3 powerful strategies to maximise your personal brand with LinkedIn
Having a strong personal brand isn’t just good marketing - it’s essential if you want to outshine your competitors. And when it comes to building and showcasing your personal brand, LinkedIn reigns supreme. With over 1 billion members across 200 countries, LinkedIn offers unparalleled opportunities to connect, network, and establish your expertise.
Personal Brand Project understands the important role LinkedIn plays in building your personal brand. In this guide, we'll explore how you can use LinkedIn to make your personal brand shine, attract opportunities, and stand out from the crowd.
What are the benefits of using LinkedIn to boost my personal brand?
LinkedIn can shape your professional story
Your LinkedIn profile is your digital introduction. It reflects your expertise and professionalism, allowing you to build trust and connections. Sharing quality content also reinforces your credibility.
LinkedIn unlocks career opportunities
LinkedIn allows you to position yourself as an expert and stand out in a competitive job market. Your evolving profile acts as a dynamic resume, attracting new connections and opportunities.
LinkedIn helps you make an impression
Visually appealing profiles leave a lasting impact. Posting regularly on LinkedIn helps you maintain consistency and offer valuable insights to your visitors.
LinkedIn allows you to engage with your audience
When it comes to LinkedIn, it’s quality over quantity. By sharing valuable content and interacting with your audience, you can cultivate meaningful connections.
How to maximise your personal brand with LinkedIn
1. Create an impactful LinkedIn banner
A good LinkedIn banner is more than just a visual element - it's a powerful tool for quickly conveying your personal brand message.
Australian entrepreneur Mark Bouris has used his LinkedIn banner to make a simple yet strong statement that plays on both his company name and what he does. Shayne Elliott, the Chief Executive Officer at ANZ, uses his banner to showcase his human side. And veteran newsreader Sandra Sully has chosen a banner that highlights her connections.
A quick Google search of ‘free LinkedIn banners’ will bring up countless resources for you to create your banner. Pexels or iStock offer free or low-cost options for you to try on your profile. Alternatively, you can create a banner that leaves a lasting impression with these tips:
Showcase your expertise - Feature yourself in activities aligned with your professional identity. For instance, if you're a public speaker, include a photo of yourself speaking at an event to establish authority in your field.
Highlight your professional environment - Whether in a corporate setting or freelancing, showcase your work environment to provide insight into your profession. Use images that exemplify your work ethic, creativity, or dedication.
Show your achievements - Showcase notable accomplishments like published works or awards to bolster credibility and spark conversation.
Incorporate personal elements - Add local landmarks or personalised elements to resonate with your audience on a deeper level - especially if your work is localised or holds personal significance.
Reflect your brand identity - Ensure your banner aligns with your brand colours, logo, and values for consistency across your LinkedIn profile. This reinforces your professional identity and strengthens brand recognition.
Include a Call to Action - Encourage interaction by incorporating a clear call to action, prompting viewers to connect, visit your website, or explore your services further. This is important if you are a business owner or Consultant.
2. Write a personal headline
A personal headline is a short, punchy phrase - or a combination of impactful titles or descriptors - that sums up who you are, what you do, and the value you offer. With her headline, ‘Helping others have the confidence to say ‘yes’’, renowned Australian tennis player Ash Barty makes it clear that she wants to help people be more open to the truth of their purpose. While American author and executive education professor, Dorie Clark, uses descriptors in her headline to engage the reader:“Columbia Business Prof; WSJ Bestselling Author; Ranked #1 Communication Coach; 3x Top 50 Business Thinker in World - Thinkers50”
3. Craft a compelling LinkedIn summary
Your LinkedIn summary is your ‘about’ section, where you showcase your professional experience, achievements, and skills. With up to 2,000 characters (or 300-500 words) available, your summary allows you to write something that reads more like a story than a resume.
Janine Allis, the founder of Boost Juice Bars, uses powerful, impactful language throughout her LinkedIn summary. She highlights her love for customer service and retail and mentions her family, showing readers that she is more than a business owner.
Here’s how you can write a compelling LinkedIn summary:
Open with personality - Start with a sentence that piques interest. Share why you do what you do, using a personal anecdote or reflection. For example, “I love figuring out what customers want. That’s what drove me to brand marketing.
Discuss your background - Briefly explain your professional journey and how you ended up where you are now. Provide some light background about your career history.
Share your current role - Detail your current role, focusing on what energises you. If you’re not currently employed, discuss your professional goals and what you’re looking for in your next role.
Highlight your accomplishments - Focus on your impact and achievements to build credibility and establish yourself as a successful professional.
Showcase your skills and talents - Discuss your key skills, talents, and areas of expertise. You can weave these into your story or list them at the end.
Close with a Call to Action - End with a call to action. Mention your goals and encourage readers to connect with you on LinkedIn, especially if they share similar interests or if you’re seeking new opportunities.