Are the three key elements of your LinkedIn profile representing you well? The most important elements of your LinkedIn profile are your photo, your headline, and your summary. Often, people checking out your profile will only look at these three things.

 

Three Key Components of Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn Photo

Your profile photo is an important part of your brand and should represent you well. Be sure that you have a professional head shot of you wearing professional attire. Appear more confident by having your photo tightly cropped so there are no distractions in the background. Avoid sun glasses, clothing that is too casual, and using a photo that is out of date.

 

Your LinkedIn Headline

After your photo, your headline (found right under your name) is the next most important part of your profile. If you are employed by someone else, then you likely will keep the default headline. This headline consists of your job title and the entity for which you work. If it’s your company, and you have a tagline, consider including it in your headline. Be sure to include key words and phrases as well.

Typically, your profile headline should be similar to the short description on your Facebook business page. It should also be consistent with the bio section on Instagram and on Twitter.

 

Your LinkedIn Summary

You may think that the position listings in your experience section are the most important part of your LinkedIn profile. However, if your summary section doesn’t grab the viewer’s attention, they may never scroll down to your experience.

Think of your summary as a narrative about you. Business owners – avoid the common tendency to only talk about your company.

You established your company in the larger context of your life. So, tell us about what led you to create your company and what you were doing before that.

In general, I recommend using the first-person voice. It’s more accessible and personal than the third-person voice. Speak conceptually about yourself in terms of what you have to offer. Be visionary in your approach, as you paint a picture of how you can be of service to potential clients.

Use short sentences, short paragraphs, and bulleted lists to create plenty of white space and make it more readable. Keep in mind that most people will be using the LinkedIn mobile app. White space is even more important on a small screen.

 

How About You?

When was the last time you updated your photo, headline, and/or summary on LinkedIn? How well do these three critical components of your profile represent you and your brand? Consider asking your clients, referral partners, and others for feedback, especially on these three essential elements.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.