Create Your Linkedin Profile

Completing your Linkedin profile is probably more important today than even updating your resume.  Even when you’re not looking for a job, you should complete your Linkedin profile.  It’s your personal online marketing tool to show off your skill sets and it works for you 24/7 to attract attention in the marketplace.

Completing your profile also boosts your competitive advantage.  According to Linkedin, only 51% of Linkedin profiles are complete today.  On the other hand, almost every major company out there uses Linkedin to look for qualified candidates.  Just by completing your Linkedin profile, you can increase your chances to stand out and make your Linkedin profile work for you.

Here’s a helpful infographic of 17 must-haves in your Linked in profile.  If 17 seems too daunting, start with just the first seven tips.  They should take no more than an hour total and can quickly get you results.  Some specific ones to start with include…

• Tip #1: Use keywords.  Adding the right keywords gives your profile a better chance of appearing in search results. Perform a search under the keywords you want to be found in and notice how often the keyword appears in the top profiles returned in the results.
• Tip #5: Brand your professional headline.  I added the keyword Product Management to the headline a few months ago and received immediately more Inmails about product management openings.
• Tip #6: Customize the URL to your profile. It’s important to do this early so you can get your full name in the URL without extra numbers. This helps because whenever someone types in your name in Google, your Linkedin profile will show up on the first page.  The best part is it’s really simple to customize your URL on Linkedin.

Dedicate an hour a week to make updates and you’ll have a completed Linkedin profile in no time.