What LinkedIn profile tips actually matter? I asked someone who used to work inside LinkedIn.
Here's a fun fact that stopped me cold. Most people who work at LinkedIn never post on LinkedIn.
Alicia Teltz was one of them. She was a Global Client Executive at LinkedIn, working with some of the biggest recruitment firms in the world. And she wasn't posting, until she couldn't stand in front of clients anymore telling them to show up while she stayed quiet.
Now she runs The Hype Department, writes a column for Inc. and grew her own following to 10,000 in 90 days.
So I asked her what founders get wrong.
Why posting on LinkedIn feels so cringe
LinkedIn is very transparent, so people show up overly polished.
Everyone can see where you worked, who you work with and who you're connected to. So you play it safe. And polished is boring. You lose your own voice because you're scared of saying the wrong thing.
Her fix is simple. Write the way you'd talk to a friend over lunch, not like a press release.
People need to learn from you and remember you
If you only share about learnings and your skills and just business, people might learn from you, but they don't remember you.
Alicia Teltz
And if you only share personal stuff? People like you, but they don't see you as credible.
You need both. That's what builds the trust that leads to a sale.
I'm not someone who posts every feeling. But I've got plenty of silly stories from my early years, like walking down a hallway with one eye closed so it could rest. Those are the stories people remember.
LinkedIn profile tips to fix before you post
If a post takes off, hundreds of people land on your profile. Treat it like a sales page.
- ✓Banner. Who you serve, what they get, logos, a second photo and a pointer to Featured.
- ✓Profile picture. Bright background, zoomed in, eyes to the camera.
- ✓Headline. The first 45 characters show up everywhere. Clear over clever.
- ✓Verification. Try your past employer or school first.
- ✓About. Your founding story and why you care.
- ✓Featured. 1 link, the one you most want clicked.
- ✓Services. Delete it.
Stop chasing the algorithm
Even most people inside LinkedIn can't see how it works, and it changes all the time. So write for humans. Ask what the reader gets from every post. Make them feel something. Wrap it in a story so it reads like potato chips. One line, and they can't stop.
Who keeps your profile current?
A great profile is never done.
New logo. New offer. New link in Featured. And you're busy serving clients. That's exactly the pre-work a virtual assistant can own. When we find, hire and onboard a VA we train to lead, they keep this current, so you don't have to think about it.
→Related read, How Our Leadership Program Transformed Our Virtual AssistantsAbout the guest
Alicia Teltz is the founder of The Hype Department and a former Global Client Executive at LinkedIn. She writes a column for Inc. and is a global Substack bestseller. Find her on LinkedIn and Substack.
Not sure where your week is going?
Take the 5 Minute Capacity Check and see what's ready to come off your plate.
TAKE THE 5 MINUTE CAPACITY CHECK
Key Takeaways
- ✓Most people who work at LinkedIn never post on LinkedIn.
- ✓Write the way you'd talk to a friend over lunch.
- ✓Share your skills and your stories. People need to learn from you and remember you.
- ✓Fix your profile before you post. It's your sales page.
- ✓Your headline's first 45 characters show up everywhere. Clear over clever.
- ✓A great profile is never done, so give the upkeep to your VA.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important LinkedIn profile tips?
Start with your banner, profile picture and headline. Say who you serve and what they get, use a bright, zoomed in photo with your eyes to the camera, and keep the first 45 characters of your headline clear.
Should I verify my LinkedIn profile?
Alicia recommends it. Try verifying with a past employer or your school first. LinkedIn has said unverified profiles may show up less.
Should I delete the Services section on LinkedIn?
Alicia says yes. It mostly brings in junk. Put your 1 most important link in Featured instead.
Who should keep my LinkedIn profile up to date?
Your virtual assistant can own it. New offers, new links and new logos are pre-work that shouldn't wait on you.
