How to personalize your LinkedIn account

Personalizing your LinkedIn account is essential for building a professional online presence and standing out among other professionals. In this blog post, we will discuss how to optimize your LinkedIn account for better visibility, more engagement and increased chances of being found by potential employers or clients. Moreover, your IndigoPathway results can help you add that personal touch!

The great news is that your IndigoPathway results will help you add that extra special personal touch to your profile! We recommend you follow the steps in Part 2 of this blog series to use your IndigoPathway results to create a resume summary statement before starting your LinkedIn profile.

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, create one now!

Here’s an overview video on how to create a LinkedIn account

About Section

Add the professional summary you crafted for your resume to the About section of your LinkedIn page. Think of LinkedIn as your online resume – it should have all of the same information as your resume but can be presented in a less formal, more personable tone.

Use keywords

Use keywords that are relevant to your industry and the type of job you’re seeking to help your profile show up in search results. These keywords can be used in the summary, skills, job titles and descriptions to help recruiters and hiring managers find your profile and understand your qualifications and experience.

Here are a few examples of specific keywords that could be used in a LinkedIn profile:

Leadership
Management
Teamwork
Strategic Planning
Communication
Problem Solving
Project Management
Customer Service
Sales
Marketing
Networking
Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Digital Marketing
Business Development
Analytical Thinking
Performance Management
Change Management
Time Management
Training and Development

Examples of keyword categories for a LinkedIn profile include:

Job titles and responsibilities
Technical skills and software
Industry-specific terms and buzzwords
Education and certifications
Professional accomplishments and awards
Relevant volunteer work and extracurricular activities
Languages spoken
Personal traits and soft skills
Career goals and aspirations

Highlight your accomplishments

Enhance your About section by adding a personal mission statement and any hobbies or interests you want to highlight. Use specific examples of your educational or professional achievements and successes to demonstrate the value you can bring to a potential employer or client.

Show your Personality

Use a conversational tone and inject some of your personality into your summary. This can help make you stand out and be more memorable to potential employers or clients. You can modify words from your IndigoPathway results summary page!

Provide Contact Information

Facilitate easy communication by providing contact details! In addition to LinkedIn’s messaging feature, consider listing alternative methods such as email or social media for networking contacts and potential employers to reach out to you directly.

Customize your URL

Customize your LinkedIn profile URL to make it easy for people to find and remember you. Learn how to do this here.

Keep it short and Sweet

Keep your summary short and to the point, ideally under 200 words, so that people can quickly get a sense of who you are and what you do. Make sure you talk about your true intrinsic self, not just external accomplishments. Again, your IndigoPathway results can help you with this!

Keep it up-to-date

Regularly update your LinkedIn summary to reflect your current skills, experiences, and accomplishments.

Connect and Engage

Engaging actively on LinkedIn is essential for cultivating a thriving professional network. By regularly posting updates, commenting on others’ posts, and following relevant pages, you not only showcase your expertise but also foster meaningful connections within your industry. Sharing articles and insights related to your interests demonstrates your passion and expertise, further establishing you as a thought leader in your field. Don’t hesitate to engage authentically and generously—it’s the key to building a robust and influential presence on LinkedIn.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to personalize your LinkedIn account and make it more effective in showcasing your professional brand, skills, and experiences. This can help you to stand out among other professionals and increase your chances of being found by potential employers or clients. Remember, your LinkedIn profile is a reflection of who you are and what you can bring to the table, so make sure it is a true representation of your professional self.