When creating a LinkedIn profile, you’re not just filling out a form to list your career milestones or write a short bio. You’re crafting a marketing landing page that represents you as a professional, working for you 24/7 online.

The primary principle behind building such a profile is SEO (search engine optimization). To boost your profile’s visibility, you must make the most of relevant keywords.

If you’ve followed previous guides, you already know how to attract attention from potential employers, partners, or clients through your photo, banner, About section, and experience descriptions. Now, it’s time to figure out how to guide visitors through your entire profile and convince them to take the next step: invite you to an interview or a meeting to discuss a project.

Be patient—updates to your profile won’t immediately be indexed by search engines. Indexing can take a month or more, but once it’s complete, you’ll start seeing a significant increase in visits to your profile.

 

Key Reminders for Profile Success

 

• Focus on Your Target Audience

Understanding who your ideal employer or client is will help you craft a profile that speaks directly to them.

• SEO and Keywords Are Essential

Incorporate keywords and their variations into your headline, title, About section, and skills to maximize visibility.

• Capture and Retain Attention

It’s not enough to draw attention—you need to hold it with high-quality content.

• Aim for Conversions

Your ultimate goal is to receive invitations for interviews or project discussions.

 

Pro Tips: Keyword Variations

 

Using alternative spellings and variations of your role can make your profile more searchable. For example:

• Fullstack = fullstack = full-stack = full stack

• QA = Quality Assurance = Testing = Tester

• Accounting = Bookkeeping = book keeping

 

Ways to Enhance Your Profile

 

• Education, Licenses, Certifications, and Courses

Even if your education isn’t directly related to your current field, it demonstrates your ability to complete long-term goals and broadens your perspective. Always list completed higher education and mention relevant courses taken in the past five years.

• Skills

Ensure your profile includes both hard skills (technical and professional expertise) and soft skills (communication, leadership, etc.).

• Languages

Be realistic and precise when indicating your language proficiency. Use LinkedIn’s standardized language proficiency scale.

• Projects

Describe the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved. Include links to your portfolio, company website, or product pages where applicable.

• Recommendations and Endorsements

Whenever possible, add recommendations from colleagues or clients. These endorsements are a powerful way to show that you’re both competent and a pleasure to work with.

 

Keep It Real: Avoid "Fantasy" Profiles

 

Your profile should reflect your authentic self. Honesty fosters trust with potential employers and partners. Build relationships on mutual respect and transparency.

Evidence That Supports Your Profile:

• Certifications

• Professional experience

• Portfolio

• Pet projects

• Media mentions

• Recommendations

Tell a Story Worth Reading

Write a profile that:

• Uses the right keywords to make it discoverable.

• Is visually appealing and easy to read.

• Engages readers and makes them want to know more about you.

• Invites them to make you a part of their team’s success story.

Regular Updates: Your Profile Grows With You

Keep your profile up to date by regularly adding new skills, achievements, and projects.

P.S. Don’t forget to export your polished profile as a PDF and take a look at it from an outsider’s perspective. Make sure it feels like a masterpiece!

Ready to become the author of your own professional bestseller? Time to get to work!

 

Julia Jolkin 👠👠

Top IT Recruiter & LinkedIn Expert

 

Feel free to contact me if you need:

• A review of your LinkedIn profile to understand how potential employers, partners, or clients perceive it. This will help you quickly find a job or confidently promote your services at any time. Sign up for the upcoming LinkedIn Makeover session.

• A career consultation to revise your career path and skills, especially if you haven’t been to an interview in a while and want to prepare thoroughly.