How to Optimize Your Linkedin Profile in 7 Easy Steps

Compared to Facebook and Twitter, the two social media giants getting all the buzz in the social media world, LinkedIn seems to lag behind in terms of popularity. But this doesn’t mean that you, as a business owner, should neglect this social networking platform. 

LinkedIn is a social hub for business professionals that business women should have a presence on. If you’re looking to further extend your professional network then this is right place to go to. In one of his speeches, Guy Kawasaki said that LinkedIn is for ‘pimping’ – it  is where you go if you want to hire someone or get hired by someone. LinkedIn, when utilized properly can help you build and strengthen your business connections.

Below are some useful tips for women entrepreneurs on how to optimize your profile so that you can fully maximize the networking potential of LinkedIn:


1.       Make your LinkedIn URL more professional by claiming your vanity URL. Instead of having a LinkedIn address with a series of numbers no one bothers to remember, you append your name at the end so it looks like this: http://www.linkedin.com/in/yourname Example: (http://www.linkedin.com/in/macswomen)

2.       Create a profile badge. If you have a website or your own personal blog, attach your LinkedIn profile badge to it. This will tell your visitors that you’re on LinkedIn and they might connect with you there.

3.       Make your profile search-engine friendly. Allow your profile to appear in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages) by adding the keywords you want to be associated with. If you’re in the consulting business, you may want to add the keywords “business consultant” or “business coaching” to your profile headline and summary.

4.       Make use of popular LinkedIn applications. You can also install applications into your profile so that you can add more stuff to it. Showcase an awesome business presentation that would interest your profile visitors by installing the LinkedIn SlideShare app., for example.

5.       Rearrange and streamline your profile. There is an option to reorder the elements of your LinkedIn profile. Make sure to position elements so that they don’t look too crammed together.

6.       Turn your profile into a virtual resume. As pointed out earlier, LinkedIn is a network where you can hire and get hired.  Use the built-in Resume Builder tool of LinkedIn and quickly format your profile as a resume.

7.       Regularly check network updates. Just like Facebook News Feeds, LinkedIn has its own Network Updates section where you can check what your connections are sharing and what they’re currently up to.

LinkedIn is the social networking site that allows you to connect with professional people in your industry, ask questions and gain insights. It should be a platform that is considered by women business owners and added to your social media marketing campaign. To ensure that your LinkedIn profile is effective, make sure to keep these important things in mind: optimize your profile to get found, engage and collaborate.