The Do’s & Don’ts of LinkedIn Profiles | Why It Matters
Part of my job is looking at LinkedIn profiles. I have literally looked at thousands of profiles and I can tell you which ones are terrible and which ones are really good. I have reworked a number of profiles to help clients improve their LinkedIn game. So today I want to talk about the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn profiles.
Your LinkedIn profile can make or break your interaction with someone. Whether they are a potential client, new hire or someone that is hiring you, you want to make sure you are leaving a good impression. People care about what is on LinkedIn now. You can’t just create a profile and then let it sit. You need to make sure you are presenting yourself in a way that shows you care. Even if you aren’t hiring, looking for a job or looking for clients. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour to get this done right, so take the time and do it!
The Do’s & Don’ts of LinkedIn Profiles | The Do’s
Do have a good profile picture. Ask someone to take a picture of you in natural lighting in work appropriate clothes. All you need is a head shot. Maybe make it black & white for a little extra professionalism.
Do include an email address, one that you will check regularly.
Do have a good tag line. You want this to say what you do and how you help people.
Do use the about section to talk about why people should hire you.
Do list all of your experience. Jobs, education, volunteering. ALL OF IT. The more gaps there are in this area, the less appealing you are. This is your place to shine! Be sure to keep this section up to date. If you get a promotion, add it ASAP. If you leave your current position, add the end date to this section.
Do ask colleagues for endorsements. These can be huge if you are a contractor or a free lancer. You only really need a handful to get started.
The Do’s & Don’ts of LinkedIn Profiles | The Don’ts
Don’t have a profile pictures like ANY the following:
- Taken at your desk with your phone or computer camera
- Pool party pictures
- Picture of you in your kitchen holding your pet (I’ve seen this more than you would think)
- Grainy/out of focus pictures
- 10+ year old picture
- Picture where you are so tiny, no one can see your face
- Picture of a picture
- Cropped picture from a friend/family members wedding
I can’t tell you how many bad profile pictures I have seen. The first thing people see when they look at your profile, is your picture. They can also click on it to enlarge the picture so you want to make sure you are leaving a good impression!
Don’t not include your background or experience in the About section. This is where you tell people about the benefits, not the features!
Don’t let your resume lag. I can’t tell you how many profiles I have seen where people have gaps in their resume. They have either stopped using their LinkedIn account or they don’t want to list that they are in between jobs. If you are in between jobs, that is okay! List what you are doing at the moment. Are you contracting? List it!
The Do’s & Don’ts of LinkedIn Profiles | Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Now that we have talked about the do’s and don’ts, it is time for you to go and update your profile! Make sure you are shining as bright as possible because people will be looking at this profile and you need to stand out.