How are you going about your job search? There are many options, but the most popular and successful approach leverages social networks. Each day recruiters scour social networks for candidates who meet the needs of job openings. As a job seeker, it’s important that you have an SEO optimized LinkedIn profile to show up in their search results.

Recruiters may search by experience or skills, so an SEO optimized LinkedIn profile will help boost your visibility!

Use Our SEO Optimized LinkedIn Profile Checklist to Boost Your Visibility!

#1 – Identify the keywords and industry terms that matter

For your LinkedIn profile to gain visibility in search results, include keywords and industry terms that recruiters are searching for. Determine what those keywords and industry terms are by reviewing the job postings that match what you are looking for. Apply them to your Job Title (the Headline), Summary, Experience, Skills, and Accomplishments.

#2 – State your goals

Your LinkedIn profile is not like your resume, which you may customize each time you apply to a different job. Allow your LinkedIn profile to show a higher-level perspective on your career.

It should clearly state your overarching career goals using searchable terms for the role you seek. The more relevant keywords you include upfront in your Summary, the better your profile visibility.  For more information on writing your LinkedIn profile Summary, read our Tips to Writing a Summary for Your LinkedIn Profile and Resume.

#3 – Show off your skills with endorsements

List skills to your LinkedIn profile that are important to the jobs you’re applying to and prioritize the order of those skills to list the most relevant ones first. This not only helps boost your LinkedIn profile page when recruiters search for those skills, but it also guides your network to endorse you for the skills that matter most. Skills that are endorsed help to increase your profile views. You should also start endorsing your contacts for skills to help trigger reciprocal action to your profile.

If there are no endorsements for your top 3-5 skills listed, then you can proactively request endorsements from your network and highlight specific examples to help to boost your credentials.

#4 – Achieve ‘All-Star’ status on LinkedIn

To get to ‘All-Star’ status, your LinkedIn profile must be 100% complete. Complete all sections and take opportunities in each section to highlight the most relevant information to employers. Also, make sure you apply the identified keywords and terms naturally in your writing for each section as appropriate.

#5 – Pick “Other” for website option

If you have a blog or website providing a portfolio of your work, LinkedIn offers an area where you can plug in the appropriate URL. When you select “Blog” or “Website,” that’s how it will appear on the front end. If you need to customize the text, select “Other” to apply more keyword friendly terms to describe what you are linking to.

#6 – Present your name consistently across online platforms

Take a step back and ensure that you have a consistent digital footprint. It’s important that you show up on LinkedIn using the same name as all other platforms. For example, don’t switch between “Jon Smith” and “Jonathan Smith.” Stay consistent with one format for your name. If you have social profiles that you would rather a prospective employer not see, then you should change the settings on that platform and use an alternative name that is not recognizable.

Finally, LinkedIn allows you to claim your name in the URL of your profile (if it hasn’t already been taken) – be sure to do this before finalizing your profile.

#7 – Make your profile public

This may seem like an obvious step, but you would be surprised how many people forget to make their LinkedIn profile public. When you don’t make your profile public, you miss out on the benefits of having an SEO optimized LinkedIn profile.

If you feel uncomfortable revealing everything on your profile to people outside your network, you can modify the privacy settings for specific content on your profile to decide what you want to reveal and to whom. Just make sure that you keep a form of contact (such as email or phone number) publicly available so that recruiters can contact you.

For more tips to improving your job search with your LinkedIn profile, read our article about the 12 Ways to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Out There to Help with Your Job Search.

Contact About Jobs today for help with customizing your LinkedIn profile for job search results!

About Jobs provides LinkedIn profile writing services for keyword optimization and personalized professional resume writing services. Review our packages and other career consulting services at GotTheJob.com, and find us on social.