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How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile For Sales [Visual Template]
HubSpot Sales Blog
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Best practice says to use about three to five hashtags for your LinkedIn post and ensure they're all relevant to the topic. And remember, stay consistent. Growing your audience to improve your LinkedIn profile won't happen overnight. Over time, LinkedIn users who follow the hashtags you use will become familiar with your content and want to engage with it. 8. Add popular posts to your Featured section. Did you have a LinkedIn article that got above-average engagement? Perhaps your team just published a big sales resource that you want to showcase? Whether it's a post, external scheduling link, or even multi-media content to drive leads, you can use the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile to display it. This section works similarly to a carousel where users can scroll or tap through each piece of content and see what you have to offer. Image Source LinkedIn for Business Development 1. Use LinkedIn for prospecting. LinkedIn is a valuable tool for prospecting. See who's commenting on your prospect's posts, and look at the people who have interacted with your posts. People who interact with your prospects and customers might be a good fit for your product. 2. Join groups. Show buyers you care about what they do by joining the groups you know they're in and engaging with those groups in meaningful ways. Look for groups related to your industry or area of expertise. Share content and interact with group members. It's a great way to build connections with new people. 3. Engage with others. Did one of your connections post an interesting piece of content? Add a comment and start a discussion. This will strengthen your relationships and help you gain more visibility on LinkedIn. The more you put yourself out there, the more likely new connections will reach out to you. 4. Post on a regular basis. Make sure you post regularly. This could be in the form of a status update or a LinkedIn article. “Send customized invitations to anyone you've interacted with, either in person or online.”
Best practice says to use about three to five hashtags for your LinkedIn post and ensure they're all relevant to the topic. And remember, stay consistent. Growing your audience to improve your LinkedIn profile won't happen overnight. Over time, LinkedIn users who follow the hashtags you use will become familiar with your content and want to engage with it. 8. Add popular posts to your Featured section. Did you have a LinkedIn article that got above-average engagement? Perhaps your team just published a big sales resource that you want to showcase? Whether it's a post, external scheduling link, or even multi-media content to drive leads, you can use the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile to display it. This section works similarly to a carousel where users can scroll or tap through each piece of content and see what you have to offer. Image Source LinkedIn for Business Development 1. Use LinkedIn for prospecting. LinkedIn is a valuable tool for prospecting. See who's commenting on your prospect's posts, and look at the people who have interacted with your posts. People who interact with your prospects and customers might be a good fit for your product. 2. Join groups. Show buyers you care about what they do by joining the groups you know they're in and engaging with those groups in meaningful ways. Look for groups related to your industry or area of expertise. Share content and interact with group members. It's a great way to build connections with new people. 3. Engage with others. Did one of your connections post an interesting piece of content? Add a comment and start a discussion. This will strengthen your relationships and help you gain more visibility on LinkedIn. The more you put yourself out there, the more likely new connections will reach out to you. 4. Post on a regular basis. Make sure you post regularly. This could be in the form of a status update or a LinkedIn article. “It's alright to request someone you've never met, but make sure to personalize the invitation with a reason you'd like to connect that's relevant to them.”
If you have a common name, insert your middle initial or a number to set yourself apart. This URL will be much more memorable than a string of unrelated characters that someone would easily forget. 4. Follow people in your industry. Are you following leaders in your industry? Keep up with individuals who post thought-provoking content and follow topics that are relevant to you. This will help you stay on top of industry trends, and it will give you talking points when you send your next InMail message to a prospect. Plus, the list of people, companies, and topics you follow can be added to the interest section of your profile. 5. Share articles and blog posts you've written. Blog articles and other external content perform well on LinkedIn, so don't miss an opportunity to share those with your professional audience. You can share any articles from a third-party site in a post. The best part is that later on, you can add these posts to your Featured section where they'll be highlighted indefinitely. 6. Remove jargon from your profile. Avoid using buzzwords or jargon in your profile. Not only do they tend to be overused, but they also make your profile more difficult to read. Remember, people like to buy from people they like, so limit the use of internal lingo that excludes the customer and speak their language instead. Are you unsure if your profile is jargon-free? Take a look at these buzzword and jargon phrases salespeople should avoid. 7. Use hashtags in posts to expand your reach. Improving your profile relies not only on what you do to it but how others perceive it. To get more people to see your profile, you'll need to expand your reach with hashtags. These short phrases do more than enhance key points in your post. They signal to the LinkedIn community that your post is relevant to a particular topic and that people who are interested in that topic should take a look. “Whether it's a post, external scheduling link, or even multi-media content to drive leads, you can use the Featured section of your LinkedIn profile to display it.” Don't forget to share content (e.g., articles and videos) related to your industry. You can even include a call-to-action to attract people to a content download, eBook, or white paper from your company. 5. Send customized invitations to new connections. Build your network with quantity and quality in mind. Send customized invitations to anyone you've interacted with, either in person or online. It's alright to request someone you've never met, but make sure to personalize the invitation with a reason you'd like to connect that's relevant to them. For example: Hello, Paul. I also work in the outsourcing industry and have admired your work in the Denver area. I'd love to connect here. Thanks, Emma Click image to enlarge: Invest time in your LinkedIn presence and see if you're able to source more leads with your new-and-improved profile. Perfecting your LinkedIn profile is crucial in the sales profession — especially if you're a social seller. Editor's note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
