Isnt It Time To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Isnt It Time To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Donna Serdulas new book LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies should be on your must-read list. Creating and updating your LinkedIn profile is part personal branding, part strategy and part search engine optimization. Chances are you havent developed all these skillsyet. Donna Serdula is skilled in all those areas, plus she has the expertise gained from updating thousands of LinkedIn profiles. I think you should trust her guidance. Yes, there have been recent changes to LinkedIns user interface and functionality, but most of the advice in Serdulas book isnt impacted by these changes. While you could try and search online for the answers to all your LinkedIn profile questions, that would take too much time. And I absolutely guarantee that even the most advanced users of LinkedIn will take away a few new tricks! Donna graciously sent me a copy and Ive been flipping through and diving in. Here are my thoughts about her book. Usable Layout LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies is organized and laid out clearly. You probably cant do everything you need to do in one sitting. Serdula recognizes this and lays the book out so you can dive in and complete small improvements to your profile and then tackle more later. As much as youll be tempted, I must stress the importance of reading Part 1:  The Strategy Before the Siege, first. You shouldnt embark on changing your LinkedIn profile until you have a plan. Reading the first three chapters will help you identify keywords for your career and details about getting and showing endorsements.  (Endorsements are social proof and one thing you can absolutely do to outshine the competition). In Part 2: Getting Your LinkedIn Profile Started, youll learn exactly how to choose a profile photo, write a great headline and customize your LinkedIn URL. Part 3: Detailing Your Career Trajectory and Creating the Ultimate First Impression  shows you how to add the right information to  every section of your profile, including the summary. Part 4: Rounding Out Your Profile and Adding Finishing Touches is where you find the bells and whistles- small enhancements that give your LinkedIn profile the WOW factor. And in Part 5: The Part of Tens, youll find top 10 lists to help you with your profile- from what not to do to how to network on LinkedIn and more resources to help with your personal branding. Great Nuggets of Advice Insight How many times have you seen people upload their resume into LinkedIn? Enough. Heres what Serdula advises in her book: Do Your Profile Right I see way too many people making bad choices when branding themselves on LinkedIn. Bad profile pictures Ineffective  headlines Bad summary or no summary at all Incomplete profiles No engagement, no personality, dont know how to use LinkedIn   Give As A Gift, If Not For Yourself You can give it as a graduation gift to a college senior, give it to your husband/wife/partner who is desperately looking for a new job, or keep it for yourself and resolve to make the changes to your own profile. Get  LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies (affiliate link) You can learn more about Donna Serdula by visiting her website:  http://www.LinkedIn-Makeover.com following her on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/todonna/ SPECIAL BONUS TO MY READERS I  gave away a copy of LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies. Thanks to all who entered a chance to win.