Chances are you have already signed up to Linkedin but are you utilizing its full potential? With over 300 million professionals connecting on LinkedIn worldwide, it is more than just a job seeking website. Find out how to create a powerful profile, stay informed, get connected and build your personal brand.
7. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD A
POWERFUL PROFILE
Professional
headshots generate
more profile views
and drive higher
engagement.
Your headline is the
first thing people read.
Capture attention and
use keywords for
search optimisation.
List your jobs, including
accomplishments. Don’t
just say it, display it by
adding photos, videos or
presentations.
Describe your
career highlights
and the skills you
are proud of and
include a call to
action for people
reading your profile.
8. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD A
POWERFUL PROFILE
If you’re still
studying provide
an anticipated
completion date.
Volunteering is
often seen as
just as valuable
as paid work.
Add at least five key
skills that your
connections can
endorse you for.
Don‘t be shy when
it comes to
relevant honours
and awards.
9. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD A
POWERFUL PROFILE
Optimise for search with keywords:
Check job listings if you are unsure
which keywords are important in
your profession.
Create a custom URL:
Just search ‘Customizing Your Public
Profile URL’ in the help centre for
more information.
Turn notifications off:
When making small profile changes.
Recommendations:
Are great, but only ask people who
know you well.
PRO
TIPS
10. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD A
POWERFUL PROFILE
DO
NOT
Use an unprofessional
photo. Comedy, pets and
selfies belong on Facebook,
not LinkedIn.
11. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
FAQ: Should I get a premium account
Full profiles for 2nd and 3rd degree connections.
InMail messages and more introductions.
More search filters and profiles per search.
13. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
STAY INFORMED
Be inspired by the top 500 thought
leaders.
Stay informed with
channels relevant to
your profession.
Get your news in
one feed from top
publishers.
15. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
STAY INFORMED
Learn directly from industry leaders and best-in-class
brands by following them on LinkedIn and
getting their updates in your feed.
Join groups and be part of the
conversation. If you are active in
groups your profile is five times
more likely to be viewed.
16. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
STAY INFORMED
Stay in the know
Before an interview or important
meeting, follow the company on
LinkedIn and review some of the
recent posts. It’s a great conversation
starter to refer to some of the things
they are doing and they may check to
see if you are following!
Personalised recommendations
Your LinkedIn home page is populated
with personalised recommendations –
like jobs you might be interested,
groups you may like and companies
you may want to follow – based on
your LinkedIn profile and interests.
PRO
TIPS
17. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
STAY INFORMED
DO
NOT
Follow so many topics and
people you can never possibly
keep up with all of them.
19. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
GET CONNECTED
Click on ‘People you may know’
on the home page.
Check who’s viewed
you in case you’d like
to connect.
Upload and sync your contacts.
20. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
GET CONNECTED
Connect with a broad range of
contacts:
It’s not just who you know, but who
they know too.
Reach out to alumni:
Use your university page to sort
alumni by function, location and
current company.
Search on LinkedIn:
Use keywords and filters like location
and industry to find the right
connections.
PRO
TIPS
21. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
GET CONNECTED
DO NOT
Send blank connection
requests, particularly to
people you don’t know.
Always add a note explaining
why you want to connect.
Be aware that some mobile
devices don’t give you the
option to add a note.
23. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR
PERSONAL BRAND
Be authentic:
Personal branding is not about sales or
spin.
Be visible:
Update your status to tell people what
you are doing and what you are
thinking. Make sure you add your
opinion when you share an article.
Start a dialogue:
Tag companies or connections in your
updates. It’s all about the company you
keep.
1
2
3
24. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR
PERSONAL BRAND
Link to your personal communications:
Embed your LinkedIn profile URL into
your email signature and add it to your
resume and business card.
Be generous:
Give advice, share leads, provide
endorsements and congratulate
people’s achievements.
Be consistent:
Make sure you professional brand
sends the same message from your
LinkedIn profile, to your resume to your
other social networks.
4
5
6
25. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR
PERSONAL BRAND
It isn’t possible to catch up for a coffee
with everyone in your network. So
how do you stay in touch?
Use LinkedIn Connected:
Download the iPhone App for
notifications to remind you ton
congratulate contacts on work
anniversaries, job changes and other
news.
Sync your contacts and calendars with
Connected for pre meeting push
notifications.
PRO
TIP
26. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR
PERSONAL BRAND
PRO
TIP
If you have something substantial to
say, blog about it.
27. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR
PERSONAL BRAND
PRO
TIP
Don’t just accept connection requests,
acknowledge them.
28. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
DO NOT
Publish updates or blogs
without consideration of
your audience and their
interests.
30. LEVERAGING LINKEDIN
BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
DAILY
•Review your feed
•Post an update
•Comment, like and
share
WEEKLY
•Connect with new
contacts
•Participate in a
LinkedIn Group
discussion
•Review who is
viewing your
profile to ensure
you are attracting
the right audience
MONTHLY
•Review and update
your profile,
adding rich content
to showcase your
most recent work
•Get colleagues or
established
connections to
recommend you
•Touch base with
important contacts
in your network via
InMail