Let’s clear one thing up: your LinkedIn profile isn’t a résumé—it’s your online reputation. In today’s sales climate, it can make the difference between prospects responding and passing you over.
Since 49% of buyers research sales reps on LinkedIn and 50% avoid reps with incomplete profiles, making a strong first impression has never been so important. And improving your professional brand isn’t just to reassure skittish prospects: you’ll also attract new ones, as 92% of B2B buyers will engage with sellers known as industry thought leaders.
Step 1: Make your profile visible and easy to find
The first step in getting more profile views is to make sure your profile is visible to people searching for you. To change your settings from anonymous to public, from your profile page:
- Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage
- In the Account section, select Settings & Privacy
- In the Privacy section, click Edit your public profile
- Under Edit Visibility, turn On your profile’s public visibility
On the same page, take this opportunity to personalize the URL for your profile. Make your custom URL your first and last name, or first initial and last name, so prospects can easily find you.
A public profile means that people who search for you on LinkedIn can see your full profile information. If your profile is set to private, people will only see a snippet of it.
Step 2: Upload a professional photo
Did you know that you can make your profile seven times more likely to be found in searches by adding a profile photo? However, it’s essential that you convey the right impression with your choice of photo. Think of how you dress and act when you meet a client in real life. Your profile photo should be professional, friendly and representative of the way you’d appear in a face-to-face sales setting so it leaves a favorable first impression with potential buyers.
It’s best to upload a profile photo that is:
- High-resolution and cropped to 400x400 pixels to fit the space
- A close-cropped photo that shows more of your face
- In front of a neutral background or relevant work setting
- Of only you – no friends, children or pets
Step 3: Upload a background photo
Along with your profile photo, your background photo is usually the first thing people notice when they look at your LinkedIn profile. A carefully chosen image can tell potential customers who you are, what you do, and what you’re about, all before they read a single line of text.
For example, a background photo that highlights your public speaking experience can establish your thought leadership and credibility. It’s best to upload a high quality photo that is:
- Cropped to 4000x4000 pixels to fit the space
- Not covered by your profile photo and headline
Download the e-book
LinkedIn Sales Navigator makes it simple to establish and grow relationships with prospects and customers by helping you tap into the power of LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network of 500 million members. Designed for sales professionals, LinkedIn Sales Navigator combines LinkedIn's network data, relevant news sources, and your accounts, leads, and preferences to produce customized recommendations and insights.
With LinkedIn Sales Navigator, you can focus on the right people and companies, stay up-to-date on what's happening on your accounts, and build trust with your prospects and customers.