8 WAYS YOU COULD BE USING BETTER Because sometimes it's not who you know, but who knows you. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CHOOSE YOUR PROFILE PICTURE STRATEGICALLY CUSTOMIZE YOUR URL (AKA YOUR VANITY URL) CREATE A KEYWORD - SATURATED HEADLINE CREATE A THOROUGH, KEYWORD-SATURATED SUMMARY ADD SKILLSETS AND GET ENDORSEMENTS ADD PROJECTS (ESPECIALLY IF YOU FREELANCE) PAIR EACH POSITION WITH A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION GO NETWORK & FOLLOW-UP ON LINKEDIN A picture speaks a thousand words. Adding an industry relevant photo speaks thousands more (and could result in 14 times more profile views)! Whatever you do, ensure this photo is a positive representation of your personal brand. (ENDORSEMENTS) When you first create your LinkedIn profile, the default URL is a random slur of numbers. In order to create a more SEOfriendly profile, customize your URL to make it easier for others to find you (you'll rank higher in Google too)! Your headline on LinkedIn is the first thing people see. By default, it will appear as your current/last position. Instead, add the most important information about you as a professional (plus industryrelevant keywords). See a pattern here? As with your headline, your summary is another section that you can benefit from by including keywords (specifically those most commonly searched by your industry's potential employers). Your connections on LinkedIn can endorse your skills (which is one of the simplest ways to gain credibility within your network). The more endorsements you have for a skill, the more likely you are to show up on a search for that skill. Doing so allows you to include a URL, creating an inbound link to your website/ online portfolio/etc. This section is great for collaborative works, as you can hyperlink the profiles of your team as well. Once upon a time, LinkedIn required three written recommendations for each position listed. Although it is no longer a requirement, it is still in good practice to include at least one, as it only adds credibility to you and your work. As much as you tailor your LinkedIn Profile, resume or online portfolio, it only amounts to so much if you don't make meaningful facetoface connections. Go out, meet new people, and followup with them on your social networks! source source source source source source source BY