11 LinkedIn Profile Hacks to Beat the LinkedIn Algorithm Part 2

If you have a job, you probably have a LinkedIn profile, but are you making the most of it? Many people use LinkedIn passively, treating it like a digital resume instead of a tool to build their brand. LinkedIn can be used to grow your network, generate leads, and become a trusted advisor – all by focusing on human connections.

Do you remember the excitement of uncovering hidden gems within this professional networking platform? Together, we dive into the unraveling new features and unlocking valuable tips day by day. It was a journey of exploration and growth, where each dawn brought with it the promise of fresh insights and opportunities. Now, as we gear up for the second season, let’s take a moment to reflect on the invaluable lessons and experiences we gained during those 15 enriching days.

LinkedIn Hacks To Get That Will Help You Outperform Your Competition

Do you remember #Discover (#Keşfedin)? In our previous part, we explored LinkedIn and learned new features and tips together. Now, if you’re ready, the second season is starting! In this post, we’ll discover a new LinkedIn feature or tip. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the invaluable lessons and experiences we gained with these 15 tips.

#Discover1

Say Goodbye to Cross-Platform Visual Headaches with the Vertical World. Are you still not using vertical visuals or videos in your designs?

Did you know that 85% of LinkedIn traffic comes from mobile users? Vertical formats are particularly favored in PDF files because smartphone users hold their devices vertically 94% of the time. Isn’t it time to switch to vertical videos and photos?

LinkedIn has recently started testing vertical video streaming. This means you’ll be seeing more vertical videos, and like other platforms, LinkedIn will continue to show related and similar videos. Additionally, ads will appear between videos, which will likely boost video ad usage on LinkedIn.

Here are five key advantages of vertical videos and visuals:

Mobile-Friendly: Most LinkedIn users access the platform via mobile devices. Vertical formats are more visually appealing on mobile screens and occupy more space, making your content stand out more.

Attention-Grabbing: Vertical formats cover more screen real estate, increasing the chance that users will notice and engage with your content.

Higher Engagement Rates: Vertical content is easier to consume on mobile devices, leading to higher rates of comments, likes, and shares.

Effective Storytelling: Perfect for short stories and quick content sharing, this format quickly captures users’ attention and effectively delivers your message.

Algorithm Boost: LinkedIn favors mobile-friendly content that drives user engagement. Vertical videos and photos can gain more visibility in LinkedIn’s algorithm and reach a broader audience.

So, consider your content strategy, especially for new video projects. If they suit the vertical format, it’s time to revisit those dimensions!

#Discover2

Verify Your LinkedIn Account with Your New ID Instead of a Passport.

When verifying your LinkedIn account, it typically asks for a passport, but it also mentions NFC-enabled IDs. Since the new IDs come with NFC capabilities, I decided to give it a try and just verified my account using my ID card.

Initially, it said the ID wasn’t supported, but then it accepted it. I was hesitant to share my passport information; I had already shared my ID with LinkedIn for account security. That’s why I went ahead with the verification. If I hadn’t shared my ID before, I wouldn’t have completed the verification so quickly!

Remember, you don’t have to share your passport. You can verify your account with your ID if you prefer.

#Discover3

Do you remember what you posted on LinkedIn 3 or 5 years ago? How can you find that old post? If you’re an active content sharer, it might seem impossible to locate it. But there’s one exception. How, you ask?
You can access the post directly with its link. Because even after 10 years, that content won’t disappear; it just becomes invisible until you make it visible again.

This is a method I’ve been using for years: the LinkedIn content file

Whenever I post something on LinkedIn that I believe will still be beneficial years later, or if it’s particularly special to me, I save the post’s link in a file. This way, when I want to reshare or revisit that post, I can easily find it.

#Discover4

Image, awareness, sales. These are the benefits of your LinkedIn cover photo, or banner area. Are you truly making the most of this space?

We often overlook the cover photo area or change it once and leave it for years, but it’s the first thing LinkedIn users see when they visit your profile or page. So, this banner area is incredibly valuable to us.

So, how can we use this space effectively?

• Use Dynamic and Multiple Visuals: Think of this area as flexible. Showcase a new product, event, achievement, or collaboration. Reflect your current activities, add your messages, and present them with creative visuals.
• Reflect Your Brand Identity: Always have a consistent visual. Use this fixed visual unless there’s a special occasion and share it with your employees. Enhance brand awareness by matching the visual with your brand’s colors, logo, and other elements.
• Focus on Sales: This is a crucial area for company pages to describe products and services. Highlight your sales messages, offer special promotions, and encourage clicks on the contact button.
• Highlight Your Message: The banner area is ideal for showcasing your professional goals, expertise, or key career achievements. For example, display a photo of you speaking at a conference or receiving an award. Update it when its impact wanes to keep it fresh and relevant.

#Discover5

Where does your LinkedIn profile rank?

