11 Tips for a Professional LinkedIn Profile ...

One of the easiest tips for a professional LinkedIn profile is to use a strong headline. List your specialties, positions, titles or professional associations. Think of it as the ultimate one line summary of who you are professionally. To make it look even better, use a vertical bar between each title you list. For example, I might use "Copywriter | Web Copy Specialist | Editor" for my headline.

Have you ever looked at some of the photos on LinkedIn? I have to wonder what some of these people were thinking. Always use a recent photo so any connections you meet in person will automatically recognize you. Ensure you're the central focus of the photo as well, instead of an object. For best results, dress professionally in the photo to show the best side of yourself. Smile, relax and put your best face on your profile.

Nothing hurts your profile more than grammatical errors. We all make them, but on LinkedIn, we need to prove we can catch our mistakes. Read over your profile after editing it. It may help to have a friend or relative read it as well. Another tip is to copy the text to Word to check for spelling errors.

While it's important to detail your expertise, clients and employers also want to know what real value you bring to the table. Go beyond a basic summary and provide details on past projects, how you helped previous clients and additional accomplishments. It may seem fairly small, but it helps set you apart from other users. Don't go overboard, but a few examples are enough to prove you really are an expert in your field.

You're assigned a random URL for your profile when you sign up. You don't have to keep this. Custom profile URLs look more professional, especially if you have to place the entire link on other sites. Go into your profile settings and remove the random characters from your current URL. Replace them with your own text. It may take several tries to come up with the right URL as it must be unique from other users.

The more complete your profile, the more professional it looks. Incomplete sections make others wonder what you're hiding. While every profile section may not apply to you, fill out every one that does. LinkedIn profile fields are designed to provide the best overview possible of users. Make the most of them and show off who you really are.

Go beyond the basics and incorporate LinkedIn apps in your profile. For instance, if you have a blog, you might want to use the WordPress app, which lists recent posts directly on your profile. Take a moment to browse through the apps and find a few relevant to your industry. It showcases you better and helps keep visitors on your profile longer. It also keeps them coming back.

In the past, LinkedIn didn't give you much besides text and a photo to work with. Now, you can add slideshows, videos, additional photos, resumes, comments and more to your profile. These features are more engaging for visitors and give you a chance to show other aspects of yourself or business. Update them on a regular basis to keep your profile fresh and encourage new connections.

Many users enter a quick summary for their profile and move on. LinkedIn recommends using summaries longer than 40 words to increase your chances of showing up in search results. If you're not sure what to write, look through job listings for your profession. Notice the keywords and phrases that are used most often. Try to incorporate some of these in your summary.

It's easy to want to embellish your profile details to stand out more. Keep in mind that lies will catch up to you. It's better to be honest now than to be embarrassed later. Plus, the more you try to pad your profile, the faker it tends to appear to others. Keep your profile simple and honest and you'll come off as the consummate professional every time.

You've completed your summary, added a great photo and you've even made a few connections. What could be missing? Many users forget about adding an updated resume to their profile. This is your chance to add even more details for potential employers to view. Create a detailed resume that highlights your skills and work experience. This is extremely important if you're a job seeker.

LinkedIn can be your best friend for making professional connections and finding your dream job. Don't let your profile ruin your chances. Every month, take a moment to update your profile and let it start working for you. What are LinkedIn profile tips would you recommend?