Like many of us, I have gradually allowed myself to ignore LinkedIn and underestimate this free and beneficial resource. After an absence of almost two years, I was happy to log in and discover new profile enhancements that showcase ambitious professionals and highlight our expertise in ways that make us appear highly capable to prospective clients and employers. If you are looking for a job or are a Solopreneur looking for work for a project, these features can be a real plus. Time to take another look at LinkedIn.

LINKS. My favorite new feature is the link to the website that all professional experience listings now offer. Click on the link; copy/paste the organization’s web address into the dialog box; check out the pretty image that appears in the visuals box; click continue, then click add to profile and voila! Your profile will feature eye-catching images that will entice interested parties to explore your affiliate organizations and the expertise you will contribute. You can also link to a photo, document, presentation, or video and provide a good insight into the organization and its role. there.

STAND OUT. Above your profile photo and headline job listing, notice the quote ribbon for skill highlights that you can click, fill out, and add even more information to showcase your experience, career activities, and achievements. I saw questions related to groups and activities that I participated in at school; articles you might have recently published; and samples of work or special projects that I could add to my profile.

GROUPS. For the past several years, I have had the honor of serving as a first-round judge for an organization that awards awards to C-Suite level businesswomen (there are also the mixed European, Asia/Pacific, and US business awards that I don’t I judge). The organizers of the awards invited me to join the LinkedIn group that is exclusively for judges. Periodically I follow the discussions to discover what I can learn and contribute. I recommend that you explore LinkedIn groups, starting with your college alumni group, which can be a great resource on a professional and personal level.

UPDATES. I did editing, photo editing, and desktop publishing project management for a story book that was released in September 2016. I posted that information in the update section on the homepage and uploaded the book cover photo and description of the project in the Projects tab that is accessed from the Add profile section drop-down menu that you will see on the right.

COVER PHOTO. Add visual sparkle to your profile photo. Search free LinkedIn cover photos and choose what you like. Ride the my profile.

HEADLINE. When you add a new job listing, LinkedIn automatically converts the new job title to its headline, but for some, this may not be ideal. Some of the employees might traditionally make a lateral move, temporarily upsetting the linear upward slope of the career. Independent entrepreneurs can take a part-time job that improves overall skill set, but they may not deserve the brand owner.

Consider revising your title, even if it won’t accurately adhere to your official job title. His mission is personal branding and LinkedIn, while often seen by potential employers, is not his official CV. Also, consider rearranging your list of professional positions to give prominence to what you want to highlight. Under edit profile, click the up and down arrows to the right of the job title and see a four-pointed icon. Use the icon to drag and reorder.

url. Instead of keeping the auto-generated LinkedIn profile URL, visit your profile page, click Edit profilesee the link directly below your photo and click again to set up a custom URL for yourself.

CREDENTIALS. On the profile page, click Edit profile and under your photo and URL, see add a section to your profile. Below that, see see more and click there to reveal a variety of enhancements you can add, including certifications, patents, special projects, and your professional publications.

ANSWER. When connections celebrate a success (work anniversary, post a nice update, switch to a new job, or publish a blog post you find interesting), send a LinkedIn email to comment and congratulate.

PURGE. Delete connections that no longer make sense, or those that ignore your questions or other communications.

Thank you for reading,

Kim