Having just your name as your LinkedIn profile is quite common, especially when you first create your account. However, to make your profile stand out and portray your professional brand, it’s important to go beyond just having your name.
Why you should customize your LinkedIn profile
There are several key reasons why you’ll want to customize your LinkedIn profile beyond just your name:
- Shows who you are – Your name doesn’t communicate anything about your skills, experience, interests, etc. Customizing your profile allows you to showcase your professional brand.
- Stands out – Generic profiles with just a name get lost in the mix. Adding rich profile details makes you more discoverable and memorable.
- Builds connections – A robust, customized profile gives people more reasons to connect and network with you.
- Enhances searchability – Profiles with detailed info on skills, titles, education, etc. are more likely to appear in LinkedIn search results.
- Demonstrates thought leadership – Sharing insights, articles, projects, etc. on your profile shows your industry knowledge and expertise.
In short, a customized LinkedIn profile makes you look more attractive to potential employers, partners, and colleagues vs. a sparse profile with just your name.
LinkedIn profile sections to customize
Here are some of the key LinkedIn profile sections you’ll want to fill out to create a robust profile:
Headline
Your LinkedIn headline (just under your name) is valuable profile real estate. Use it to summarize your current role, level, and professional brand. For example: “Director of Marketing @ Company | Developing customer-focused digital strategies.”
About section
Use your about section to share your background, career summary, future goals, interests, etc. Write it from a first-person perspective to bring your profile to life.
Experience
Detail the companies and roles you have held throughout your career. Focus on responsibilities, achievements, and results vs. just job duties.
Education
List your degrees, certifications, and other academic credentials. Include details like your major/minor, clubs, study abroad programs, and course projects.
Skills
Showcase the key skills and expertise you bring to the table. Include both hard skills (e.g. analytics, Java, Adobe Creative Suite) and soft skills (leadership, communication, teamwork).
Accomplishments
Highlight major accomplishments like publications, awards, patents, speaking engagements, volunteer work, and causes you support.
Recommendations
Ask managers, colleagues, professors, etc. to write LinkedIn recommendations to endorse your skills and vouch for your work.
Interests
Share hobbies, community groups, and other interests outside work to give connections more personal context.
Media
Embed or link to media like SlideShare presentations, YouTube videos, photos, and podcasts you’ve created.
Profile customization tips
Here are some additional tips for customizing your LinkedIn profile:
- Choose a professional profile photo – Use a quality headshot of you alone dressed in business or business casual attire.
- Write an engaging summary – Tell your career story and showcase what makes you unique. Use keywords to enhance discoverability.
- Show don’t tell – Provide examples and proof of claims vs. just making statements about your skills and accomplishments.
- Showcase thought leadership – Link to articles, blogs, videos, SlideShares, etc. you’ve created to establish your authority.
- Optimize with keywords – Include targeted keywords throughout your profile to get found in LinkedIn search.
- Keep it updated – Edit your profile as you take on new roles, complete projects, earn credentials, etc. to stay current.
LinkedIn profile customization checklist
Use this checklist to customize your LinkedIn profile:
Profile Section | Customization Tips |
---|---|
Photo | Add a professional headshot of yourself |
Headline | Summarize your current role and professional brand |
About | Share your career summary, background, goals, etc. |
Experience | Detail your work history with responsibilities and achievements |
Education | List degrees, certifications, and other credentials |
Skills | Showcase hard and soft skills |
Accomplishments | Highlight awards, publications, patents, etc. |
Recommendations | Get endorsements from colleagues and managers |
Interests | Share hobbies, causes, and groups |
Media | Link presentations, videos, photos, etc. |
Conclusion
While it’s easy to create a barebones LinkedIn profile with just your name, customizing your profile is key to standing out and effectively representing your personal brand. Be sure to fill out all the main profile sections, incorporate relevant keywords, update it regularly, and show off your expertise and achievements. The effort you put into your LinkedIn profile can pay major dividends in advancing your career through new jobs, clients, partnerships, and opportunities.