Whether you’re increasing your network, building your brand, looking for new opportunities or growing your influence as an industry expert, optimising to get more LinkedIn profile views is an important factor you need to consider.
With over 380 million users (and 2 new users signing up every second of the day)*, the network offers, for those who put the effort in, the excellent potential to further their careers and meet exciting and influential new connections.
Below are just 7 ways to get people clicking on your profile.
1. Include your LinkedIn profile link on other social networks
Although an obvious move, many professionals (including me until recently) forget to include their LinkedIn profile on other social networks. There’s nothing wrong with directing people to your LinkedIn profile from networks like Twitter or Facebook (as long as you’re maintaining a solid personal brand across these platforms).
Most professionals will have multiple social accounts active and spreading your LinkedIn profile across these will increase your visibility and profile views.
2. Don’t cloak your profile when viewing others
If you want reciprocal views from LinkedIn members, then don’t hide your details when viewing others on the network. Even if you only attract a couple of profile views it could be one of these that leads to new, exciting opportunities.
To alter your profile visibility go to ‘Settings’ and amend the options under ‘Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile’.
3. View profiles of networking interest
Expanding on the above, make an effort to view the profiles of those professionals who you wish to network with or attract attention.
If you’re not quite ready to engage with them directly, dipping a toe in the networking water may provide an ‘in’ for you to begin a dialogue and eventually connect.
4. Make sure you include commonly used keywords in your ‘Professional Headline’
Your professional headline is the key to people finding you and it’s the stand out section of your profile when the page first loads.
Include commonly used terms and keywords in your headline, rather than being too specific and niche. The more obvious the headline wording, the greater the chances that people will use the terms in their searches.
On average, you’ll increase profile views by 13 times simply by adding your skills.
Below is a list of the top skills listed on LinkedIn profiles that got people hired. If any of the below are relevant to you, yet not included on your profile, it might be an idea to add them!
5. Publish some relevant posts
Publishing content you’ve created on LinkedIn is an effective way to attract new, like-minded profile views.
As well as growing your personal brand and improving your influence, you get the chance to place your work in front of thousands (if not millions) of prospective users who, after they’ve read your post, may well want to view your profile to find out more.
6. Customise your profile URL
Did you know that you’re not stuck with the profile URL that LinkedIn originally assigns you? Simply go to your profile and edit the link under your profile image.
If you’re including this link on business cards or elsewhere on the net, then it’s far easier for others to remember it if it bears some relevance to your profile.
7. That profile photo
Your profile is 11 times more likely to be viewed if you include a profile photo. With this additional power comes great responsibility – to use a decent image!
In pretty much every ‘improve your LinkedIn profile’ article it’s advised to use a decent, clear and professional profile photo. It’s astounding that some people still have a photo that’s either a blurred phone shot while on holiday, a cartoon character or just an inappropriate image of themselves.
When LinkedIn members run a search for profiles, your photo will be included in the results. If the first visual representation that they see of you is one more suited to the archives of a holiday album on Facebook, then it’s likely you’ll be bypassed.