If I search for you on Google, will your LinkedIn profile appear on the first page, or even as the top result? Before we go any further, open an incognito window and search for your name, then come back and let’s see where you stand.

If you’ve searched for your name and come back; let’s start by answering the crucial question:

How can we get our LinkedIn profile to the top?

• Edit and optimize your LinkedIn profile. Check out our guide for profile editing: Profile Editing Guide
• Maintain a regular content flow.
• Connect with people, expand your network, and engage with others.

Notice how these are three simple steps we all know, but the key lies in the right technique, building a strong network, and maintaining consistency. Often, the simple steps we tend to overlook lead us to success.

So, why is it important to appear as the top result?

First Impressions and Professional Image: Google searches create the first impression. Having your LinkedIn profile appear first gives visitors immediate access to your professional information, leaving a positive first impression. It depends on how positive a mindset you have as a leader.

Networking and Opportunities: If your profile ranks high in search results, potential employers, business partners, or clients can find you more easily.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): A high-ranking LinkedIn profile on search engines like Google shows that you are well-optimized in terms of SEO. This enhances the visibility and accessibility of your profile.

#Discover6

Shall we create LinkedIn post titles together today? It can be a fun weekend activity! Think about it, your content might be great, but it didn’t have the desired impact. Maybe the title wasn’t compelling enough, what do you think? Or perhaps you started with long and boring sentences without an engaging introduction. Could be, right?

So, let’s take a look at how to start writing our LinkedIn posts together:

• 1) State Your Purpose: Clearly state the purpose of your title. Readers should understand what your content is about and what to expect.
• 2) Be Clear and Concise: Research shows that attention spans are short and getting shorter in the information age. Therefore, try to keep your titles under 60 characters to clearly convey the focus of your content.
• 3) Grab Attention with Intriguing Questions: Questions pique interest and encourage readers to learn more. Pose your question in a way that addresses current industry trends or common problems.
• 4) Trigger Emotion with Power Words: Strategic word choice can spark curiosity or create a sense of urgency. Focus on the core needs of your audience and use key words deliberately. For example, use a specific term or insight relevant to professionals in a particular industry.
• 5) Add a Call to Action: Strengthen your title with a phrase that encourages readers to take action. Use a clear call to action or incentive to get your connections to click on your content.

#Discover7

Shall we discover a neglected feature on LinkedIn? Asking for and giving recommendations! Think about it, why aren’t you using this feature or actively utilizing it? Maybe, since it’s the weekend, we can write recommendations for each other or ask for them!

Why should we ask for or give recommendations? Let’s look at the benefits first:

1) Reliable References: LinkedIn recommendations provide concrete feedback that describes a person’s skills, work style, and personal qualities. They serve as reliable references for employers and job seekers, playing an important role in verifying a person’s skills and experience.

2) Reputation Management: Recommendations on your LinkedIn profile leave a positive impression on potential employers and business partners. They strengthen your professional reputation and increase the trust of people who want to work with you.

3) Increasing Visibility: When you write a recommendation for someone, you become visible on their profile. When their profile is visited, your recommendation is seen, which can lead to indirect traffic to your own profile.

Now, let’s explore the feature:

What is Asking for a Recommendation?

You can request recommendations from 1st-degree connections you are currently or have previously worked with. You can send requests to your connections asking them to write a recommendation. Once the request is accepted and the recommendation is written, you will receive a message.

You can also decline a request to write a recommendation if you receive one. There is no obligation to respond to a request. If you change your mind after writing a recommendation, you have the option to edit or delete it.

How Does the Recommendations Feature Work?

When a connection writes a recommendation for you, you will receive a message from LinkedIn. You can accept, decline, or request modifications to the recommendation. You can also show appreciation for your connections by writing recommendations for them.

There is no limit to the number of recommendations you can give or receive. However, you can only receive or give one recommendation per position from a member.

If you disconnect from a user, the recommendations you gave each other will also be removed. If you reconnect with the user, the recommendations will not be restored.

#Discover8

Why is Your Headline Important?

A good headline strongly represents your professional identity and leaves a lasting first impression on those who encounter you for the first time. It can even spark curiosity.

Your headline is the section right below your name. Typically, we write our job titles here and leave it at that because when we add a new experience, it updates with the position from that experience. But why not use this crucial space, which is as important as a digital business card, more effectively?

Before continuing, open your LinkedIn profile page and take a look at your headline. Let’s see what you’ve written. If you’ve checked your headline, let’s now see how we should write it.

How Should We Write the Headline?

• You have a 220-character limit. Keep this in mind.
• Think of your headline as more than just your current job title. Clearly state what you do and your areas of expertise.
• Remember, this is a keyword-rich area. Use keywords relevant to your field to increase visibility in search results.
• Include a statement about the problems you solve or the value you provide. For example: “Data Scientist, Optimizing Business Processes with Machine Learning and AI Solutions.”
• Don’t be afraid to be creative. Use a unique and memorable phrase to leave a strong impression on profile visitors. Sometimes, using only technical terms can be misleading or confusing. If you aim to reach a broader audience, use more general terms.

