As your virtual business card, your professional LinkedIn profile or business page needs to make the right impression to your network and potential clients or customers. Here are ten ways you can improve your LinkedIn profile.
1. Customise your URL
A short URL that's easy to remember is a good practice for associating your LinkedIn business profile with your company name. A custom URL helps individuals and other companies to find you, and you can even add the customised URL to your business cards.
You can edit your URL by visiting your profile settings and selecting ‘edit public profile and URL’. Your new URL displays as: linkedin.com/in/YourBusinessName
2. Update your profile
Many LinkedIn users have failed to fully complete their profiles and, as such, are simply not getting the most out of the platform. For example, uploading a professional photo or logo is an important aspect in ensuring your profile page appears credible.
If you haven’t yet set up your LinkedIn profile or business page, find out how to set up a LinkedIn account for business here.
3. Showcase your services
LinkedIn’s Open for Business tool lets you advertise your services to clients on your profile, as well as reviews from previous clients. This way, potential customers will be able to find you when they’re searching on LinkedIn for the service you offer.
4. Optimise with keywords
Keywords are important if you want your personal or business profile to be visible in search. If you are unsure as to the keywords relevant to your specific line of business, there are several free online tools to help you to identify relevant phrases.
Using keywords naturally in headings will also improve your online presence. While you want to be easily found in the search engines, it is counter-productive to list the same keywords repeatedly on your profile. This may include ensuring that job titles include keywords where possible.
5. Share your expertise
A blog is invaluable for any business, no matter how large or small. Writing and publishing articles on your LinkedIn page is a great way to share your knowledge with your network. Whether it’s trending topics in your industry or areas relevant to your business, becoming a thought leader can boost trust and increase your visibility.
You can add photos, links, likes, and other media to your articles to make them more engaging and informative.
6. Connect more
Is your network smaller on LinkedIn than on your other social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter? For LinkedIn to work as it was designed, the more connections you have, the better. You can use various LinkedIn tools to find additional connections and build your presence on the platform, such as running a search of your email contacts.
7. Get involved with relevant groups
From networking and research to influencing purchasing decisions, LinkedIn users engage with groups to connect with their community. Joining relevant groups, such as ones for small businesses, self-employed people, or those in your industry, is a great way to expand your network and improve your reach. Regularly participating in groups in a non-promotional capacity can help you to:
- Connect with like-minded people
- Stay in the know
- Find and join your niche
- New ideas and knowledge
8. Get your timing right
Carefully consider your timing when it comes to linking to blog posts, writing LinkedIn status updates or even going live. You will want to ensure that posts are relevant to the business environment and that as many people as possible read and hopefully share each one with their own networks.
Feeling uninspired? We’ve shared LinkedIn content ideas to help you with your next post.
9. Encourage engagement
A compelling call to action on a post that invites interaction is key to not only increasing your visibility on LinkedIn but also strengthening relationships with those who are already in your circle. Thought-provoking posts or status updates that lend themselves to the conversation will improve your engagement and exposure to connections on your 1st, 2nd and 3rd level. Make sure every post you publish is professional, informative and relevant.
10. Learn from your LinkedIn analytics
Check in with the numbers of your business page to understand which content is performing well, where you’re driving engagement and how you can optimise your strategy. You’ll also be able to learn more about your followers, who visits your page, post reactions, clicks, search appearances, and more.
Want to learn more?
Discover resources, tips, and on-demand tutorials for small businesses on LinkedIn.