How to Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Up to Date

LinkedIn has grown to be the must-have social media platform for anyone looking to advance their career. With more than 722 million users, LinkedIn can prove a valuable tool for lawyers looking to attract new clients, make new professional connections, and become thought leaders in their field.

But to achieve optimal results from LinkedIn, you must first optimize your profile. Here are a few tips to help your LinkedIn profile stand out:

1. Know your audience.

First things first. Who are you trying to reach with your LinkedIn profile? Are you looking to attract new clients for yourself or catch the attention of a top law firm to land your dream job? Or perhaps you are looking for speaking opportunities? Whoever your target audience is, keep them in mind as you build and maintain your profile.

2. Choose the right photos.

This applies to both your background photo and your profile photo. While many people skip the background photo on LinkedIn, finding the right one can help with your personal branding. Your profile photo should be a professional-quality headshot. If you do not have a professional headshot, invest the time and money to get one.

3. Get creative with your headline.

No rule says your headline has to be just your job title. Use your 120-character allotment to provide a catchy – but not gimmicky – description of your legal expertise.

4. Include lots of contact information.

Give your viewers multiple ways that they can find you and contact you. In addition to your work phone and email address, you can also include your firm’s website, a link to your personal blog, and your other social handles.

The easier you make it for people to reach out to you, the more likely they are to do so.

5. Highlight your legal expertise and experience.

Although this sounds like an obvious tip for LinkedIn, not everyone does this well. Over the years, you’ve probably developed a pretty good elevator pitch. Consider getting creative with this by including photos or even a video presentation.

Highlight your experience clearly and concisely, making sure to include the experience that will be most relevant to your audience. Ensure this section is easily skimmable by using bullet points and easy-to-read formatting. And be sure to use keywords and phrases to make your profile easy to find online.

6. Leverage testimonials.

Since LinkedIn offers you the chance to feature testimonials and endorsements, be sure to take advantage of this. Ask for recommendations from colleagues and past clients who can speak to your expertise. It is ideal to ask from those for whom you can return the favour, so take some time to think about who you will ask for help from in this area.

7. Build relationships.

Finally, remember that LinkedIn is meant to be interactive, and the platform should be used for engaging with others and building your professional relationships. Connect with others in the legal industry by joining relevant groups and sharing content. You can also post some personal blogs in Publisher or start discussions.

There are many ways you can use the platform to provide thought leadership, connect with others, and build relationships.

Contact Life After Law today 

Are you looking to take the next step in your legal career? If so, Life After Law can provide you with career guidance and help to connect you with your next employer. Contact us today to learn more