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LinkedIn Profile Best Practices – Part 1

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Updated March 1, 2025

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15 Tips To Maximize Your LinkedIn Presence

Think of your LinkedIn profile as free PR that feeds your organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) marketing efforts. So how can you best capitalize on it to get more visibility for you and your business? I’m glad you asked. Here are my top 15 tips to make your LinkedIn profile stand out:

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1. A Complete LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn rewards those who have a complete profile. Check your Profile Strength. If it’s not complete, you’re getting left out of search (more on keywords and LinkedIn search later). There are several sections that make up a LinkedIn profile, some more elaborate and time-consuming than others. It may take several attempts to fill all the fields out. Whenever possible, take advantage of every module, line, and character available to you. You’ll know that your profile has achieved maximum strength when you are given the option to share your profile on Facebook or Twitter.

2. Concise LinkedIn Profile Summary

Never (ever) leave the summary area blank. Yes, include your current and past job experience but a well-written summary sets the tone. This is prime real estate for you to talk about:

  • What problems do you solve?
  • Why are you different from others doing the same thing?
  • How you help your clients (quantifiable results and other benefits)?

Your summary should have enough information to intrigue but not so much as to bore your potential audience. One of my pet peeves is starting too many sentences with “I.” While your LinkedIn profile is about you and what your business offers, the reader is looking for what’s in it for me (WIIFM). Demonstrate your value and get to the point. And, show some personality while you’re at it. People buy from people, and your LinkedIn profile provides a window into who you really are. Authenticity counts. Then wrap it up in a bow with a clear call to action.

3. Avoid These Tired Buzzwords

Every year the LinkedIn team refreshes their popular buzzwords analysis. Here are the top 10 words to avoid in your LinkedIn profile:

  • Creative
  • Organizational
  • Effective
  • Motivated
  • Extensive Experience
  • Track Record
  • Innovative
  • Responsible
  • Analytical
  • Problem Solving

Ok, I just got started on my 15 tips. Check back Tuesday for some more.

About Alyson Harrold

Alyson is Co-CEO and Chief Storyteller. Prior to forming the agency, her career spanned media (NBC-TV affiliates and city magazine, international ad agency) and positions like C-Suite financial services marketer and digital marketing consultant. Alyson learned how the right medium with the right message can attract the right audience. With her team, Alyson helps brands have meaningful customer interactions. Now she teaches those lessons—among others—as a UC Berkeley Extension instructor in her SEO and Digital Marketing courses since 2014. Alyson shares her knowledge as a speaker at preeminent digital marketing conferences around the country like Digital Growth Unleashed and more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Stephen (@Carol_Stephen)

    Thanks for the list of “tired” buzzwords. “Creative” is one that has been tired for quite some time. I’d much rather have someone show me how they’re creative than tell me how creative they are. 🙂

    Reply

    • Alyson Harrold

      What a creative comment 😉 Uploading a presentation or other work sample that shows your creative chops is so much more interesting. Any other buzz word you’d add to the list?

      Reply

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