LinkedIn is the best social media platform when it comes to B2B connections. Part social media platform and part job board, LinkedIn is home to over 58 million companies. Your profile — especially your LinkedIn bio — can impact the searches that you come up in, which is why it’s so important to get it just right.
But what does that entail? In today’s blog, let’s break down some of the most important elements to include in your LinkedIn bio for success in finding new B2B connections.
Before the LinkedIn Bio
These elements aren’t a part of your LinkedIn summary bio, but they will be the first thing that catches the attention of those who find your profile. If you get these elements right, they will draw the eye to your bio.
A Professional, Eye-Catching Profile Picture
If you are creating a LinkedIn profile for your business, you don’t need a picture of yourself, but you should include a crisp, clean image of your business logo or name. If you’re a sole proprietor or you don’t have a logo, a professional picture of yourself in business attire, with good lighting and a smile will do the trick. This can be a picture taken at home if need be, but it shouldn’t be a selfie. Remember that this is the face your business connections will see when they find your LinkedIn profile.
A Headline That Truly Represents You
Your headline goes underneath your profile picture. Most people simply put their job description or a simple description of what their brand does. However, the stronger your headline, the more attention it will catch. Treat your headline like the tagline that sums up what you do and why. Instead of “software programmer,” maybe your headline can be something like “Software programmer with 10 years of experience, creating software to revolutionize the office workflow.”
If you have worked for a major corporation in the past, and you’re proud of the work you did there, you might include “formerly at [company name]” in your headline. Keep your headline to, well, a headline length, but don’t be afraid
A Strong LinkedIn Summary
Your summary, or bio, is the “About” section beneath the top bar displaying your photo and headline. You have up to 2,000 characters to describe who you are and what you do. This is almost a general cover letter for you as a professional. It’s a crucial element to your LinkedIn profile and will only harm you if left blank. That said, what should your LinkedIn bio include?
Your Background and Work Experience
You don’t need to get into your entire life story, but give people a little context. Where did you grow up, where did you go to university, and where do you work now? From there, you can move into your work experience. Make sure to mention any major accomplishments you may have been a part of, as well as at least a one-sentence description of what you do in your own words.
Your Interests and Personality
Don’t be afraid to show a little bit of your personality! What do you do for fun? What are the hobbies and passions that you pursue? While you don’t want your LinkedIn bio to be obnoxious or unprofessional, there should be a voice to it that is distinctly you. To achieve that voice, you’ll need to let some of your personality shine through.
Your “Why”
Why do you do what you do? What drew you to that in the first place, and what sets you apart from others in your industry. This can add an element of passion and drive to your LinkedIn bio. It can also endear you to potential connections who have similar values to yourself. For instance, if you are a programmer who creates office workflow software, maybe you got into doing so after struggling with clunky outdated software for years in your first job. This will speak to anyone who has had a similar experience.
Your Specializations
Let’s face it: there are plenty of people out there who do what you do, but no one does it the way that you do. You have specializations, skills, and experiences that all impact the way you come to your profession. Make sure you highlight those skills. Is there one particular niche in the industry that you’ve zeroed in on, or one particular skill of yours that stands out above your other skills? Talk about that! These are the things that set you apart in a sea of other professionals.
