LinkedIn is one of the world’s largest
professional networks.
It is also one of the most popular networking
platforms for many young and experienced professionals in India. LinkedIn
optimizes job search options depending on locations and operational areas
thereby providing a hassle free platform to interact with the alumni and
professors of national cum international universities. What most LinkedIn users
aren't aware of is, that LinkedIn uses an internal set of algorithms to
prioritize certain profiles over others. This method gives the businesses and
individuals (who have optimized their accounts correctly) a leg up in using the
service to find jobs, clients and much more.
To help your profile fetch a strong ranking in the
internal search results, avoid these 7 mistakes on LinkedIn:
1.
No Display Picture
How would you react when you get a LinkedIn invite
from someone who has no picture? LinkedIn is a professional network and adding
a picture adds credit to your profile.
TIP: Have a genuine
one, current photos always score! Don’t put party pictures, it is not Facebook.
2. Ignoring
Customized URL
LinkedIn provides a facility where you can select a
public profile URL for your profile. If you edit your profile, the network
provides a way to change this. The URL that is generated initially by LinkedIn
is not search-friendly so select one that will help you appear better on search
results.
TIP: Generally people
would search you by your name so it makes sense to have a profile URL with your
name. This also helps your profile to be ranked high in the search results.
3.
Having Incomplete profiles
A complete profile not only gives LinkedIn
additional opportunities to identify search-related keywords but also the
companies are more likely to rank completed profiles over partially finished
ones.
TIP: If you aren't sure
whether you've filled out your profile completely, LinkedIn provides a helpful
tracker in each profile that shows both the percentage of fields completed and
any specific areas that still need information.
| 4. LinkedIn Requests |
If you are searching for jobs and prefer adding
people like a mission, there are chances that most of them reject your request.
By using the LinkedIn requests feature one can send personalized messages to
the people you want to add to your network.
TIP: If you know the person you are sending request to then it is fine, but if you are asking a complete stranger to add you (for professional reasons) to their network, then it makes sense to add a small note of introduction and the reason.
TIP: If you know the person you are sending request to then it is fine, but if you are asking a complete stranger to add you (for professional reasons) to their network, then it makes sense to add a small note of introduction and the reason.
5.
Not Participating in LinkedIn Groups
Participation in LinkedIn Groups can be as powerful a ranking signal as the size of your professional network. So, if you aren't having much luck connecting with new contacts, you can join groups to boost your overall level of profile activity. To find groups to join, you can search LinkedIn using your industry's keywords, as well as see which groups the members of your network participate in.
TIP: Once you become part of a group, do your best to contribute in a positive and professional way. Simply joining a group isn't as beneficial to your search ranking as actively engaging with it.
Participation in LinkedIn Groups can be as powerful a ranking signal as the size of your professional network. So, if you aren't having much luck connecting with new contacts, you can join groups to boost your overall level of profile activity. To find groups to join, you can search LinkedIn using your industry's keywords, as well as see which groups the members of your network participate in.
TIP: Once you become part of a group, do your best to contribute in a positive and professional way. Simply joining a group isn't as beneficial to your search ranking as actively engaging with it.
6. Not
using ‘keywords’ to your Profile Summary
As you're completing your profile include the keywords for which you'd like your name to appear in LinkedIn's internal search results. Try to think like your target clients or employers and focus on the keywords you believe they would search for. For example, you might target the long-tail keyword phrase, "Software Engineer trained in best code development practice." But the odds are small, that a potential client or employer will enter this exact phrase into the LinkedIn search feature. Instead, they're likely to search for phrases like "Embedded C" or "C programming". So in optimizing your LinkedIn profile, try to think like your target clients or employers and focus on the keywords you believe they would search for.
TIP: The “specialties” section of the summary is a great place to list your areas of expertise using descriptive keywords.
As you're completing your profile include the keywords for which you'd like your name to appear in LinkedIn's internal search results. Try to think like your target clients or employers and focus on the keywords you believe they would search for. For example, you might target the long-tail keyword phrase, "Software Engineer trained in best code development practice." But the odds are small, that a potential client or employer will enter this exact phrase into the LinkedIn search feature. Instead, they're likely to search for phrases like "Embedded C" or "C programming". So in optimizing your LinkedIn profile, try to think like your target clients or employers and focus on the keywords you believe they would search for.
TIP: The “specialties” section of the summary is a great place to list your areas of expertise using descriptive keywords.
7.
Not adding media to your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn started rolling out the ability to add photos, videos and other types of rich media to profiles. This can be a good way to boost your brand and profile.
TIP: To see if you have access to these features, log into your profile and click the pencil icon found in the Edit Profile area of your Summary, Expertise and Experience sections. If you see a small icon labelled “Add Media,” you’ll be able to create a freshened up professional profile on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn started rolling out the ability to add photos, videos and other types of rich media to profiles. This can be a good way to boost your brand and profile.
TIP: To see if you have access to these features, log into your profile and click the pencil icon found in the Edit Profile area of your Summary, Expertise and Experience sections. If you see a small icon labelled “Add Media,” you’ll be able to create a freshened up professional profile on LinkedIn.
Hope these tips help you to familiarize with
LinkedIn for your best benefits.
Do you have any more points to add on in the not-to-do list? Post your views...
Do you have any more points to add on in the not-to-do list? Post your views...
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