create Content. Share Your Expertise
While a well-structured profile is important, the content you share is what truly amplifies your online presence and engages your network. Roles like product managers, CEOs, sales professionals, pre-sales experts, strategic marketers, and other leaders can all benefit from creating content on LinkedIn. By consistently posting content aligned with your expertise and professional values, you create opportunities to connect with your audience and grow your influence.
If you’re unsure what to post on LinkedIn, focus on content that showcases your expertise and adds value to your network. For example, if you’re a sales or product manager, you could share updates on new products, industry trends, customer success stories, or insights on solving common challenges. Sharing tips, lessons learned, or thought leadership on relevant topics can also engage your audience and position you as an authority in your field.
Elevate your personal brand on LinkedIn
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is not just about looking good online; it’s about unlocking opportunities, building connections, and showcasing the unique value you bring to the table. By following the steps outlined, you can create a profile that reflects your skills, achievements, and aspirations, making it easier for colleagues, prospects and industry peers to find and engage with you.
Don’t hesitate to use your favorite AI chatbot to brainstorm ideas—it’s a powerful tool to spark creativity. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to share your voice and insights. What might seem basic or routine to you could be exactly the inspiration or knowledge someone else needs. So, don’t be shy. Share your insights, be yourself, and let your expertise shine!
If you’re ready to elevate your personal brand and leverage LinkedIn for digital selling, reach out—I’d love to help!