MEMORANDUM
To: Members of ENGL 301 writing team “Smells Like Team Spirit”
From: Amy Vergouwen, ENGL 301 Student
Date: October 20, 2019
Subject: ENGL 301 Amy Vergouwen – Research Findings on LinkedIn Best Practices
As requested for lesson 2.2, I have researched the best tips and practices for an effective LinkedIn profile that will lead to successful networking. I have narrowed it down to 10 of the best recommendations:
- A good quality, professional profile picture – this tip is important due to the fact that it is the first thing others are going to see when they click on your name. A recent picture in work clothing that features a smile is the best way to have a successful profile picture.
- A unique background picture – this tip is helpful due to the fact that many people leave their background blank, but this is a great time to use a unique picture related to work, school, or a volunteer position you may have.
- A profile summary that is short but sweet – the summary of your profile is a place to express career goals and skills that you possess, all while keeping a professional yet approachable tone.
- A detailed education and experience section – possible employers do not want to read the same profile over and over again, so the details in your day-to-day work, and the skills you learned from the tasks are crucial.
- Do not include childhood jobs – this is not important to your profile as this is likely not where your knowledge or professional skills came from.
- Grow your network – connections are one of the most important aspects of LinkedIn, and if synced with your email, you can connect much easier with many of the individuals you communicate with frequently.
- Use the endorsement function – giving colleagues or friends endorsements on their skills makes others more likely to endorse you, which makes your profile much more credible.
- Use LinkedIn like a social media network – sharing posts that are relevant to your education and professional career is a great way to show your network what you are interested in, and commenting is great too.
- Send personalized connections – it is an easy way to make someone feel special. Do not make it long, simply a few words or a sentence saying how or why you are looking forward to connecting with them.
- Keep active – It is best if you are staying up to date on connections, any messages that may come through, and updating information as needed to your profile. It shows dedication.
I am pleased to have found these tips, as I believe they will be very useful in building a successful LinkedIn profile and effectively communicating professionally with others. I hope that you find these suggestions helpful as well, and I look forward to reading yours.
Works Cited
Fleming, Jane. “17 Steps to a Better LinkedIn Profile in 2017”. LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, 2017, http://business.linkedin.com/en-uk/marketing-solutions/blog/posts/content-marketing/2017/17-steps-to-a-better-LinkedIn-profile-in-2017. Accessed October 19, 2019.
Lessard, Kylie. “10 Marketers Who Nailed Their LinkedIn Profile”. LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, 2018, http://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/best-practices–thought-leadership/2018/add-punch-to-your-linkedin-profile-using-these-examples-as-inspi. Accessed October 19, 2019.
Walton, Orla. “14 Tips To Get Your LinkedIn Profile Selling Harder For You This Year”. LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, 2019, http://business.linkedin.com/en-uk/marketing-solutions/blog/posts/sales-solutions/2019/14-tips-to-get-your-LinkedIn-profile-selling-harder-for-you-this-year. Accessed October 20, 2019.
“7 Expert LinkedIn Tips a Lot Of People Don’t Know About”. Forbes, 2018, http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2018/01/22/7-expert-linkedin-tips-a-lot-of-people-dont-really-know-about/#727b3472f2a3. Accessed October 20, 2019.
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