6 Essentials Every Strong LinkedIn Profile Needs

LinkedIn isn't new, but how people use it keeps changing. It's not a place to drop your resume and disappear. You have to create a working profile that tells your professional story, showcases what you’re doing now, and hints at where you're heading. Recruiters scroll it, colleagues check it, and potential clients skim it. It’s your digital face in the professional crowd, and a barebones profile won’t do much.

A strong profile is about clarity, much more than flashy achievements. It’s about saying the right things in the right way, so the right people pay attention. Here’s what that looks like.

Headline That Works For You

First misconception to clear: the headline isn’t your job title. It’s your positioning. LinkedIn defaults to your current role, but that’s not always helpful. This line travels with your name across the platform, so you've got to make it count.

Good headlines include the kind of work you do, the industry you're in, or the value you bring. That might be as plain as “Marketing Analyst | Customer Insight & Reporting” or as personal as “Helping Fintech Startups Grow Through Data Strategy.” Job titles alone get buried in the noise. Add something that signals what you're really doing and who benefits from it.

The platform operates like a search engine, and headlines play a role in that. Use keywords related to your role, specialty, or future goals.

A Photo That Doesn’t Undercut You

Please avoid logos and group shots, or vacation selfies cropped into headshots. Your LinkedIn photo doesn’t have to be studio quality, but it does need to look intentional.

Pick a photo where your face fills most of the frame and you're looking forward. Smiling works, but neutral is fine too. Dress in something close to what you'd wear to work. You’re trying to look like someone others would trust in a work setting.

Use a clean background with natural light, a neutral wall, a bookshelf, or maybe a blurred office, but nothing distracting. This one change often lifts profiles immediately. People scan faces first. Yours should feel approachable and real.

About Section That Doesn’t Read Like a Resume

This is where people mess up. They either paste in something formal and stiff or skip it altogether. The About section is more like an introduction at a networking event.

Write in first person. Start with a short line that sets the tone. Then share how you work, what you focus on, and how that’s helped teams or clients. Use a few numbers if they help tell the story. Mention industries you've worked in, challenges you've solved, and where you're going next.

Keywords help here, too, but this isn't a keyword dump. Fold in real descriptions of what you do and the problems you solve. End with a simple line about connecting.

Work History That Says Something

The Experience section should explain what you actually did, not just the role you had. It doesn't mean you should copy job descriptions. Write short blurbs in the first person focused on your impact: “Led a three-person content team and improved email engagement rates by 36% over two quarters.” This is clear and memorable and shows what you’re capable of doing again.

Include media if available. Any presentations, content links, product snapshots, or press mentions add texture to your work history. They give people a reason to slow down and see what you’re talking about.

Skills That Match What You Want

LinkedIn lets you add up to 50 skills. Don’t stop at 10. Fill the section out and rank your top three based on what you want next for your career. These are visible at the top and shape the endorsements you get.

Choose specific terms over vague ones. “B2B SaaS Marketing” beats “Marketing.” “Agile Project Management” says more than “Leadership.” Keep it targeted and real. If you’re switching fields or rebranding, this section is where you start aligning your profile with your direction.

The endorsements you get help, too. You can’t control who endorses you for what, but you can nudge it along. Endorse people in your network, and many will return the gesture. The more credible your skills section looks, the stronger your profile becomes.

Recommendations That Add Credibility

This is the only part of your profile where someone else speaks. A few good recommendations go a long way. They show that people trust you, value your work, and want to put their name behind it.

Don’t wait for someone to offer. Ask a few people you’ve worked with if they’d write a short recommendation. Offer to write one back. Make it easy for them by reminding them of a project or result you worked on together.

Keep things current. A recommendation from six years ago is better than none, but recent ones say more about who you are now. Two to five strong recommendations usually do the job.

More Than a Resume

LinkedIn isn’t static. Once the basics are in place, keep the profile moving. Share an article or a win and comment on someone’s post. Upload a PDF from a recent presentation. These light signals tell the algorithm and other users that your profile is active.

Even if you're not looking for a new job, your LinkedIn presence matters. Colleagues use it to check who you are before meetings. Clients read it before discovery calls. New contacts look at it after conferences or referrals. It shapes how people think of you when you're not in the room.