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Your LinkedIn personal profile is the centre of your professional universe and so it's important that it's set-up to attract, engage and call to action your ideal client.

If someone wants to connect with you, find out more about you, see if you're qualified to solve their problems, and see reviews about you from past clients, your LinkedIn profile is where they're going to head.

And of course, when someone does view your profile, you want to make a great first impression. And here's a few reasons why...

Your profile tells your story - and speaks to your audience

Your profile is a resource, not a CV, so it's worth making use of the different features that LinkedIn offer so that you can really tell your story.

?Use the banner across the top of your profile to advertise your business

? Use your profile picture to show yourself as friendly and approachable

? In your About section identify who your ideal client is, what problems they might be facing, how you can help them, and how they can get in contact with you.

? Include your career and education history to demonstrate your qualifications and experience.

? Include accomplishments to add character to your profile.

? And of course, work hard to gather quality recommendations and endorsements of your skills.

Your profile now appears at the top of Google searches

Did you know that if someone searches your name in Google, your LinkedIn personal profile is one of the top results shown? And with 50% of all clicks on Google going to the top results shown, it's highly likely that if someone wants to find out more about you, they'll click on the link for your LinkedIn profile, over visiting your website.

People are looking for you

You meet lots of new people all the time, particularly through networking opportunities, and the easiest way for someone to follow up with you after meeting you face to face is to connect with you on LinkedIn. This is just another reason why your profile needs to make the same great impression that you made face to face.

People are looking for your services

If you've set up your profile well, with lots of searchable key words, other LinkedIn users can use the built-in search function within the platform and find you by searching for your services. For example, if you were a photographer you might want to use specific key words in your Headline and About section on your profile such as 'Headshot Photographer, Events Photographer, Photo Editing Services etc. Someone could then search for a 'headshot photographer in Portsmouth' within LinkedIn and find you!

Key words on my own LinkedIn personal profile have certainly enabled me to be found by a wider network - and I've won some significant contracts because of it.

It's a resource, not a CV

If you're like me, you set up your LinkedIn profile many years ago when the platform was well known for being 'a place to put your CV online'. This is no longer the function of your personal profile - in fact, far from it. So, reflect on whether your profile is currently built as a CV, or as a resource for your ideal client.

You show that you're up to date and regularly using the platform

New features are appearing all the time on LinkedIn, particularly on your personal profile. So, why not show that you're present on the platform and regularly reviewing your profile by using the new features to better tell your story.

Manage your network

Your connections, which can be viewed from your profile, are a business asset - but how often do you look through your contacts to see who you could reconnect with? Use the filters to narrow down your connections so you can see what industries/businesses/locations your connections are working within.

Take pride in your profile and update it today - you've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

About the Author

With a decade of experience of working within the media and communication industry, Alice Fewings is renowned for building professional relationships and realising strategic solutions for businesses and organisations using effective communications tools. 

As a social media consultant, specialising in LinkedIn, Alice has worked with hundreds of business professionals, helping them to level-up on LinkedIn.