LinkedIn has become a crucial platform for professionals to showcase their skills and experience. But, simply having a profile on the platform is not enough. To get noticed by potential employers and clients, your LinkedIn profile needs to be optimized for search engines. In simple, the higher your profile is in ranking, the more prospects you’ll have. And, more prospects means more business.
In this blog post, we will discuss three easy steps to get your LinkedIn profile to the top of the page.
Why Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile?
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile for search engines can significantly improve your profile’s visibility, making it easier for others to find you when they search for relevant keywords. By incorporating relevant keywords into your profile headline, summary section, and job descriptions, you increase your chances of ranking higher in search results.
Additionally, increasing engagement on your profile by sharing high-quality and relevant content, growing your network, and requesting recommendations and endorsements can also improve your profile’s search engine rankings. That means it’ll be easier for recruiters to find you, clients to hire you, and prospects to contact you.
If you’re interested in finding prospects yourself (not via SEO), here’s a helpful guide to find 10k contacts.
How To Increase Your Search Visibility on LinkedIn
Now here’s our three-step process to increase your search visibility on LinkedIn:
Step 1: Optimize Your Profile For Search Engines
To start optimizing your profile for search engines, you’ll need to focus on keyword research. If you’re unaware, keyword research is the process of identifying relevant keywords and phrases that describe your skills and experience. These keywords will be used to optimize your profile and improve your visibility in search results. The first step in conducting keyword research is to brainstorm a list of keywords that are relevant to your profession and expertise. Here are some examples of prime keywords:
- Job titles (e.g., Software Engineer, Marketing Manager, HR Specialist)
- Skills (e.g., Project Management, Data Analysis, Graphic Design)
- Industry-related terms (e.g., Healthcare, Finance, Education)
- Certifications (e.g., PMP, CPA, PHR)
- Languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Mandarin)
- Software and tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Salesforce)
- Publications (e.g., Journal Articles, White Papers, Research Papers)
- Achievements (e.g., Awards, Patents, Publications)
- Volunteer experience (e.g., Non-profit Organizations, Community Outreach, Fundraising)
- Education (e.g., Degrees, Certificates, Institutions)
Once you have a list of potential keywords, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or LinkedIn’s built-in search function to determine which ones are the most popular and relevant to your profession. This will help you select the best keywords to incorporate into your profile.
After selecting your keywords, it’s time to incorporate them into your profile. Start by including them in your profile headline, summary section, and job descriptions. However, be careful not to overuse your keywords, as this can lead to your profile appearing spammy and decrease your credibility.
Speaking of writing a profile headline, we’ve dedicated an entire article to just that – read it here.
Step 2: Increase the Engagement on Your Profile
Congratulations, you’ve optimized your LinkedIn profile for search engines! However, your work isn’t done yet. The second step in increasing your visibility and attracting potential employers and clients is to increase engagement on your profile. Here are four ways to do this:
- Post Regularly: It’s essential to share high-quality and relevant content on your profile regularly. This can include articles, blog posts, industry news, or even your own original content. By sharing informative and engaging content, you can showcase your expertise and attract followers who are interested in your area of expertise. Later, these followers can turn into clients, customers, or employers.
- Engage with LinkedIn Content: Another way to increase engagement is by engaging with other users’ content. This means liking, commenting, and sharing posts from other users in your network. Doing so helps you stay active on the platform and shows that you are engaged with your industry.
- Connect with Like-Minded Professionals: Growing your network is another crucial aspect of increasing engagement on your LinkedIn profile. Connect with relevant industry professionals by sending personalized invitations that explain why you want to connect with them. This could include people who work in your industry or those who share similar interests or goals.
- Request Recommendations: Lastly, request recommendations and endorsements from current and former colleagues. This can significantly increase your credibility and attractiveness to potential employers, clients, or prospects. Recommendations and endorsements are visible on your profile and serve as testimonials of your skills and experience.
Step 3: Leverage LinkedIn’s Features
The third and final step in optimizing your LinkedIn profile is to leverage LinkedIn’s features. Here’s what we recommend:
- Post Long-Form Content: Use LinkedIn’s blogging feature to showcase your expertise and thought leadership in your industry. By publishing high-quality content, you can attract more followers and establish yourself as a reputable source of information in your field.
- Join LinkedIn Groups: This is an excellent way to network with like-minded professionals, share your expertise, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry.
- Paid Search Options: Consider using LinkedIn’s paid advertising options to increase your visibility and reach on the platform. This could include sponsored content, sponsored InMail, or LinkedIn Ads. These paid options can help you target specific audiences, increase your reach, and drive more traffic to your profile or website.
Your LinkedIn profile is no good if there’s nothing moving clients. That’s why we recommend having a detailed summary that describes your job experience and company — here’s more.
In Conclusion
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is a simple process that will make you all the more findable. As you already know, that means more prospects, connections, and a bigger network.
It’s important to note that optimizing your LinkedIn profile is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and attention. You should regularly update your profile and engage with your network – helping to maintain your online presence.
Of course, you can also automate a lot of this engagement: including messaging your connections, inviting new connections, viewing profiles, endorsing contacts, and following influencers or companies. If you want to learn more about automating your LinkedIn prospecting, check out We-Connect (and our free 14-day trial).