Bonus Question: Should I Include My Company and Position in My Headline?
This is actually a matter of preference. If you want your company and position to be visible, you can do it like this: Company title + your fields of work + what you want to write.

Here are the three critical points:
1. Write your company and title first. It provides a better visual flow.
2. Use separators for the concepts you write. For example, use |, /, or -.
3. If you want to be attention-grabbing, use emojis.

15 LinkedIn Profile Hacks to Beat the LinkedIn Algorithm Part 1

#Discover9

Take a Break and Play LinkedIn Games!
Would you take a break from work to play games on LinkedIn? If you’re ready, let’s explore LinkedIn games today! Yes, you heard it right; LinkedIn now has games!

LinkedIn recently announced that it was testing games, and now it has launched three different games. The goal is to give you a break during the day, offer mental exercise, and let you share your game scores on your LinkedIn feed to generate content and interaction.

Currently, there are three games:

1) Pinpoint: A word association game where you guess categories.
2) Crossclimb: A trivia game where clues for words fit into a grid, forming a different word by changing one letter for each next clue.
3) Queens: A logic game that challenges you to fill each row, column, and colored area in the grid with a “Queen,” similar to sudoku.

Rules:

• Each game can be played once a day.
• You can invite your 1st-degree connections to the game.
• Game scores can be shared on your feed.

What do companies think about employees playing LinkedIn games?

LinkedIn officials clarify that the goal is not to waste time but to provide relaxation, mental exercise, and interaction. To ensure this, they have set a limit of playing once a day.

#Discover10

Engage with Your Old Posts for Maximum Impact!

Do you comment on your old posts? You should, especially if there’s a new development on that topic. Why? Because when you comment on your own post, everyone who liked or commented on it, whether a day or a year ago, will receive a notification.

Let’s dive into the detailed benefits:

Increased Traffic: If the old post already attracted followers, you can direct these users to your new post, leading to more views and interactions on your new content.

Linking Relevant Content: By connecting two posts, you can foster a deeper discussion on the topic, allowing users to move between both posts seamlessly.

Boosting Engagement: Adding a direct link to your new post can capture users’ interest and encourage them to engage with your latest content.

Staying Relevant: New comments on an old post can make it appear fresh in your followers’ feeds, increasing visibility and engagement for both old and new posts.

Take advantage of this strategy to keep your content alive and engaging!

#Discover11

Account verification on LinkedIn can be a bit confusing, but it’s a useful feature. Here’s a detailed look at it in 5 questions:

What is Account Verification?
Account verification on LinkedIn indicates that your identity has been verified by LinkedIn’s partner, Persona, using an official ID.

How is Account Verification Done?
Verifications are conducted via Persona. You’ll need an NFC-enabled passport or ID for this process. In Turkey, you can only verify with a passport currently, and it must be done on a mobile device.

Is Account Verification Secure?
While it’s secure for your LinkedIn account, there are some concerns about data sharing. Providing passport information can raise questions. Persona keeps identity data for up to 30 days and shares it with third-party service providers, and you need to give your consent for this.

Is Account Verification Mandatory?
Verification is optional. It’s up to the user whether to verify or not. If you have any doubts, you can choose not to verify for now.

Does Account Verification Increase Visibility?
LinkedIn states that verified members receive about 60% more profile views. Increased visibility comes from having a secure account, but if you already have a well-optimized, secure, and active profile, you probably already get significant visibility. The algorithm doesn’t prioritize verified accounts.

Final Words

As we conclude another remarkable part of #Discover, I am filled with gratitude for each and every one of you who joined me on this journey on LinkedIn. Together, we can uncovered a wealth of knowledge and insights that will undoubtedly propel our professional endeavors forward. But our exploration doesn’t end here; it’s merely a stepping stone towards continuous learning and growth. So, let’s carry forward the spirit of discovery, armed with newfound wisdom and determination, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of LinkedIn and beyond. Until we meet again for another exciting season, keep exploring, keep growing, and keep thriving.

💜 Hi, I’m Gamze; thanks for visiting my recent post!
In my company, which serves both global and local brands, I design digital journeys for brands and individuals, provide training, and give talks.
Now that we’ve met, what can you expect from the content on this profile?
⚡️ I share tips on the digital world, technology, generative AI, and branding, sales, and effective usage on LinkedIn.
👩‍💻 Every Monday, I analyze companies’ LinkedIn pages with the LinkedIn Employee Report Card.
🙋🏻‍♀️ Every Friday, I share the week’s highlights with the 20 Minute Bulletin.
Reach me via LinkedIn.

Related reads: 15 LinkedIn Profile Hacks to Beat the LinkedIn Algorithm Part 1