LinkedIn, unlike Twitter and Facebook, is normally used only for businesses and job seekers to connect with customers, partners, colleagues and more. Some people have made errors with LinkedIn that could cost them a job opportunity. When you need help getting started or utilizing LinkedIn a more effective manner, you can use these top 5 tips and tricks for LinkedIn. If you think I have missed something, kindly let me know in the comments below 🙂
#1 – The Importance of Photos:
For a typical LinkedIn user, photos can be helpful. Some people may not want to disclose their ethnicity and some may feel that they are not very photogenic, but a photo can be useful as long as it is tasteful. Using a photo can show that you are comfortable with who you are and it makes your profile personable as well.
Rather than choosing a snapshot of you in front of a mountain or a lake, a professional headshot is recommended for LinkedIn. It’s also important to make sure that your photo is up to date as well in case you are using LinkedIn as a job seeker and plan on having interviews.
#2- Create a Professional and Descriptive Headline:
You want to make sure that you create a headline that is not only descriptive of yourself, but is also personable as well. Don’t just list off your qualifications, but rather use sentences with proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. This will make you look more professional no matter what your qualifications are.
You will also want to use keywords that relates to your qualifications so that you employers and potential customers can find your profile page more easily, even without knowing your name.
#3- Label websites that display your blog or work properly:
You are able to list websites that display your work on LinkedIn. This can be a personal website, a blog or even a commercial website. When you edit the website descriptions, it is important to, rather than labeling it as “my blog”, use a descriptive title instead, such as the name of your actual blog and a small description of it.
#4- Using a vanity URL:
LinkedIn provides all of its users with the option to create a vanity URL. Those without vanity URLs will have a profile link that contains many numbers and letters after the LinkedIn address. Rather than making it difficult for people to find you on LinkedIn, you can create your own vanity URL by changing those numbers and letters to your name or your company name. This way you are able to put it on your business card, on your resume or even just tell someone and they would be able to remember it more easily.
This process takes about 20 seconds and it can make your profile much more personal, more professional and make it look like you really mean business. You can make this change by going to edit your LinkedIn profile, click on “public profile” and then create the vanity URL you choose.
#5- Create an SEO-Friendly Summary:
Every LinkedIn user is allowed a summary section. If this is passed over, you could be missing out on some very real opportunities. If you aren’t aware of what SEO is, you should definitely do some research so that you can create content that is Search Engine Optimized and that people will be able to find you much more easily based, not only on your name and location, but also on your qualifications, your niche and/or your company.
It is recommended that you use all of the 2000 characters available so that you can get the most out of your summary. Just as if you apply for a job with a major corporation that everyone wants, you are one in millions of profiles to be found on LinkedIn, the more concise and SEO-friendly your summary, the better chances you have of being found.
This article is written by blogger and technology writer Rick Sarouk. Check out his other post regarding new television from AT&T uverse at AT&T Uverse promotion code.
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