LinkedIn is a powerful social networking tool that business professionals can use to grow their businesses.
The goal of this post is to help business owners and professionals like you understand the impact of LinkedIn.
It can build your online presence, drive attention to your brand, and even boost leads and sales. For example, did you know that 98% of salespersons with more than 5000 connections outperform their peers?
However, you can only get the best out of LinkedIn by using it to its full capacity. That is, you have to build your identity on LinkedIn.
So, this post explains how to do that effectively with clear and practical steps. Keep reading to learn how to build your identity on LinkedIn and become more visible online.
13 Steps to Build Your Identity on LinkedIn
To create the best effect, apply each of these steps with as much detail as possible. However, this can be time-consuming. So, try to work on your profile a little bit at a time.
Soon enough, you’ll build a robust identity and presence, which will make you easier to find.
Table of Contents:
- Add a Headshot
- Include a Professional Headline
- Add a Cover Image
- Make Sure Your About Section Packs a Punch
- Make Sure Your Experience Section is Up-to-Date
- Join Relevant Groups and Start Participating in Discussions
- Connect With Other Professionals in Your Industry
- Create Posts Regularly
- Include a Call-to-action in Your Posts
- Write Articles and Share Them on Linkedin
- Add Keywords to Your Profile
- Use the “Skills” Section of Your Profile to Show Off Your Expertise
- Get Recommendations From Your Peers
Add a Headshot
One of the first things people see is your profile image.
This is called your LinkedIn profile photo. So, choose an image that’s friendly, professional, and shows you in the best light.
An example of a headshot from a LinkedIn profile page.
Try to take a ‘headshot’, which is a picture of your head and shoulders. In corporate speak, this is usually a picture with your eyes in focus on the image of you wearing formal clothes and holding a confident pose.
Ideally, you want to get such a picture taken by a professional. But a smartphone with a good camera can also do the job.
Try to keep your LinkedIn profile image consistent with your image on other social media sites and your website. This doesn’t mean that you should post the same picture everywhere, but rather, try to keep a similar style or theme across channels. This will help people recognize you more easily.
When taking your headshot, be mindful of your background. Choose one that’s neutral or has greenery. Avoid a busy or crowded background.
Also, dress as you would for a job interview or client meeting. Your clothes should be cleaned, pressed and with styles and colors that suit your industry. You want to look approachable, professional, and competent.
Your profile photo is one of the most important aspects of your LinkedIn profile. So make sure it’s high quality and represents you well.
Include a Professional Headline
There’s a point where people decide whether they should explore your profile or move on to someone else’s. That point is typically when they read your professional headline.
So, you need to make sure it’s attention-grabbing and relevant to what you do.
Author Ann Handley’s headline is clear and boosts her brand authority.
To write an effective headline, start with your job title, then add more detail to describe what you do and what you’re good at. Please find a way to keep it short but enticing because you only have 120 characters.
For example, if you’re a web designer, your headline could be “Web Designer specializing in creating beautiful and user-friendly websites.”
If you’re unsure what to include in your headline, look at other people in your field and see what they’ve done. Use their headlines for inspiration but don’t copy them directly.
Add a Cover Image
Your LinkedIn profile page has a cover image, which is like a banner. It’s a great way to show your personality and what you’re all about.
Neil Patel’s Cover Image is informative and on brand.
When choosing a cover image, ensure it’s high quality and relevant to your field. If you’re a photographer, for example, you could use one of your photos as your cover image.
Or, if you’re a consultant, you can feature the brands you’ve worked with as a way to showcase social proof.
Creating your cover image is a quick and easy task and can make a significant difference in how people respond to your profile.
It’s a simple but powerful visual element that can add more context in a flash. So, use a free tool like Canva or some other editing software to create a high-quality cover image.
Make Sure Your About Section Packs a Punch
Your About section is like a summary that describes the most important aspects of your LinkedIn profile. It’s an opportunity to sell yourself and explain what you do.
When writing about yourself, focus on the benefits of working with you. What can you do for other people? How have you helped your clients or customers in the past?
Use concrete examples and statistics to back up your claims. This will make your summary more credible and persuasive.
Keep your content short, sweet, and to the point. People don’t want to read a novel when they’re looking at your profile. They just want to know what you can do for them.
And always focus on your intended audience or customer. Write your summary from their perspective. What do they want to know about you?
Make Sure Your Experience Section is Up-to-Date
Your Experience section is where you get to talk about your past work experiences. This is your chance to show off your skills and accomplishments.
Start with your current or most recent position and work your way backwards. For each position, include the following information:
- Job title
- Dates you worked there
- A brief description of your responsibilities
- Your major accomplishments
As you’re writing your experience section, keep in mind that people will be skimming it. So, make sure the most important information is at the top. However, don’t be short either. You’re writing for both people and LinkedIn’s algorithm, which decides which results show up for specific terms.
So, you want to use all the characters available by including details, keywords, and relevant information.
Join Relevant Groups and Start Participating in Discussions
With so much happening in the world, it can be difficult to keep up with current events, let alone have thoughtful discussions about them.
Joining relevant groups and participating in discussions is a great way to stay informed and make your voice heard.
It’s a great way to meet like-minded people and make new connections.
Not to mention, it’s a surefire way to let other people know that you’re an engaged member of the community. Your conversations can show people who you are and make them feel like they know you’re better.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips. First, find a group that interests you. There are online groups for just about everything these days, so you’re sure to find one that’s a good fit.
Second, start reading and commenting on posts.
Third, jump in and participate in discussions. Don’t be afraid to share your opinion. And finally, don’t forget to have fun and be authentic. Doing so will make the right people resonate with you.
Participating in thoughtful discussions can be a great way to learn new things and connect with others.
