LinkedIn

Choosing Your Headline

Your name… well, that’s self-explanatory. Your headline, however, should be more than just a job title.

In addition to your role, you should try to creatively highlight your value proposition in these 120 characters. Across LinkedIn, it’s one of the first things people will see next to your name and can help catch someone’s attention.

Feel free to draw inspiration from the format of these headlines, but it’s best to craft something unique to you. Remember, you only have 120 characters, so keep it succinct!

Here’s an easy framework to follow to craft your headline. You can separate each section with a vertical bar character “|” to keep things clean:

Job Title – Employer | Certifications (if applicable, for example: CLU, ChFC) | Value statement OR list 2-3 key skills.

When you are suggested to others on LinkedIn, this is how your headline will show up next to your name. (highlighted in a green boxes below.)

Editing your Contact Info

Just like you would with a business card, make sure your contact information, including a link to your website, is current. LinkedIn allows for up to three websites in the contact section.

To edit your contact info, first click “contact info” under your profile image. (highlighted in a green box here)

The contact info currently on your page will populate. To edit anything, click the pencil icon at top right. (highlighted in a green box here)

Setting Your Profile URL

LinkedIn generates a URL for you by default. You’ll want to create a custom LinkedIn URL that is succinct and easy to recall– something you’ll be able to share. Choose something you will not likely need to change in the future so that you may always use the same page link to promote your profile.

Keep it short and clean. Use a combination of your name and numbers as necessary if your name alone isn’t available.

DEFAULT: linkedin.com/in/johhn-smith-69917280/ ❌

PROPOSED: Linkedin.com/in/johnpaul89 ✔

Choosing a Profile Image

Both your profile image and cover photo should be business professional – these images are what people will see first on your profile and should make a good impression.

For your profile image, use a recent business headshot. You want something flattering, inviting, well-lit, and without a busy background. You will also want to make sure that you crop properly─ tighter framing is better to stand out since your profile image will show up small. Here are a few examples:

What Should I Avoid?

• Wide crop / full body images
• Group photos – keep the focus on you
• Pictures without a smile – be sure to look inviting to your visitors
• Distracting backgrounds – tight crops to your face will help avoid this

Choosing a Cover Image

A cover image is also important to stand out—it’s something that many people overlook but can help personalize your profile. For your cover image, the focus doesn’t need to be on you, but you’ll want to stick to attractive imagery that helps set a good mood for your profile. Whatever you do, make sure to use an image that you have the rights to use. Below are some ideas for cover images unique to you.

• city skyline / main street of your town
• a professional image of you in your office or of your office
• a professional image of you and your team
• professionally designed graphics representing your agency

Proper Resolution

Pixelated images do not look professional–so be sure to use a resolution of at least 1500x396px. This size is optimal for LinkedIn. Anything larger is OK but will be cropped down to size when you upload the file.

Setting Your Profile & Cover Image

1. Click the profile picture in your page intro.
2. For both profile and cover images, you will see the option to crop, filter, or adjust your image. You can do so as necessary to make your image look its best. Be sure to hit apply to save your changes.