LinkedIn is the leading professional social network with more than 120 million members worldwide. But did you know it has the most user-controlled SEO elements out of any other social media network? You can customize a number of areas in your profile.
SEO Title: Your Name| LinkedIn
While some people suggest adding keywords to your name field, the LinkedIn terms of service discourages this practice. Be confident that your personal branding is strong enough not to need the extra keyword stuffing that you can do later in your profile.
Profile Image: Filename and Your Name Should Include an ALT Tag
Just like Twitter, you should make sure you use your name as the filename for your profile image. LinkedIn will use your name as the ALT tag for your image as well.
H3 Tags: Your Job Titles
Make sure your job titles for current and previous positions include some great keywords. Those keywords will be in your profile page’s H3 tags.
Other Tricks for LinkedIn Search Optimization
According to the LinkedInfluence program by Lewis Howes, if you want your profile to rank high for keywords searched within LinkedIn’s people search, you will want to include your targeted keywords in the following:
- Your professional headline
- Summary
- Specialties
- Skills
You also want to belong to some industry-appropriate groups, such as Healthcare Marketing, so that they are publicly listed on your profile. This adds extra keyword usage on your profile.
LinkedIn can be very powerful for businesses when used correctly. With so many individuals on the site, you really need to make your profile stand out to get noticed. You never know who your next connection may be, but it can open up a whole new world for you and your business! What success stories have you had that have come from LinkedIn?
