LinkedIn is not just a social network, but a tool for career growth, networking, and strengthening your professional brand.
However, many users fill out their profiles superficially, missing important details that can enhance their appeal to employers, clients, and colleagues.
In this guide, we will thoroughly discuss how to properly fill out a LinkedIn profile that stands out among thousands of others. You will learn what to pay attention to when completing each section, what materials to prepare in advance, and what mistakes to avoid so that LinkedIn works for you around the clock.
Preparing to Fill Out Your Profile: What You Need to Gather
Before technically figuring out how to fill out LinkedIn, it is important to carefully prepare all necessary information. This is not just a formality — the quality and completeness of the data determine how persuasive, professional, and noticeable your profile will be to recruiters, clients, and business partners.
Basic Information
Profile Photo (Avatar)
The profile avatar is the first thing users see when they visit your page. If you are thinking about how to improve your LinkedIn profile, this element needs to be given maximum attention, as it shapes the first impression of you.
The photo should be of high quality — clear, well-lit, and professional. Blurry, grainy, or overly dark images create a negative impression. The ideal option is a business style.
The background plays an important role — it should be neutral and not distract attention. It is better to avoid bright, cluttered backdrops.
Your face should occupy a large part of the frame (60–70%) so that it is clearly visible even in a thumbnail. Too distant or cropped photos reduce recognizability and look unprofessional.
If your field is related to creativity, a more relaxed style is acceptable, but the photo should still look presentable.
What photos are not suitable:
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Mirror selfies
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Blurry or unclear images
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Photos in informal settings (beach, parties, home)
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Group photos where you are hard to identify
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Old photos that do not match your current appearance
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Overly edited images (filters, unnatural colors, heavy retouching)
The main rule: the avatar should inspire trust and reflect your professionalism. Even if you choose an informal style, the photo should be high-quality and appropriate.
Background Image (Banner)
The background image (profile cover) is a powerful tool that enhances the visual perception of your page. It complements the avatar, creates a cohesive image, and helps to immediately convey your professional focus.
This element allows you to visually declare yourself:
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Place key skills or a slogan, briefly and concisely, to attract attention.
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Add your company logo or personal brand if you represent a business or work under your name.
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Use a thematic image related to your profession — this will strengthen the association with your specialization.
Examples of successful solutions for different professions:
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For analysts, financiers, marketers — graphs, charts, process diagrams (but without being overloaded with details).
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For designers, illustrators, creative professionals — working sketches, project fragments, stylish abstractions.
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For developers, IT specialists — code, interfaces, technological patterns.
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For teachers, coaches, experts — concise quotes, theses, neutral backgrounds with a focus on text.
What images are not suitable:
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Too personal photos (vacation, family, hobbies) — this reduces professionalism.
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Template images (stereotypical "success," "team," "business") that do not convey uniqueness.
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Low-quality or pixelated images spoil the overall impression.
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Overloaded with details or text, making them hard to perceive in a smaller size.
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Bright, loud colors or aggressive designs — this can be off-putting.
The main rule: the cover should complement the avatar, work for your image, and help the viewer immediately understand what you do. Conciseness, quality, and relevance are key criteria.
Name and Headline
The profile headline is a key element that forms the first impression for visitors and influences the search results on LinkedIn. Although the platform automatically fills in the current job title, this approach often turns out to be ineffective, as it does not reflect the uniqueness of the specialist and their professional value.
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Increases recognizability — allows for quick identification of the field of activity and expertise.
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Improves SEO — proper use of keywords increases the visibility of the profile in search.
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Forms a professional image — demonstrates a conscious approach to personal branding.
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Specificity over Templates
Replace the formal job title with a meaningful description. For example, "Expert in B2B Sales of Technological Solutions | Working with Corporate Clients" -
Focus on the Value Provided
The headline should answer the question: "What problem do I solve for the client/employer?" -
Use Relevant Keywords
It is necessary to include terms that the target audience searches for.
An optimal headline combines clear positioning, relevant keywords, and a clear indication of professional value. This approach not only improves the perception of the profile but also enhances its effectiveness as a tool for networking and career growth.
Contact Information
The contact information section is an important part of the profile that directly affects the ability to communicate with potential employers, clients, or business partners.
How to fill out LinkedIn so that it's convenient to contact you?-
Professional email
Use a corporate or neutral personal address (preferably in the format name.surname@domain.com). Avoid informal or outdated email addresses (e.g., superman1985@gmail.com). -
Phone (if necessary)
Provide a number only if you are ready for calls. It is recommended to add the country code and specify preferred call times (e.g., "Available for calls from 10:00 to 18:00 MSK"). -
Links to personal website or portfolio
For creative professionals (designers, copywriters, developers) — Behance, Dribbble, GitHub. For experts and consultants — personal website with case studies or blog. For corporate employees — link to the company website mentioning your role.
Content for Sections
Summary
Let's figure out how to write a summary on LinkedIn correctly. In this section, briefly but concisely describe who you are, what you do, what achievements you have, and how you can be of value to employers or clients.
Example Structure
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Who are you? "I am a sales manager in the B2B segment with 6 years of experience in IT."*
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What can you be proud of? "Closed deals worth $500K+ in a year and expanded the company into new markets in Europe."
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How are you useful? "I identify key clients, build long-term relationships, and increase the company's profits."
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Call to action: "Want to increase sales? Contact me!"
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Use simple and clear language, avoiding complex terms unless they are key to your field.
Work Experience
Do not limit yourself to simply listing responsibilities. Describe the specific results of your work.
If the company you worked for is not very well-known, briefly describe its area of activity.
Add links to projects or media files if appropriate.
Education and Certifications
Include not only information about your higher education but also any courses you have completed. This will demonstrate your commitment to professional development and a desire for continuous learning.
Recommendations
It is better to have 3–5 detailed recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients than dozens of formal reviews. Ask those who can provide substantive and positive feedback to write recommendations.
Publications
If you have articles, case studies, research, or other publications, add them to the relevant section. This will showcase your expertise and active participation in the professional community.
Common Mistakes That Reduce Profile Effectiveness
We analyzed numerous profiles to identify a successful formula for how to fill out a LinkedIn profile and found a number of common mistakes.
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Unfilled profile
LinkedIn algorithms rank complete profiles higher. Skipping sections like "About Me," "Work Experience," or "Skills" makes your profile less noticeable and creates an impression of a lack of seriousness. -
Template headline (e.g., "Manager at Company X")
Instead of a job title, use the headline as an advertising slogan: indicate specialization, value, or unique experience (e.g., "HR Director | Developing Corporate Culture in IT Companies"). -
Lack of SEO optimization
LinkedIn is a search platform. Without keywords (e.g., "digital marketing," "project management"), recruiters and clients won't find you. Embed them into the "About Me," "Experience," and "Skills" sections. -
Outdated information
A profile with past job positions or old achievements loses relevance. Update it when changing positions, completing projects, or receiving new certifications. -
Lack of recommendations
Profiles without reviews are less trustworthy. Ask colleagues, clients, or supervisors to write recommendations — they serve as social proof of your expertise. -
Dry description in the "About Me" section
Don't just list positions. Add your mission, key achievements (with numbers), and a call to action (e.g., "Ready to discuss collaborations in EdTech").
Conclusion
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for career growth, networking, and strengthening your professional brand. The more thoughtfully your profile is crafted, the greater the chances of attracting the attention of employers, clients, and colleagues. By following the recommendations on how to properly format your LinkedIn page, you will be able to create a profile that stands out among thousands of other users.
