We tend to base candidates on their LinkedIn profiles, but what about yours? Your LinkedIn is your personal brand. It’s one of the first things potential candidates, clients or nosey folk from high school will look at. It’s also the best place to showcase your skills so here are a few tips to take your LinkedIn to the next level. 

Get a head start with a good headshot: Save the holiday pics from 2018 for Instagram. It’s so worth having a professional headshot for all employees that reflects consistency for your agency. 

Write a compelling headline: Make it interesting and be sure to use keywords that are relevant to your industry and highlight your unique selling points.  For example, instead of simply writing "Recruiter," you could write "Passionate Recruiter Specialising in Tech Talent Acquisition."

Customise your LinkedIn URL: It’s always worth editing your URL to make it easy for people to find you and remember your name. So let’s move away from linkedin.com/in/jamesbrown7575gfg5! 

Spice up your summary: Your summary is your CV and your elevator pitch all in one. Don’t be scared about bragging. Highlight your skills and achievements but keep it concise to keep them on their toes wanting to know more… This is also a great way to add some personality to your profile!

Be a groupie: Not like 70’s band style, but don’t be scared to join LinkedIn groups with like-minded professionals in your industry. You’ll hear all the latest news, get recommendations for your process you might not have thought of before and even make some recruiter friends!

Personal content: LinkedIn is the best place to post your vacancies, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you post. Your personal profile should reflect who you are as a person. What do you do in your spare time? Got pets? What does a day in your role look like? Any weird hobbies? It doesn’t have to be all work, work, work. Striking a balance between professional and personal posts is great for letting your candidates and clients warm to you and build a bond with you.

Shout about your successes: Don’t just save your raving reviews by sharing them only internally. When you have a good relationship with a candidate and they’re happy with everything you’ve done for them, ask for a review. It doesn’t have to be on your LinkedIn recommendations (but that’s great too). If you’ve got a Google review or just an email with feedback, share it with your connections. Take it an extra step by getting them to record a Solo Interview which can be downloaded and shared on your page.

Be a video star: Instead of overthinking and writing lengthy posts, jump on camera and talk about what’s going on. 95% of a video is retained compared to only 10% in text, so a quick video and short text intro is easily consumable for your followers on LinkedIn and is way more engaging.

Engage with your network: LinkedIn is a social network, so don't be afraid to get social with your connections. Like and comment on posts, join groups, and share your own content. This will help you build relationships and increase your visibility on the platform.

Creating a great LinkedIn profile takes time and effort, but it's worth it. By following these tips, you'll be able to showcase your personal brand on LinkedIn.