Summary of "How to Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile (Ultimate Guide)"
Concise summary
The video (hosted by Kevin) is a step-by-step guide to creating a LinkedIn profile that attracts recruiters, hiring managers, and clients without actively applying to jobs. Key points:
- Treat your profile as a 24/7 personal brand.
- Optimize for LinkedIn’s search algorithm with keywords and clear storytelling.
- Focus on visual presentation, a strong headline, a conversational summary, quantified experience, relevant skills, social proof (endorsements/recommendations), consistent activity (posts), and profile hygiene (custom URL, “Open to” settings).
Detailed actionable methodology / checklist
1. Get to your profile
- Log into LinkedIn → click the “Me” icon in the top navigation → choose “View profile.”
- Use the pencil/edit icons on each section to make changes, then Save.
2. Profile photo (first impression)
- Use a clear, well-lit headshot: natural light (near a window), clean background, centered, face clearly visible, smile.
- Avoid group photos, vacation selfies, or cropped party shots.
- Options: take with your phone or use an AI tool (example in the video: upload to ChatGPT or another image tool) to create a professional headshot. Upload multiple angles for better AI results.
- How to update: click your profile photo → Add Photo → Upload Photo or webcam → crop/zoom/straighten → apply subtle filters → Save.
3. Banner / cover image (prime visual real estate)
- Use the banner to show personality or work: campaign image, conference photo, clean brand color, or product shot.
- How to update: click the banner camera icon → Add Cover Image → Upload or choose a preset → Apply.
4. Headline (220 characters; make it a value statement)
- Don’t only list a job title. Use this formula:
Role + How you help (what you do/impact) + Who you help
- Example: “Master Baker making 10,000 cookies a day — faster, fresher, better at the Kevin Cookie Company.”
- Edit via the profile edit (pencil) → Headline field → Save.
5. About / Summary (tell your story)
- Write conversational storytelling: who you are, what you do, why you do it, and a short evidence-based point.
- Explain value and motivations; avoid corporate buzzwords.
- Include role/industry keywords to improve discoverability.
- If stuck, use AI writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to draft or refine.
- Add via “Add a summary/About” → write → Save.
- Note: profiles with a summary get more views (claimed stat in the video: 3.9× more).
6. Experience (highlight reel + impact)
- Use bullets (concise) or short paragraphs; bullets are preferred for readability.
- Structure each bullet: what you did + who you did it for + quantified outcome/result.
- Start with role and company, then list measurable outcomes (numbers, retention rates, scale).
- Example bullets:
- “Lead baker at Kevin Cookie Company — produce 10,000 cookies daily, ensuring freshness and quality.”
- “Built Cookie Club from ground up — grew to 100,000 monthly subscribers with 98.5% retention.”
- Focus on highlights, not exhaustive history.
- Edit role details (title, employment type, dates) and populate description → Save.
7. Skills & endorsements
- Add relevant skills in the Skills section; pin the top 3 skills you want known for.
- Choose skills that match what recruiters search for (e.g., recipe development, food production, quality control).
- Ask colleagues, customers, and partners for endorsements; they act as social proof.
- Save after selecting skills.
8. Recommendations (strong social proof)
- Add the Recommendations section via Add Profile Section → Recommended → Recommendations.
- You must be connected with the person before requesting a recommendation.
- Strategy: give a recommendation first to increase the chance of receiving one. When requesting, message with context on what you want highlighted.
- Good recommenders: managers (e.g., head of operations), coworkers, clients.
9. Custom URL and profile hygiene
- Edit your public profile URL to a simple custom URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/yourname or companyname) via profile edit → edit public profile & URL → change → Save.
- Use meaningful keywords throughout your profile so LinkedIn’s search algorithm can surface you.
10. Activity: posting and engagement
- Post regularly to stay top-of-mind: project highlights, customer wins, lessons learned, behind-the-scenes.
- Sample content ideas: recent project, event participation (e.g., cookies supplied to a corporate appreciation event), tips, industry observations, behind-the-scenes photos.
- Posting increases visibility and can attract new connections and opportunities.
11. “Open to” settings (if job searching)
- Use the “Open to” button on your profile to indicate you’re looking for jobs.
- Specify job title, availability, employment type, and whether the signal goes to recruiters only or your whole network.
- Turn it on to be contacted by companies/recruiters.
12. Final checks and general tips
- Use keywords in headline, summary, and experience for discoverability.
- Quantify achievements (numbers, percentages, retention metrics).
- Keep the profile updated and maintain consistent activity.
- Present a highlight reel — don’t overload with every detail.
- Be intentional about the three pinned skills and how your headline is framed.
Notable UI clicks (quick reference)
- Me icon → View profile
- Photo: click photo → Add Photo → Upload / webcam → Save
- Banner: banner camera icon → Add Cover Image → Upload or presets → Apply
- Headline/About/Experience: pencil/edit icons → edit content → Save
- Add sections: Add profile section → Recommended → Recommendations
- Create post: Create a post in Activity section → Post
- Open to: click “Open to” → fill job preferences → Save
Speakers / sources featured
- Kevin (primary speaker / host)
- LinkedIn (platform being edited/optimized)
- ChatGPT (AI tool referenced for photo transformation and writing help)
- Kevin Cookie Company (example company/persona used throughout)
- David’s Donut Den (example partner/event mentioned)
- Recruiters / hiring managers / potential clients (audience groups referenced)
Category
Educational
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