LinkedIn can feel intimidating. But you don’t need the most polished or popular profile to make an impact. What matters most is that your profile is current, professional, and reflects who you are today. That way, when clients, prospects, or potential hires search for you, they see a great representation of yourself.
Follow these 8 simple steps to improve your LinkedIn profile.
1. Location and Industry
Make sure your profile includes your current city and the industry you work in. These help you show up in the right searches.
2. Custom LinkedIn URL
A custom URL is cleaner and easier to share. Go to your profile settings to update it.
3. Verification Badge
A verification badge (the grey checkmark next to your name) increases credibility, protects your account, and confirms your identity.
4. Contact Information
Ensure your email, phone (if relevant), and website links are up to date. This is especially important if you’re in a client-facing or business development role.
5. Summary Description (Write in First Person)
Your “About” section should sound like you, not a corporate press release. Aim for 3-4 sentences that explain who you are, what you do, and what you care about.
6. Current Company with LinkedIn Logo
Make sure your current company is selected from LinkedIn’s dropdown so their logo appears. A missing logo looks incomplete.
7. Education
Add your most recent or most relevant degree and institution. Include your field of study if it adds context.
8. Recommendations
Recommendations build credibility and let others vouch for your skills and strengths. Aim for at least 3 recommendations from colleagues, clients, or business partners for each significant job role.
Need Help? Use Our Free LinkedIn Audit Tools
To quickly assess how complete and professional a LinkedIn profile is, we created a simple LinkedIn Profile Audit Template. It helps you spot small updates that can boost your personal brand and build credibility.
For step by step instructions, use our LinkedIn Audit Instructions.