LinkedIn is truly a powerful job search and career management tool.
It may be the best place online to reconnect with your neglected network, expand your network to include new people (including recruiters), and demonstrate your subject matter expertise and thought leadership.
I don’t recommend this, but even if you passively sit back and don’t take advantage of the many networking activities and features LinkedIn offers, a fully fleshed out, keyword-rich LinkedIn profile will help you land a great-fit gig.
What is SEO and Why Are Keywords So Important?
Executive recruiters and hiring decision makers at the companies where you want to work search LinkedIn for viable candidates using relevant keywords.
Strategically placed, the right keywords elevate your search rankings in LinkedIn’s search engine, increasing your profile’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and significantly boosting the likelihood you’ll be found and considered by them.
Again, along with containing enough of the right keywords in the right places, it’s important that your profile meet their completeness criteria.
The content in every section of your LinkedIn profile should contain the most-searched relevant keywords specific to your targets, and support your executive brand and the value you offer them.
But the content in certain sections – typically those that sit higher on the web page containing your profile – rank higher with LinkedIn’s search algorithm.
For this reason, three of the most important places for SEO on LinkedIn are your name field, professional headline, and job titles.
With 2,000 characters at your disposal, the Summary section also needs to be packed with your most brand-reinforcing relevant keywords.
But where do you find these make-or-break relevant keywords?
By researching each of the employers on your target list to determine which areas of expertise and strengths you must possess to meet their current challenges and needs.
You did identify at least 10 companies and/or organizations that will be a good mutual fit, didn’t you?
More About LinkedIn and Executive Job Search
How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Professional Headline SEO-Friendly
The 3 Most Important LinkedIn Profile SEO Places for Relevant Keywords
5 Toxic Beliefs That Can Derail Your Executive Job Search
