Your LinkedIn profile is actually a website that you build within the LinkedIn platform, and just like any other website on the web, Google, Bing, and Yahoo index it.
If you search on Google or one of the other search engines for a person's name and their business, or a person's name and their location, likely some of the first results you will get will be linked to the LinkedIn platform.
Given that your LinkedIn page is likely to show up in searches — after all, Google knows that LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform in the world — your profile needs to be built in such a way that it is complete, filled with useful and helpful information, and is inviting for people to engage and pay attention to you. The good news is that you have a lot of control over what goes into this representation of you.
What Makes a Good LinkedIn Profile Page?
Profile Image and Headline
These two pieces of information will follow you around LinkedIn and show up in newsfeeds and comment threads. LinkedIn requires that your profile image is an updated headshot of you. You don't want to put a logo or your high school yearbook photo here. But do want it to be an accurate representation and maybe show your personality.
Your headline is another great place to reflect your personality. While this can simply be your position or job title, you can also use that space to do something a little more creative to market yourself and make your profile a little more interesting. Here’s an explanation of my headline:
Cover Image
This is simply a space on your profile that allows you to decorate it or enhance it with information so connections can get a little more information about who you are and what your brand is all about — both as an individual and your company. The recommended size of the cover image is 1,584 pixels wide by 396 pixels high, but the image doesn't have to be exactly that size (just be aware that that's how much of the image is going to get cropped out), and it’s better to have a larger image that can get scaled down.
Pro tip: You can use a free platform called Canva to design or create a cover photo that’s the recommended size.
Name
This seems simple to fill out, but I've seen people use pseudonyms or nicknames. I would recommend using your actual name or the name you go by professionally, so connections can recognize who they are interacting with.
Experience
The experience section is essentially a resume where you can list the companies you've worked for, the positions you've held, and the responsibilities you had in that role. This section also allows you to upload or link to media content (PDFs, videos, etc.) to demonstrate your work further or explain more about your business.
Improving Your LinkedIn Profile Is the First Step
You want your LinkedIn profile to give people a place to land and learn a little about who you are, what’s important to you, and what you are all about as a professional. Completing your profile only expands your visibility on the web. It provides users with a glimpse into who you are, but make sure you also utilize LinkedIn to build your network and create meaningful business connections.
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LinkedIn is a powerful tool to have in your sales arsenal — but only if you know how to use it properly.
View the entire 30-minute webinar: Leveraging LinkedIn for Sales
Kim Williams, Director of Marketing, will go into even more detail on the most effective ways to get found on LinkedIn, build your network, and interact with your connections.