LinkedIn Checklist for Success
- SpeakEasy
- Mar 30, 2016
- 2 min read
When it comes to social media, you have it down - Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and all the others. But what about your LinkedIn profile? Did you forget about it like most people?
For the same reasons you make sure your Facebook and Instagram profiles are on point, you should also care about your LinkedIn profile game. Social media platforms are often your first impression, and LinkedIn is no different.
We have researched and rummaged through some of our favorite online resources and have come up with a LinkedIn checklist for success to help you nail it.
An Attractive Headline
Right next to your picture, and under your name, is your headline: your most prime piece of real estate. It is the first thing people learn about you when visiting your profile. Keep them scrolling and reading by making sure it is current and compelling. It doesn’t have to be your current position, but it can be. Not sure what to say? Check out this video from the Muse on how to write a killer headline.
Explain Yourself
Use your LinkedIn profile to showcase all of the great things you have done. It is important to do more than list jobs, positions and awards. Dig deeper and explain what you are doing or have done. Write descriptions in the form of a brief summary for any jobs and positions listed. There are so many sections on LinkedIn to fill with your accomplishments. Use this visual guide by the Muse to help tackle this task.
Stay Active
As we browsed articles, an overall theme seemed to be present - be active. Don’t go back to only logging in a few times every couple of months. You never know what connection or message you may miss out on! Stay active by updating your profile picture, adding recent connections in real time, and posting on LinkedIn Pulse. View this guide by the Everygirl to give you more ideas.
Do More Than Make Connections
Don’t focus on making connections, build relationships instead. A connection won’t get you very far if there isn’t a relationship there. Nurture your network by building relationships out of your connections. Some good ways to do this are to keep an eye on who’s viewing your profile, and sending personalized messages and requests. Read through this Everygirl guide for tips.
It is amazing what reaching out and connecting on LinkedIn can do. LinkedIn can seem complex and confusing, but creating a well branded and put together profile will have big payoffs for your career. Recruiters and headhunters are using LinkedIn, so why shouldn’t you? Now, get out there and kill it with our checklist as a resource.
