So many of us have a LinkedIn account, but are we using it the most efficient way? Today we are discussing getting the most out of our LinkedIn profiles.

1. Perfecting a LinkedIn Page
By Ricardo Lopez
March 17, 2015
LinkedIncurrently has300+ Millionusersworldwide. Itisagreat tool to advertise yourself inthe professional world.The problemmanyof us
have isthat we do not getthe mostout of our page. We wouldlike togoovera few thingstodayand helpyoucreate the “PerfectLinkedIn
Page”.I myself,while writingthis, decidedtocompletelyrevampmyownpage.Neverfeellike youcan’tstartover.
Keep your profile updated
Many people thinkthatthe onlytime theyneedtouse theirLinkedInaccountiswhenthey’relookingforajobor a newjob. Thisservice canbe
usedforso much more than that. Get a promotionat work? Take a differentpositioninthe company?Make sure thatyou keepthese events
updatedonyour profile.Justbecauseyouaren’tlookingforajobdoesn’tmeanthatyour successdoesn’ttranslate assuccessforyouor your
company.To some degree yourpage isan advertisementforyourcompany.Justasyou are an extensionof yourcompanyyourcompanyisan
extensionof you.
A picture is worth a thousand jobs
The firstimpressionyoumake onsomeone isyourprofilepicture. Now we all have thatgreatpicture of ourselvesthat
we usuallyuse forothersites butremember,thispicture will viewedbyyourboss,yourcoworkers,future bosses,
future coworkers...Whatyouwantisa professionallydone picture.Thismaynotalwaysbe an option.A wayaround
thisisto make your own.We all have amazingcamerason our phoneswe mayas well use themforgood.Have a friend
take a picture of youin frontof a solidcoloredwall. Trytochannel more of a Presidential lookratherthanyourold
highschool photowiththe laserbackground.Anotherthingtoconsideris itshould alsomatchthe industryyou’re
workingin.If youwork inan office aprofessional picturemostlikelysuitsyou.Howeverif you’re apark rangermaybe
somethingoutdoors withamoose inthe background wouldgive the impressionyou wanttomake to the worldoutthere.
Make a statement with your personal summary
Make a call to action inyour summary itshouldbe appropriate and still getyourmessage across.Make sure to ask a fewthingsbefore youwrite
thisout.What do you wantthemto learnaboutyou fromreadingthis?Whodo youwant readingthis? Make it standoutand personal to
yourself. Asksomeone youtrusttowrite downwhattheyfindare your bestqualities. Sometimesgettinganoutside perspectiveonyourbetter
traitsgive youa bettersense of knowingwhatyou’re goodat. Alsoremembertokeepitunder2,000 words,anylongerthanthat and itcan tend
to drag on a bit. Alsodon’tforgetLinkedInallowsyoutoaddvideo,picturesanddocumentstoyoursummary.
Make sure people can find you
Make sure to include yourcurrentandpossiblyfuture contactinformation. If youare movingtoa newareamake sure to update your
location.If youare lookingforworkinBostonwhenpeople see youlive inSeattleyoudon’tseemlikeaveryviable option. This
seemsprettyobviousbutpeople don’talwaysthinkaboutit.
Sometimes Beauty is in Simplicity
As the oldsayinggoessometimesmore isless.Thiscanalsobe true withyouraccount. Pastjobsin yourfieldorvolunteerworkwill alwayslook
good,howeverthatbartendingjobyouhadwhile workingthroughschool maylose the attentionof the reader.Keepitrelevanttowhatyoudo
todayand what youwantto do tomorrow.
Quality over quantity
Do not getLinkedInconfusedwithsomeof the othersocial sites.Whatyou’re supposedtobe doingisbuilding
valuable professional relationshipswithtrustedindividuals.Beforeyoureachoutto someone alwaysdoalittle
researchon them.LinkedInallowsyoutocustomize how youknow thisperson.Thiswaypeoplecanseparate
someone youused toworkwitha fewyearsago from a neighborwhoyoumeta barbeque lastsummer.
Get a second set of eyes.
It isalwaysa good ideatohave someone proofread yourwork. We’ve all hadthose momentswhenthingssoundedsomuchbetterinourheads
than whenwe saidthem.Letsomeone tell youif asentence doesn’tmake senseoryouusedthe wrongform or youror you’re.
Howeveryoudecide tofill yourpage justmake it yourown.This isa great wayto broadcast not onlyyourprofessional accomplishmentsbut
your personal accomplishmentstothe businessworld.Thinkof LinkedInasa constantlychangingresume of yourpast,presentandfuture
accomplishments.