LinkedIn showcase pages allow you to create a customized page to highlight your skills, accomplishments, credentials, and work samples. They essentially act as an online portfolio or resume. But are they really worth the time and effort required to set them up?
What are the benefits of LinkedIn showcase pages?
There are several potential benefits to having a LinkedIn showcase page:
- Shows off your skills and credentials – You can include rich media like photos, videos, presentations, and documents to demonstrate your abilities.
- Customizable and professional – You have full control over the design, content, and messaging. It comes across as more professional than a standard profile.
- Discoverable to recruiters – Recruiters often search LinkedIn for talent. A showcase provides another way to get discovered.
- Shareable – The page has its own unique URL that you can share with your network and include on your resume.
- Credibility – It reinforces your personal brand and area of expertise.
- Lead generation – You can add CTAs to drive traffic to your website or funnel visitors into your sales pipeline.
What are the potential drawbacks?
However, there are also some potential cons to weigh:
- Time investment – It takes time to create a robust, professional-looking showcase page.
- Maintenance – You need to keep the content updated as you gain new skills and experience.
- Low visibility – There’s no guarantee viewers will find your page without heavy promotion.
- Work samples – You may not have ideal documents or media to showcase your abilities.
- Technical skills – You’ll need knowledge of graphic design, web development, and SEO to maximize effectiveness.
Who benefits most from showcase pages?
Certain LinkedIn members are more likely to gain value from developing a showcase page:
- Job seekers – Especially those in visual fields like design, photography, videography.
- Freelancers/consultants – A place to demonstrate expertise to prospects.
- Startup founders – Introduce a new brand, product, or service.
- Personal branding – Build name recognition and credibility.
- Sales professionals – Funnel visitors to lead gen offers.
What should you include in a showcase page?
Key elements to make your showcase page stand out:
- Hero image/banner – Makes a strong visual impact.
- About section – Summary of skills, experience, services.
- Portfolio samples – Photos, videos, documents to exhibit work.
- Testimonials – Social proof from satisfied clients or employers.
- Call-to-action – Invite viewers to get in touch.
- Custom URL – Memorable link to showcase page.
Best practices for creating an effective showcase
Follow these best practices when developing your LinkedIn showcase page:
- Choose a visually appealing template/layout.
- Showcase your 3-5 top skills or service offerings.
- Curate your best 5-7 work samples or portfolio pieces.
- Write an informative, keyword optimized About section.
- Include client logos and testimonials if possible.
- Link to your website, blog, and other social profiles.
- Update content regularly to keep it fresh.
- Promote your page URL on resumes, emails, and other platforms.
- Use calls-to-action to convert visitors.
How to optimize showcase pages for search
To maximize discoverability on LinkedIn search, follow these SEO best practices:
- Include target keywords in title and About section.
- Add keywords to image file names and alt text.
- Include keywords in custom URL slug.
- Insert keywords into headline and job titles.
- Use keywords in section headings (via H2, H3 tags).
- Publish blog posts and link to showcase page.
- Get backlinks from websites to showcase page.
Showcase page examples
Here are a few real-world examples of effective LinkedIn showcase pages:
- Artoftheme – Web design and development agency
- VisualCV – Online resume builder
- Jahangir Alam Sarkar – Professional photographer
- Caroline Kobia -HR consultant
Tracking performance and metrics
To determine if your showcase page is achieving results, track these key metrics:
- Page views – How many visitors?
- Unique visitors – Count of individual visitors.
- Bounce rate – Percentage who leave immediately.
- Time on page – Engagement measured in minutes.
- Scroll depth – How far visitors scroll down page.
- Clicks on CTA buttons – Conversions.
- Backlinks – How many sites link to your page?
Analytics tools like Google Analytics and LinkedIn’s native analytics provide this showcase page data.
Conclusion
Overall, LinkedIn showcase pages can be worth the investment for the right professional goals. Job seekers, freelancers, and personal brands stand to benefit the most from the increased visibility and credibility. However, they require an ongoing commitment to create compelling content and promote the page effectively. Track metrics like views and conversions to optimize performance over time. With a strategic approach, LinkedIn showcase pages can elevate your personal brand and open new career doors.