Connect With Other Professionals in Your Industry
LinkedIn is a social network at heart. So, don’t forget to build your connections as a way to establish your identity on the platform.
Connect with your coworkers, former classmates and colleagues, and even customers. You can also reach out to other professionals in your industry.
When you connect with them and build a relationship, you can approach them for advice or other opportunities.
Having more connections boosts your profile in many ways. It invites more people to look at your profile and will have your content appear in front of more people.
You might even find job opportunities and partnerships by connecting with the right people.
Create Posts Regularly
Posts are a great way to show off your expertise and build your reputation as a thought leader.
But in order for posts to be effective, you need to create them on a regular basis. This can be difficult if you’re not used to writing or don’t consider yourself a particularly good writer.
If that’s the case, don’t worry. Just start small and write a few sentences about something you’re passionate about. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
The goal is just to get started and build up your momentum. Soon, you’ll find that writing posts is easier than you thought and that they’re actually quite enjoyable.
You can also create and upload video content, if that’s your thing. This is profoundly impactful as videos get the most engagement, i.e. comments compared to other types of content. And if you’re in the B2B sector, this is vital because LinkedIn traffic forms 50% of the social traffic for B2B companies.
Take inspiration from Gary V’s LinkedIn content for your own posts.
And you’ll know that your posts are impactful based on the engagement you get. If you’re getting plenty of likes and comments, it means that your post is striking a chord. Keep going with your efforts or try different takes to see what works best for you.
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your LinkedIn posts or don’t have the time to write them, there is an easy solution. A LinkedIn Post Generator can help you generate ideas for posts quickly and easily. All you have to do is provide a topic and the generator will come up with post ideas for you.
Include a Call-to-action in Your Posts
If you want people to do something after reading your post, you need to include a call-to-action. This could be something like “leave a comment below” or “share this post if you found it helpful.”
Including a call-to-action is important because it gives people a specific task to do after they’ve finished reading your post. And the more specific you can be, the better.
For example, if you want people to connect with you on LinkedIn, include a call-to-action that says, “connect with me on LinkedIn.” This will not only increase the likelihood that people will actually connect with you, but it will also make it easier for them to do so.
Write Articles and Share Them on Linkedin
One of the most helpful features you’ll find on LinkedIn is its post-creation and article-sharing capabilities. This is a great way to show off your industry knowledge and build up your personal brand.
When you share your articles on LinkedIn, it shows that you’re not just a one-dimensional business person – you’re a well-rounded human being with interests and opinions outside of work. Plus, it’s a great way to build your personal brand and get your name out there.
When you write an article, make sure it’s helpful and informative. People should be able to read it and walk away with something new. And don’t forget to include a call to action at the end of your post. So if you’re looking for a way to be more ‘real’ on LinkedIn, start writing articles.
Add Keywords to Your Profile
You have to remember that LinkedIn uses an algorithm to decide which profiles appear for specific searches. So, if you want to make sure your profile comes up when people are searching for someone with your skills and experience, you need to add keywords to your profile.
The best way to do this is to use the same keywords that you would use on a resume or cover letter. Or, if you’re looking for new opportunities, use the keywords for your desired position or role.
For example, if you’re a web developer, some of the keywords you might use are: web development, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and PHP.
Or if you’re looking for a job as a marketing manager, some of the keywords you might use are marketing management, campaigns, strategies, analytics, brand awareness, and lead generation.
You can add keywords to your profile in a number of ways, such as:
- In the ‘About’ section
- In the ‘Experience’ section
- In the ‘Skills & Endorsements’ section
- In your headlines
- In your articles
- In your posts
- And in comments
Remember, the reason you’re doing this is so that the algorithm understands what you’re all about. And so that you can be found by potential employers, recruiters, or clients.
By including relevant keywords in your profile, you can ensure that you’ll pop up when employers search for candidates with your skills and experience. So don’t be afraid to give yourself a little boost – add some keywords to your profile and get ready to land your dream job.
Use the “Skills” Section of Your Profile to Show Off Your Expertise
Your profile is your digital calling card – it’s how you show the world what you’re all about. And while your experiences and accomplishments speak for themselves, it’s also important to highlight your skills.
After all, these are the things that make you unique and set you apart from the competition. So whether you’re a whiz with numbers or a wordsmith extraordinaire, make sure to showcase your skills on your profile. After all, they just might be the thing that catches someone’s eye – and lands you that dream job.
Here’s a tip: don’t hold back from adding skills in which you’re a beginner or are learning. LinkedIn is a great place to learn new things, after all.
So if you’re just getting started with a new skill, don’t be afraid to add it to your profile. You never know – someone might just be looking for someone with your exact skill set.
Get Recommendations From Your Peers
One of the most important ways to build your personal brand is by getting recommendations from your peers. And LinkedIn is the perfect place to do just that.
When you receive a recommendation, it’s like a testimonial for your work. It’s a public display of your skills and experience, and it can be a great way to show off what you’re capable of.
What makes it impactful is that it comes from someone who’s worked with you and can vouch for your skills. So when you’re trying to build up your identity on LinkedIn, be sure to ask your colleagues, boss, or clients for recommendations.
It’s also a good idea to give recommendations to others. Not only is it a nice thing to do, but it can also help you build up your personal brand. When you give recommendations, it shows that you’re an expert in your field and that you’re willing to vouch for others.
So go ahead and start asking (and giving) recommendations – it’s a great way to boost your profile and build up your identity on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is a social media site that can be used to connect with other professionals, find jobs, and showcase your skills.
It’s a way to establish your identity and build your personal brand.
When you’re trying to build up your identity on LinkedIn, be sure to use all the tips mentioned above. By following these tips, you can create a profile that will help you stand out from the competition and get noticed by potential employers.