“Just as you're finding prospects on LinkedIn and learning more about them, they're looking at your profile to judge if they'd like to do business with you.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“Don't just write your title. Answer two questions: Who do you help and how do you help them?” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“Craft your headline to be a mini value proposition packed with verbs and active language.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“In social selling, you want your LinkedIn profile to be about your buyer's achievements and how you enabled them, instead of about you and your achievements.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“Remember to choose a current, high-resolution photo that makes your buyer feel confident in trusting you with their business.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“Don't ruin great messaging and positive interactions with an outdated, sparse, or mistake-riddled LinkedIn profile.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
“In social selling, you want your LinkedIn profile to be about your buyer's achievements and how you enabled them, instead of about you and your achievements.” For example: "I've helped 200+ B2B companies save over $2 million through outsourcing solutions." The bonus in this example is the amount of money the person has helped save companies. It speaks to a pain point that just about every B2B professional has — high costs. This headline piques curiosity, and even if the LinkedIn user doesn't align exactly with your value prop, they'll probably stick around just to see how you deliver on your promise. 3. Leverage your cover photo. Did you know you can customize your Linkedin cover photo? This simple feature on the professional network can make your profile stand out from the rest. Rather than keeping the generic blue gradient cover photo on your profile, consider adding a logo, project snippet, tagline, or even a family photo. The point of the cover photo is twofold: to share who you are at a glance and keep the reader scrolling down your profile. In the example below, Linda Calvin, JD, Vice President, School of IT at Ivy Tech uses her cover photo to communicate her brand. "Find Your Fierce" is her personal tagline. It clues the visitor into what else they'll find on her profile, including posts about women's empowerment, professional development, and diversity conversations. Image Source 4. Be strategic with your LinkedIn Activity. If you know your connections on LinkedIn could see your activity, what might you do differently? Well, that's actually the case. The Activity section on your LinkedIn profile reveals your most recent comments, likes, and shared content across the platform along with a snippet of what you said. This part of your profile can be an authentic way of showing the type of sales professional you are. Are you offering advice or support to your connections? Recommending the products you sell to potential customers? Congratulating a friend on a promotion? All of this and more can be found in your LinkedIn Activity, so be strategic about what content you engage with and how often you engage with it.
If you have a common name, insert your middle initial or a number to set yourself apart. This URL will be much more memorable than a string of unrelated characters that someone would easily forget. 4. Follow people in your industry. Are you following leaders in your industry? Keep up with individuals who post thought-provoking content and follow topics that are relevant to you. This will help you stay on top of industry trends, and it will give you talking points when you send your next InMail message to a prospect. Plus, the list of people, companies, and topics you follow can be added to the interest section of your profile. 5. Share articles and blog posts you've written. Blog articles and other external content perform well on LinkedIn, so don't miss an opportunity to share those with your professional audience. You can share any articles from a third-party site in a post. The best part is that later on, you can add these posts to your Featured section where they'll be highlighted indefinitely. 6. Remove jargon from your profile. Avoid using buzzwords or jargon in your profile. Not only do they tend to be overused, but they also make your profile more difficult to read. Remember, people like to buy from people they like, so limit the use of internal lingo that excludes the customer and speak their language instead. Are you unsure if your profile is jargon-free? Take a look at these buzzword and jargon phrases salespeople should avoid. 7. Use hashtags in posts to expand your reach. Improving your profile relies not only on what you do to it but how others perceive it. To get more people to see your profile, you'll need to expand your reach with hashtags. These short phrases do more than enhance key points in your post. They signal to the LinkedIn community that your post is relevant to a particular topic and that people who are interested in that topic should take a look. “See who's commenting on your prospect's posts, and look at the people who have interacted with your posts.” Don't forget to share content (e.g., articles and videos) related to your industry. You can even include a call-to-action to attract people to a content download, eBook, or white paper from your company. 5. Send customized invitations to new connections. Build your network with quantity and quality in mind. Send customized invitations to anyone you've interacted with, either in person or online. It's alright to request someone you've never met, but make sure to personalize the invitation with a reason you'd like to connect that's relevant to them. For example: Hello, Paul. I also work in the outsourcing industry and have admired your work in the Denver area. I'd love to connect here. Thanks, Emma Click image to enlarge: Invest time in your LinkedIn presence and see if you're able to source more leads with your new-and-improved profile. Perfecting your LinkedIn profile is crucial in the sales profession — especially if you're a social seller. Editor's note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.