Are you using the professional gallery option on your LinkedIn profile? This oft ignored feature allows you to incorporate visuals and showcase yourself more effectively. And it’s very easy to add “media” items.

Hand on Media Technology Photo Gallery

When you are in edit mode, go into the summary section and you will see a small rectangle in the top right-hand corner. Click on that, and you will see the option to add a link or upload a file. Click on the appropriate link and follow the upload prompts.

The types of things you can upload into your professional gallery are listed in your experience and education section at the bottom of each of your position listings/schools attended.

These items are:

  • Document
  • Photo
  • Link
  • Video
  • Presentation

You can add them simply by clicking on the type of media you want to add and following the prompts to complete the template. For the document, photo, and presentation options, you can either add a link or upload a file.

Eventually even the best example becomes stale or needs to be replaced by something event better. To remove a media sample from your profile:

  1. Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your homepage and select Edit Profile.
  2. Scroll down to the sample you’d like to remove and click the Edit icon in the top right.
  3. Click Remove this Media. You will be asked whether you are sure, click on Yes, remove it to make it disappear.

 

Samples of How LinkedIn Members Use Their Professional Galleries

  • Automotive Repair Shop. My client Todd Colchin owns an automotive repair shop. He created a video giving a tour of the shop and introducing members of his team, describing how each plays a key role in providing high caliber service.

He posted a link directly to the YouTube video in the summary section of his LinkedIn profile. This is what his visitors see when they click on the link: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=101428561&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=Rmrm&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1427599189908%2Ctas%3Atodd+colc

  • Producer and Actress. A business colleague of mine is also a producer and actress. She drew attention to this by adding a link to her listing in the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) in her profile. She is someone who uses the professional gallery quite extensively and to excellent effect.

Here is a link to her profile so you can see what I mean: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=886936&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=A0HA&locale=en_US&trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Amynetwork%2Cidx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1427599558245%2Ctas%3Aphilippa

  • LinkedIn Tutorials. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, I have created a series of tutorials on ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile. These videos address the photo, headline, summary, and experience aspects of a profile.

Here is a link to one: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?vpa=cxn1&locale=en_US.

 

How About You?

How have you taken advantage of the options for making your profile more visually attractive and interesting? If you are using these options, how often do you update them? What advice would you give about using them to enhance your LinkedIn profile?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. She works with business owners, nonprofit organizations, retired people, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.