Whether you are an entrepreneur or simply looking to escalate to the top of your current company, there is no better platform to utilize than LinkedIn. Over 260 million people use the LinkedIn login and over 40% of those are logging in on a daily basis. If you’re not already on the platform, don’t worry! Setting up your professional Linkedin profile is easy. And Online Profile Pros is a Linkedin optimization service so we can show you exactly what you need for fast results!

Getting the LinkedIn Login

Like most online platforms the LinkedIn login page is easy to find and user-friendly. You can find the LinkedIn login at https://www.linkedin.com/login.

You can sign in using your Google email account or another email address that you have immediate access to. Once you have chosen an email to set up your account with, you will be prompted to input a password of six characters or more.

Next, you will add in your first and last name, your country or region, and postal code. You will then be requested to fill out your most recent job title, company, and which industry your professional career is in (you can also choose a student option).

And that’s it!

How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Results

Now that you have an account set up, it’s time to make the most out of your account. LinkedIn is built specifically for professionals looking to make connections. Just think of it as a never-ending networking event.

LinkedIn encourages users to only add people that you know in real life. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t grow your LinkedIn profile significantly. Our LinkedIn optimization service helps you achieve those results and keeps your connections relevant and beneficial to your career— no matter the industry.

Here’s what you will need in order to make your LinkedIn profile an instant success:

1. Get a Custom URL

After the LinkedIn login and initial setup, you will get the option to designate your profile with a custom URL. A custom URL will make your profile easier to find, and therefore, more visible for connections and recruiters.

You can optimize this by going to the Me icon at the top right of your profile. Once you View My Profile, you will see the option for Edit Public Profile & URL on the right (or the little pencil icon).

Here you can edit your profile header picture, profile picture, name, headline, current position, and at the bottom your custom URL. You generally just want to use your first and last name. If you have a common name, you can differentiate it by adding a few more simple characters (i.e., john-smith-writer).

2. Use A Great Profile Photo

Remember, your profile photo is going to be a key asset in getting people to click on your profile. That’s why you don’t want to use photos such as landscapes, initials, or even your company logo. Make sure you upload a professional picture of yourself (that means no selfies). It should be about 400 x 400 px. 

You also don’t want to leave your headline photo blank. This is a great place to upload a photo of your company logo or an action shot that represents what you do. Non-copyrighted, still images work just as well. For example, if you’re a photographer, you might want to have a picture of a DSLR camera as your header photo. These should be no more than 1584 x 396 px.

3. Get An “All-Star” Status

LinkedIn’s All-Star status button is an indicator that your profile is going to be more readily found. In order to obtain this coveted status, you need to fill out your profile from top to bottom.

After your LinkedIn login page, go through and be sure to fill out the entirety of your profile. Your headline should indicate what you do for a living or what type of work you are searching for. Make sure to highlight your areas of expertise within this 120-character portion of your profile.

You also need to fill out your skills, education, current position, and previous experience. And don’t skip the door– you want to incorporate as many details as possible into these sections. Use the summary section to highlight your key strengths as this will be the first place your possible connections will rest their eyes on.

4. SEO Implementation

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it has to be used everywhere on the internet. Even on platforms like LinkedIn. People who use the LinkedIn login page every day usually head straight for the search bar in order to find connections or employees. For example, if an IT company is looking for experienced technicians, they will search key phrases such as “IT,” “IT technician,” or “Experienced IT tech.”

If you want to be among the top results, you need to use these key terms throughout your profile. Your field or job title should appear in your headline, your summary, your education details, and of course, your work experience. It might even help to name your profile picture and header image with those key terms.

5. Be Short And Concise

Although you want to include all the pertinent details about your professional career on your LinkedIn profile, you still want to keep it clear and crisp. Nobody wants to read through paragraphs on paragraphs of your accomplishments. Keep your sentences short and concise. Using bullets to highlight your career achievements is also a great tactic. Our LinkedIn optimization service also sees greater success in LinkedIn profiles that use headers or titles in their summary section to clearly divide up the text.

6. Include Statistics and Media

One aspect of your profile that people will be excited to see are examples of your work. Using open-ended phrases doesn’t really sell on platforms like LinkedIn. Instead, throw in some statistics about your work history. Are you a social media marketer that raised a client’s social presence by 85%? Add that under your job experience title. Are you a photographer that is prioritized as the local wedding photographer? It won’t hurt to include samples of your work on your LinkedIn page.

Statistics and media can and should be used for any industry professional. Numbers and images are better at grabbing the readers attention. And as they say, “pictures are worth a thousand words.” So don’t just tell your network what you have to offer, show them.

7. Submit Articles to LinkedIn Pulse

When you first sign up for this platform, one of the first features you will see after the LinkedIn login page is the option to post your first blog. LinkedIn presents the unique opportunity to act as your publishing platform in lieu of setting up your own website. It’s referred to as LinkedIn Pulse.

These articles can not only give evidence of your knowledge in your field, but it works as an SEO benefit as well. When you publish an article, a notification will be sent to your own circle of connects. However, it also offers the ability to reach beyond your network, thus, generating an even larger LinkedIn base. These articles will help establish your reputation while simultaneously acting as a way to build your credibility within your preferred industry.

8. Find Industry Groups

Our LinkedIn optimization service recommends that once you set up your LinkedIn page to its All-Star status, you should start edging yourself into industry groups. Industry groups can be found on LinkedIn through the simple search toolbar. These are great areas to find like-minded individuals that can help build your online presence. You can also use these groups to share your related LinkedIn Pulse articles.

If you’re not sure which groups to join, read the About sections and skim through the posts to see what each one has to offer.

9. Get Endorsements and Recommendation

Endorsements and recommendations act as easy references. Just like e-commerce companies need reviews of their products, you need reviews of your work on your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn endorsements are listed under your Skills and Expertise. Once you choose your skills (i.e. blogger, writer, copywriter), your connects are able to click the “endorse” button which essentially acts as a way to confirm your skills.

Recommendations, on the other hand, are written recommendations in the form of a paragraph that is left by previous colleagues, professors, or clients. These appear at the bottom of your LinkedIn profile. You can swap endorsements or recommendations with your friends and colleagues or simply leave comments on their profile in hopes they will return the favor.

10. Make It Easy To Read and Navigate

Most important of all is that your overall LinkedIn profile is easy on the eyes. Don’t use too much text— or too many images, for that matter. Make sure to include the most valuable and relevant work experience so that your history is easier to follow. LinkedIn generously lays out your profile’s general setting, but it’s your job to make sure that your profile is one that people will remember.

If you need help optimizing your LinkedIn for success, contact Online Profile Pros for an all-inclusive LinkedIn profile setup! Or even consider a personal branding expert!