SEO for LinkedIn

​If you want to get discovered on LinkedIn then you need to optimize your profile for LinkedIn’s search algorithm. You will only start to get noticed by job recruiters and other business professionals when your profile is 100% complete.

When someone searches for other people on LinkedIn, they only search their personal network and up to 3 degrees of connections beyond the people they know. This means that in order for your LinkedIn profile to appear in more search results, you need to be in as many relevant LinkedIn networks as possible.
LinkedIn profiles are also highly optimized for Google’s search algorithm so having a strong LinkedIn profile is crucial for personal branding as it will rank highly when people inevitably search for your name on Google.

LinkedIn SEO Recommendations - follow these recommendations to maximize your search visibility on LinkedIn:

1. Start with a professional headshot and a really strong headline.
Your headline should be much more than just your current (or last) job title – describe your unique skillsets and grab people’s attention with something unique. When your name appears in LinkedIn’s search results it will be with your photo and headline.

2. Fully utilize the summary section and include your contact details.
Describe yourself and why you are passionate about your chosen career. If you’re looking for a job or for new clients for your business, mention this in the summary section and use a call-to-action to encourage people to contact you. People outside your network can’t see your contact details so make sure to put them in your summary.

3. Keep things fresh by adding regular status updates.
Share your thoughts, your favorite quotes, ask your network for advice and post the most interesting and useful content you find on the web. 

4. Maximize your LinkedIn group membership.
You can join up to 50 LinkedIn Groups. Join all the relevant industry groups for your skillsets and if you’re really a go-getter then start posting and interacting with people in these groups regularly. This improves your search visibility.

5. Blog directly on LinkedIn Pulse - if applicable.
When you blog directly on LinkedIn your entire network (1st level of connections) will be notified that it was published. These posts are highly optimized for SEO (search engine optimization) both on LinkedIn and Google. 

6. Include valuable digital media on your profile.
Use content that demonstrates your passion, creativity and thought leadership. Try to post a variety of different formats like documents, videos and presentations. If you’re looking for a job I’d recommend including a 30-60 second pitch for potential recruiters by embedding a YouTube video.

7. Get out networking and add everyone you meet on LinkedIn.
The more connections you have the more likely you are to appear in LinkedIn’s search results. Adding connections with influential people that have large networks will help your search visibility the most. 

8. Claim your LinkedIn Vanity URL.
Include your full name in the URL. To claim your vanity URL you will need to have your profile 100% complete first.

9. Get recommendations for every position.
Ideally, you want at least 10 recommendations to increase your search visibility on LinkedIn. 
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10. Don’t keyword stuff but use them liberally throughout your profile.
The keywords you use on your LinkedIn Profile should be based around your skillsets and talents. 

A few more details can be found in this article.