There are many simple ways to fine-tune your LinkedIn profile.

During one-to-one business networking visits, I often ask permission to share two or three ideas for improving that person’s profile. Most business owners, professionals, and job seekers appreciate an extra set of eyes on their LinkedIn presence.

Here are a few examples of profile issues I’ve noticed recently and the simple fixes that can make a profile look more polished and professional.

 

Is Your Profile Photo Blocking Something In Your Banner?

Just today, I pointed out to a new networking contact that his profile photo covered part of the tagline on his LinkedIn banner. By moving the text slightly, all of it became visible.

I’ve also seen banners where a photo, logo, or graphic on the left side is partially hidden behind the profile photo. Since your banner is valuable visual real estate, make sure important elements aren’t being covered.

If you use a graphic designer or create your own banner in Canva, take a moment to view it on your LinkedIn profile and confirm that everything displays correctly.

 

Does Your Last Name Appear to Everyone?

Some LinkedIn users have changed a visibility setting related to the visibility of their last name. Some changed the setting intentionally, and some did it by accident. As a result, only the first letter of their last name appears to people who are not LinkedIn connections.

While there may be rare situations where privacy is a concern, I generally recommend allowing your full last name to display to everyone. Doing so makes it easier for people to find you, recognize you, and connect with you.

I made this suggestion to a colleague recently, and she was grateful that I pointed it out.

 

Is the Intro Section Missing Important Information?

The area just below your banner and to the right of your profile photo contains some of the most visible information on your profile.

If you’re currently employed or own a business, your company name and logo should typically appear there. When the logo is missing, it’s often because the company doesn’t have a LinkedIn company page or because the position hasn’t been properly connected to that page.

I’ve also seen situations where someone has multiple current positions and LinkedIn is displaying the least important one in the intro section. Fortunately, LinkedIn allows you to reorder current positions so the role most important to your personal brand appears in the intro section.

 

Does Your Headline Tell People What You Do?

Your headline is one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile. All or part of it appears in search results, comments, messages, and connection requests.

Recently, I reviewed the profile of a graphic designer whose headline simply listed her title and company name. While accurate, it didn’t explain the services she provides or the value she delivers.

By reviewing other sections of her profile, we identified keywords and phrases that better described her expertise. She quickly updated her headline. Now she has a much stronger introduction to potential clients and connections.

 

Is Your Position Connected to Your Company Page?

A business owner recently asked why her company logo wasn’t appearing in the Experience section of her profile. The reason was simple: although she had created a LinkedIn company page, her position wasn’t linked to it.

Once she edited her position and selected the company page from LinkedIn’s dropdown list, the logo appeared correctly.

 

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Many LinkedIn profiles are just a few adjustments away from making a strong first impression.

Whether it’s improving a headline, fixing a visibility setting, connecting a company page, or making better use of your banner image, these small refinements can increase your credibility and help people better understand who you are and what you do.

That’s one reason I encourage people to review their profiles regularly and to ask a trusted colleague for feedback. A fresh perspective often uncovers opportunities you may have overlooked.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, become more effective social media users, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com