{"id":4021,"date":"2013-05-20T10:33:28","date_gmt":"2013-05-20T14:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=4021"},"modified":"2023-10-26T04:33:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T08:33:25","slug":"best-kept-secret-to-optimize-your-linkedin-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/best-kept-secret-to-optimize-your-linkedin-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Kept Secret to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LinkedIn

Executive recruiters and hiring decision makers at your target companies search online using relevant keywords<\/a> to locate good-fit candidates.<\/p>\n

Your LinkedIn profile offers several choice locations to insert the right keywords to help elevate your search rankings \u2013 or Search Engine Optimization (SEO) \u2013 and the likelihood you\u2019ll be found and considered by them.<\/p>\n

The professional headline<\/a> and summary section are two prime examples.<\/p>\n

But there’s another powerful, and often overlooked, above-the-fold spot to add in a keyword phrase.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your LinkedIn profile URL.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a look at your existing profile URL. To find it, go to “Edit Profile” under “Profile” in the drop-down menu across the top of your profile. Just below your name, headline and profile photo<\/a> (if you’ve posted one), you’ll see your LinkedIn URL.<\/p>\n

Is it a mishmash of letters and numbers like this?<\/em><\/p>\n

www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-smith\/5\/224a\/123\/<\/p>\n

If you have a common name, such as “John Smith”, that is the kind of default URL LinkedIn will assign to you, to distinguish you from all the other John Smiths.<\/p>\n

With 200+ million users on LinkedIn, unless you have an UNcommon name, you’re NOT likely to capture the following URL:<\/p>\n

www.linkedin.com\/in\/yourname<\/p>\n

But see if such a URL is available.<\/p>\n

If not, another option is changing your URL to include “yourname”\u00a0with an appropriate short keyword phrase, such as the following:<\/p>\n

www.linkedin.com\/in\/johnsmithbiotechexecutive<\/p>\n

This\u00a0not only distinguishes you from others with your name, but also\u00a0helps boost your keyword recognition in online searches (Google, Bing and other search engines).<\/p>\n

Here’s how to personalize and optimize your LinkedIn URL:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n