If you have a website or experience in digital marketing, you are probably familiar with search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of improving website rankings on search engines like Google, which improves visibility and helps generate website traffic, leads, and sales.
But what many people do not realize is that LinkedIn is also a search engine. And because the site has grown to become a huge publishing platform and online hub for professionals, getting other users to notice your profile and content has never been more challenging. This is where SEO for LinkedIn comes in. Below are 5 LinkedIn SEO tricks you can use to optimize your profile and increase its rankings.
1. Use relevant keywords in your professional headline.
SEO is about using relevant keywords so search engine bots can connect your website with the correct search terms when crawling your site and its content. The same principle works on LinkedIn.
For starters, your professional headline should contain relevant industry keywords people would most likely use when looking for someone with your skills or services. For example, if you are a Google AdWords professional, then “Google AdWords” should be in your headline.
2. Weave keywords into your job description.
The keywords in your professional headline should also appear in your summary, experience, and skills.
You can also use secondary keywords like “Google PPC” or “PPC marketing,” which add value to your profile. However, do not go overboard. Keyword stuffing will only kill your rankings. Instead, use them naturally, as you would when speaking with a fellow professional about what you do.
3. Keep your keyword scope narrow.
According to LinkedIn FAQs, a wide variety of keywords on your profile means it will show up in more searches. This may seem like a good thing, but you need to ask yourself if LinkedIn members will find your profile relevant to their searches. If they don’t, your rank could suffer.
The simple solution? Remove unnecessary keywords and phrases that might trigger false positives.
4. Add backlinks to your blog or website on your profile.
Link your profile to your blog or website and vice versa. This is especially important if your blog has a high domain authority. Outside LinkedIn, use any opportunity to link back to your profile, whether it is on influencer guest posts or your own social media platforms. This can:
- Increase your LinkedIn profile’s rankings on Google.
- Increase your profile score from views and engagement.
- Increase your profile’s rankings on LinkedIn.
5. Be social.
As a social network, LinkedIn prioritizes profiles that are actively interacting with other users and groups and engaging members with content. You are probably already doing all that, but if you are like many LinkedIn members, you may be ignoring recommendations.
Recommendations from clients, direct supervisors, and even former professors are a great way to boost your search visibility on LinkedIn. Recommendations show LinkedIn software and its users that you have relevant connections, which is better than being a member of many groups when it comes to your rankings.
Bottom line
The key to maximizing LinkedIn is to lay the foundation of a good profile and make sure the right people find it. These LinkedIn SEO tips let you do just that.
[cta]If you are ready to take your next step toward LinkedIn success, you may want to consider speaking with an expert. Feel free to contact me, Mark McIntosh, at 972-998-5132. I am the CEO and founder of RevGrow, and I would be happy to explain how I can help.[/cta]
Read this article on LinkedIn →
