I love networking with people – IRL and online. Your LinkedIn profile is the digital version of that.
While people give me their business cards at networking events, I whip my phone out to connect with them on LinkedIn…and naturally give their profile a mini audit while I’m there ( I can’t help myself 😅).
I’ve audited 100’s of LinkedIn profiles and see missed opportunities all the time.
I’m sharing the 3 biggest ones here because they’ll make a massive difference to your LinkedIn profile getting found and followed.
Caveat; before you do any work on your profile you need to be clear on your message i.e. who you’re talking to, what transformation you provide and how. Silent Storm helps you do that.
Here’s my LinkedIn profile for reference.
(If we’re not already connected hit the button and come and say hey!)
3 LinkedIn profile tweaks that will make a huge difference:
Let’s improve your Linkedin profile:
1) Your LinkedIn Profile Banner
This is prime real estate (the bit behind your profile picture at the top). It’s the biggest area you can add personalised branding to and the first thing a new connection will see.
Common mistakes:
- No banner = LinkedIn’s default blue image.
- A fuzzy logo because the dimensions are all wrong.
- A “nice” picture related to nothing about your service whatsoever.
My advice:
Have a “one liner” about who and how you help, so it’s easy for someone landing on your page to know what you do quickly.
2) Your LinkedIn Headline (bit under your name)
Arguably the most important part of your LinkedIn profile. It follows you around the platform and is used for LinkedIn search results, so it’s important to nail this.
Common mistakes:
- Job title e.g. Managing Director of Company name = no SEO
- “The fairy godmother of your admin needs” – Is anyone going to search for that? (Be clear not clever)
- Making it more about you than your ideal client
My advice:
My formula is what + for who + transformation/desire + keywords/services.
E.g. mine (at the time of writing this) is:
Marketing Strategy for introverted service providers. Close the gap between the client-facing you and online you, so you can attract clients who are a joy to work with. LinkedIn & Instagram Training
(Keywords/services peppered throughout)
Pro tip: Make sure the first 50 characters make sense on their own as your LinkedIn headline cuts off at this point when you’re in the DM’s or commenting on other people’s posts.
Mine is “Marketing Strategy for introverted service providers.”, so if someone I’m not connected to sees me in their feed it’s clear what I do straight away.
3) Your LinkedIn About Section
It should show you understand your ideal client and how you can help them – not a CV about you!
Common mistakes:
- Written in 3rd person – (i.e. Anita Popat has x years experience in)
- Written like a CV (We can see your work history in the experience section)
- It’s all me, me, me
My advice:
Start with some statements your ideal client can identify with, so it shows you understand where they’re at.
Tell them how you can help them overcome/make their lives better.
Always add in a call to action – i.e. what do you want them to do next? Even if it’s to send a DM.
People won’t do anything unless you remind them to.
(Keep the language casual too!)
If you have these 3 LinkedIn profile basics in place everything else (like featured posts) is the cherry on top.
Want to work on your LinkedIn profile together?
(if you’re not on LinkedIn you can use it for Instagram too 😉)
Need to get a marketing strategy together first?
Here’s a sneak peek inside my signature programme Silent Storm.
