Five tips for updating your LinkedIn profile

An updated LinkedIn profile is necessary if you want to grow your personal or company brand. Regardless of whether you're the CEO of a multinational company or trying to get your startup noticed, LinkedIn is the perfect tool to help you attain your professional goals. From crafting a stunning summary to selling your skills, we've compiled a checklist to help you make your LinkedIn profile your best personal branding tool.

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Use an appropriate profile picture

Your photo should convey your energy, charisma, and passion and if you can show yourself in action portraying your soft skills, nothing like it. Try to make sure it is clear, friendly, and 'professional looking'. If you aren't sure what that means, take a look around to see what your colleagues and industry professionals are wearing and match that.

Bring your basic details up to date

Having outdated information on LinkedIn and updating your basic details only when you're looking for a job change reflects badly on you. Use your headline to not only highlight your current position and company but also your expertise and awards if you've won any. Make yourself visible by telling everyone who you are, what you do, and why they should connect with you.

Write a great summary

Your summary is your window to selling yourself to potential connections and that's why it should convey your specialties, notable accolades, and career experiences to the reader. While updating your summary, it is important to focus on the most relevant details about your career and to avoid meaningless jargon. Whether you choose to go ahead with a first-person or third-person narrative, always ensure that it is easy on the eye.

Use the right keywords

Use your words in a way that will not only make your profile come across as well-written but also serve as relevant keywords that are used frequently. Using the right keywords is the difference between being discovered and being invisible. Shortlist the words that best identify you and use those keywords in your headline, summary, and profile. The internet as a whole is content based and you need to use the right keywords to expose yourself to more potential opportunities and connections.

Publish amazing content

If you want to grow your influence, acquire new followers, and gain more visibility, start by publishing and sharing amazing posts. Your existing connections receive notifications whenever you publish and new people can discover your posts by conducting a search. It is for this reason that the audience you want to reach should always be at the front of your mind. Highlight your interests and expertise by posting useful content.

The above-mentioned tips serve as the beginner's guide to refreshing LinkedIn profiles. All it takes is a well-written profile to make yourself look important, impress future connections, and grow your influence. What are you waiting for? Start updating now!