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Creating a compelling LinkedIn profile - LinkedIn profiles have a specific rhyme and reason to them, but it’s not always clear as to how to maximize effort. Take the time to learn, however, and it will greatly benefit you.

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Profile photo best practices - Your photo will likely be the first thing someone sees. It’s important to choose a professional and high-quality photo where you are the focal point.

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The art of the LinkedIn headline -

Don’t simply state your current job title in the headline. Instead, consider using descriptions. For example, a "marketing manager" might become a "results-driven marketing professional."

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Writing an engaging summary -

This is your opportunity to shine! Keep the summary concise and engaging, while focusing on what makes you unique. It’s also important to highlight your accomplishments and impact.

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The importance of a customized URL -

Make your profile easy to share by customizing the link. It’s more professional and makes it simple for others to search or type.

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Detailing experience and achievements - Be sure to list your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent at the top. Also, use bullet points to highlight key responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.

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Skills and endorsements - This section is important for keyword optimization and catching recruiters' eyes. Ensure that the skills you choose align with your expertise and are ideally relevant to the industry of your choosing.

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Recommendations - Recommendations add credibility to your profile and act as an endorsement from peers or superiors. Request a recommendation from people who can speak to your skills and work ethic.

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Building your network -

It is recommended that you send connection requests only to other professionals who you have actually interacted with either in person or online. If you are reaching out for the first time to a new contact, it’s better to send an InMail message.

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Add projects, certifications, and volunteer experience - Showcasing relevant work that you accomplished or are actively involved in can show a more holistic view of you as a person and your capabilities. These add depth to your profile and a commitment to continuous learning.

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Engage with content - Regularly engaging on LinkedIn through comments, sharing, and posting updates can help increase your professional visibility.

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Regularly update your profile - Keeping your profile current is key. Update it with any new skills, experiences, or achievements. These regular updates signal that you are involved in professional development.

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Do keep an eye on profile views -

Profile views are a great way to measure how your content is doing and if people are interested in you and what you have to say.

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Don’t post and ghost -

LinkedIn success is based on engagement, so it’s important to be active on the platform. If you post something, try to respond in the first three hours to other people's comments, etc.

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Do use hashtags - Hashtags increase visibility. The sweet spot is to use three and put them at the end of your post and not within the copy.

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Don’t use pictures in every post - LinkedIn is not Instagram. While the occasional use of pictures helps grab attention, overdoing it can have the opposite effect.

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Using LinkedIn for job searches -

LinkedIn can be leveraged to find the right job opportunities. There is a whole jobs section where you can filter by specifications such as seniority level or location.

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LinkedIn groups - It can be very beneficial to search and join groups from either your industry, skill level, or other specific qualification. This can ultimately help you network with like-minded professionals.

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LinkedIn Learning - Utilize LinkedIn’s educational resources to enhance your skills. After completing the coursework, you can add these applicable skills to your actual profile and be eligible for other careers.

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Privacy settings - Adjusting your LinkedIn privacy settings is important for controlling who sees your information and interactions. This will help maintain your professional image while protecting your personal data.

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LinkedIn for entrepreneurs - Entrepreneurs can leverage LinkedIn to grow their business networks. By connecting with potential investors, partners, and customers, entrepreneurs can capitalize on LinkedIn.

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Crafting and sending effective messages - To increase your chances of receiving a positive response to a message, make it personalized and concise, focusing on value.

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Showcasing projects and portfolios - Projects and portfolios are opportunities to showcase your work visually with tactical examples and proof. For example, a web designer could include screenshots of a website they designed.

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Events and webinars - LinkedIn allows you to target a quality, specific audience in a professional context for events or webinars. Expand your reach by posting and sharing information and links to sign up.

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Using LinkedIn internationally - It’s important to consider the culture in terms of global networking. Research if a company you’re contacting has a more hierarchical structure or a flatter, more approachable one.

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Alumni networking - LinkedIn offers options for reconnecting with your alma mater's alumni. It provides a platform to engage with fellow graduates who in turn can offer advice, mentorship, or even job opportunities.

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Advanced search techniques - With LinkedIn you can significantly streamline your search by mastering LinkedIn's advanced search. It allows you to pinpoint specific individuals, companies, and job opportunities by using filters like location and industry.

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LinkedIn and career development - LinkedIn is an important tool for long-term career growth. It offers a platform for industry news updates as well as insights that keep you informed of trends and in-demand skills in your field.

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Handling job transitions on LinkedIn -

After you transition jobs or are promoted to a new title, update your LinkedIn profile to reflect the changes to keep your network informed and to attract new connections in your new industry or role.

Sources: (LinkedIn)

See also: Simple ways to refresh your business image

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