When you do a LinkedIn search, your profile may show up in the search results. This is called a “search appearance”. Getting search appearances can help increase your visibility and expand your professional network on LinkedIn. But what exactly counts as a search appearance? There are a few key factors that determine whether your profile will appear in someone’s search results.
Keyword Relevance
First and foremost, your profile needs to be relevant to the keywords used in the search. LinkedIn’s search algorithm will scan your profile and look for matches between the search keywords and the content in your profile – including your headline, summary, experience descriptions, skills, accomplishments, etc.
If you have the searched keywords prominently featured in your profile, you’re more likely to appear in the results. But if your profile content doesn’t contain the keywords, you likely won’t show up. So having a robust, keyword-optimized profile is key for getting those search appearances.
Profile Strength
LinkedIn also considers your overall profile strength and completeness when determining search rankings. Profiles that are 100% complete tend to rank higher than incomplete profiles. That’s because LinkedIn wants to show users the most informative profiles in search results.
You can check your profile completeness by going to your LinkedIn profile and looking under the “View profile” section. Strengthen your profile by adding a professional headshot, customizing your LinkedIn URL, filling out all sections, getting recommendations, and more.
Connections & Engagement
The number of connections and level of engagement you have on LinkedIn also impact search rankings. More connections and engagement signals to LinkedIn that you’re an active, reputable user on the platform.
You can increase connections by sending customized invites, joining groups, and interacting strategically. Boost engagement by sharing content, commenting on posts, liking and reacting to others’ activity, and messaging connections.
Location
Your location and the searcher’s location can influence if you appear in their results. LinkedIn aims to deliver the most locally relevant profiles higher up in search.
So if someone is searching from the same city as you, you may rank higher than other profiles. But you can still appear for searches outside your location as long as there is strong keyword relevance.
What Counts as a Search Appearance
Now that we’ve covered the main search appearance factors, here’s a breakdown of what types of LinkedIn searches you can get search appearances from:
Primary Profile Searches
If someone searches your full name or LinkedIn username, your profile should appear at the top of the results (assuming you have a strong, complete profile). This is the most direct way to get a search appearance.
Keyword Searches
When people search keywords like job titles, skills, companies, industries, etc., you can rank highly and get a search appearance if those keywords are included in your profile. Make sure to sprinkle important keywords throughout your profile.
Location-Based Searches
When someone searches for professionals in a certain city, region, or country, you can get a search appearance by having that location in your profile. List your city and region in your location field.
Title Searches
Searching for a job title like “Social Media Manager” or “Accountant” allows you to show up when people search for those titles. Include your current and past job titles in your experience section.
Company Name Searches
Having your company name in your experience and headline makes you viewable for searches about that company. This works for current and past companies you’ve worked for.
Group Searches
If people search for groups on LinkedIn, members of that group will appear. So join relevant industry and interest groups to get found through group searches.
School Searches
You can potentially show up when people search for alumni of schools you attended. List all of your education details.
“People Also Viewed” Section
When viewing someone else’s profile, you may see a “People Also Viewed” section along the right rail. If you appear there, it counts as a search appearance.
“People You May Know” Section
The “People You May Know” section that shows up on your homepage is based on search algorithms. If you appear there for someone, it’s considered a search appearance.
Shared Connection Searches
When people search for 2nd & 3rd degree connections, you can show up in their results and get another search appearance.
How to Increase LinkedIn Search Appearances
Now that you know the different types of searches that count as search appearances, here are some tips to increase your chances of appearing in results:
- Optimize your profile with relevant keywords like skills, titles, certifications.
- Get endorsements for your skills to improve keyword relevance.
- Include numbers, stats, and accomplishments to showcase your experience.
- Add media like images, videos, presentations to boost content.
- Publish long-form posts to improve overall engagement.
- Follow companies to stay updated on new job openings.
- Join location-based and industry-focused groups.
- Engage with other high-profile profiles by liking and commenting.
Consistency is key. The more optimized your profile is, and the more active you are on the platform, the more LinkedIn search appearances you can accumulate over time.
How Many Search Appearances Per Week is Good?
How many LinkedIn search appearances per week should you aim for? There are no absolute benchmarks, as it depends on your industry and goals. However, here are some general guidelines:
| LinkedIn Profiles | Ideal Weekly Search Appearances |
|---|---|
| Student/Entry Level | 10-20 |
| Professional/Manager | 20-50 |
| Director Level & Above | 50-100 |
| Active Job Seeker | 100+ |
The most important thing is to continually increase your search appearances over time. Aim to improve upon your previous week’s totals. And take note of which types of content, activities, and profile updates help drive the biggest gains.
How to Check Your LinkedIn Search Appearances
Wondering how you can check how many LinkedIn search appearances you’re currently getting? Here are a couple ways:
Your LinkedIn Profile
On your LinkedIn profile, look for the search appearance metric under ” viewing insights” in the sidebar. This shows you how many times you appeared in search results over the past 90 days.
LinkedIn Recruiter Tool
If you have a premium LinkedIn Recruiter account, this tool provides more detailed analytics on your search appearance totals and trends over time. You can filter by date range and search type.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Upgraded Sales Navigator accounts also give you access to search appearance data. Navigate to “My Network Statistics” and select “Search Appearances” to analyze your results.
LinkedIn Audience Analytics
LinkedIn Audience Analytics is a social media analytics tool you can use to track your overall LinkedIn performance. Search appearances are one of the many available metrics.
Google Analytics
If you have your LinkedIn profile URL linked to Google Analytics, you can view search appearance data under Acquisition > Search Console > Queries.
Conclusion
Maximizing LinkedIn search appearances should be part of your overall social media strategy. By optimizing your profile content, engaging on the platform, and monitoring your analytics, you can boost your visibility and expand your professional network. Aim to improve your search appearances over time to position yourself as an industry leader.
