With LinkedIn an increasingly dominant element of recruitment activity, making sure you know how to write a good LinkedIn profile is an essential element to an effective career development and recruitment strategy. Many writers in this area now suggest it is of equal importance to a CV. Here are ten ways that a senior executive can make sure their profile is optimised.
1. Use the professionals at City CV
As a value proposition, this will almost give you your best ROI. Working out LinkedIn best practice, defining your own skillset effectively and creating a fully optimised profile requires time, commitment and expert writing skills. Do you have all those?
2. Include all relevant experience
You don’t need as much detail as a CV, but put down major achievements and show all relevant past employers – this means you can make soft approaches to people who will see your achievements without you having to send them your CV.
3. Change your LinkedIn URL to your own name
This looks better and will help with your personal brand SEO. Instructions on how to customise your URL are easy to find and it only takes 5 minutes.
4. Use LinkedIn’s keywords to enhance SEO
Work out what your relevant keywords are, then put them into the skills section. It’s a great way to make sure that you are coming up in search results.
5. Use LinkedIn’s mobile app
There’s no excuse not to stay connected; put the app on your smartphone. It has a sophisticated user experience and will make it possible to make real-time connections rather than use business cards.
6. Add your own message to invitations
Avoid the deathly dull “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” Just include a few personalised words of your own and say hello – it makes the connection immediately warmer and more human.
7. Use LinkedIn to get background on colleagues, clients and suppliers
Never forget to do a background check on LinkedIn – there’s usually some useful information, and it can help to identify mutual acquaintances or shared interests. This is why you should also include some personal information about yourself; you’re doing the groundwork for friendly conversations.
8. Do competitor research
Follow your competition on LinkedIn – it’s always worth staying up to date with your industry sector, and this kind of information can be very useful during client discussions.
9. Align your profile with your own company
Assuming your company has one, of course. If not, it’s a great idea to get one going – they can help your business attract a professional network of contacts, communicate with clients and boost staff engagement. Making sure your summary and profile is branded and colour matched to your own company will make you appear more professional.
10. Include partner apps on your LinkedIn profile
There are several applications that can help you stand out. Include a WordPress feed, put in a reading list, or share your presentations with Slideshare.
Apart from the time factor, knowing what to include and what to leave out of your LinkedIn profile isn’t always straightforward. Invest in a LinkedIn profile from the writing experts at City CV and watch yours attract the attention you want. City CV’s professional CV writers have the knowledge and experience to help at every career stage, with a particular expertise at executive level, and across all industries. For more information on our LinkedIn and CV writing services, call us on +44 20 7100 6656 or email us.
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