3 LinkedIn Profile Sections To Update Right Now

Provided by Alyssa Gelbard, Founder & President, Point Road Group

Every day your LinkedIn profile plays a critical role in providing an impression of who you are. It’s one of the most visible aspects of your digital personal brand, whether someone Googles you or searches for you specifically on LinkedIn. Having an updated profile not only helps you make the best impression possible, but it also impacts connection and opportunities.
 
While today might not be the best time to update your headshot (especially if you haven’t had a haircut or color in months), it’s absolutely the right time to update the following sections:
 
  1. Headline
If you only list a job title in your headline, you’re missing a great opportunity to tell people about yourself. A title alone limits information you communicate, especially if you work at an organization that doesn’t have brand recognition. A well-written headline helps others gain a topline sense of who you are, so take advantage of the real estate. When you appear in search results, an informative headline can entice others to click through to your profile. Describe your specialties, results you drive, industry or functional expertise etc., which can drive readers to want to learn more.
 
For example, consider two possible headlines: SVP Finance at Acme & Associates or Finance Executive Scaling Digital Advertising Agencies / Business Strategy, M&A and Operational Improvement. Not only does the latter communicate more information and impact, the keywords drive greater visibility with recruiters and hiring managers.
 
  1. About
If you’ve pasted a brief summary from the last version of your resume, it’s time to update the About section. This is your chance to tell your story. Consider who you’d like to reach and who you reach already. Start with the most important information in the first few lines (before the “see more” cut off), expanding on the base of your headline. Introduce who you are and what you bring to the table. Unpack what you mention in your headline. Where does your expertise lie? Do you have deep industry experience? Do you have global experience? Add other relevant information like certifications and board roles, plus anything that rounds out who you are, like technical skills, volunteer leadership experience and language fluency.
 
In addition, avoid long paragraphs – scrolling through them on a phone can lose the reader’s attention. Break them up into shorter ones or use bullets too.
 
  1. Experience
For starters, make sure your profile reflects your current position and organization. If you’ve been the CFO for the past year, it doesn’t reflect well on you (or your company) if you’re still listed as Vice President, Finance. Similarly, if you’ve had a new job for six months, your profile shouldn’t show that you’re still employed by your former firm.
 
If you serve on the board of a public or private company, this is the section to include that information. Otherwise, you miss out on showing a unique aspect of your professional experience that can positively impact credibility and opportunities. It also augments your skill set and demonstrates a higher level of responsibility.
 
LinkedIn visibility is largely impacted by what you write in your profile. Be sure it’s current and includes compelling information. A periodic review of profile content should be on your to do list – it will ensure you communicate current and optimized information and enable you to reach target audiences.
 
Related Reading:
  1. https://pointroadgroup.com/linkedin-profile-mistakes/
  2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2020/04/02/valuable-linkedin-features-to-use-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
  3. https://www.fastcompany.com/90508311/7-changes-to-make-your-linkedin-profile-if-youve-been-laid-off