We all serve as role models, both in the real world and on line, whether we know it or not. Having digested that, now consider how your presence on LinkedIn is a role model for others, especially those in your field.

Recently I consulted with someone in the field of executive placement. This individual works with senior business executives to help them land their next job. One thing I brought up as we reviewed his LinkedIn profile was that his own LinkedIn profile should be a good model for his clients.

The words Your Brand Online on a website screen to represent a company or business marketing its products or services on the Internet

Does your LinkedIn profile do that for your clients? One way to find that out is to ask them, as hard as that might be to do. You might be surprised at what they tell you about your profile – both its strengths and the areas where it could be improved.

The most important elements of your LinkedIn profile are your photo, your headline and your summary, so those are the ones I am focusing on this week.

Three Key Components of Your LinkedIn Profile

 

  • Your LinkedIn photo. Remember that your photo is part of your brand and should represent you well. Be sure that you have a professional head shot of you wearing professional attire. Have it tightly cropped so there are no distractions in the background. Having such a photo will make you appear more confident. Avoid sun glasses, clothing that is too casual, and photos that are out of date. Watch this short video for some ideas about what to do and what not to do with your photo on LinkedIn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL5hhBi4TFI
  • Your LinkedIn headline. After your photo, your headline (found right under your name) is the next most important part of your LinkedIn profile. Business owners should be sure to be consistent across social media sites as you represent your company. Your profile headline should be similar to your Twitter bio information, the description on your Facebook business page, etc. If you have a tagline, include that in your headline. Most important, be sure to use keywords in the headline, these are the words your clients are most likely to use when searching for your services. Get some tips for your LinkedIn headline in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRubVhPnhvM

 

  • 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 section. You should always use the first person when creating your summary. Doing so will make it more accessible and personal. 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 the summary more readable. Learn more about how to optimize your LinkedIn summary in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRubVhPnhvM

 

How About You?

When was the last time you updated your photo, your headline, and/or your 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 on your LinkedIn profile, especially on these three essential elements.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel, Founder of Boomers' Social Media Tutor

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more comfortable using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, leaders of nonprofit organizations, job seekers, retired people, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.