The profile, section by section
| Section | What to do |
|---|---|
| Photo | Your face, close and well lit, the same as everywhere else |
| Banner | One line about what you do, or a photo of your work |
| Headline | Who you help and how: “I help restaurants fill tables with food photography”, not just “Photographer” |
| Custom URL | linkedin.com/in/yourname, set in your public profile settings |
| About | Your story in a few short paragraphs: what you do, for whom, proof, and how to reach you |
| Featured | Your best work, an article, a case study and your own website |
| Contact info | Your website and you@yourname.com |
| Experience | Results, not duties: “Shot 40 menus; two clients reported more orders” |
Menus move; if a setting isn’t where described, look under your profile’s “Resources” or “Edit public profile & URL”.
Headline formulas
- I help [who] [get what] with [how]. “I help first-time founders raise their first round with clear pitch decks.”
- [Role] for [who] · [proof]. “Brand designer for coffee shops · 60+ cafés.”
- [Role] · [topic you post about]. “Nurse · Writing about night shifts and burnout.”
What to post
- Lessons from your work: one mistake, what you learned, what you do now.
- How you did something: a short case study with a number in it.
- Your opinion on news in your field, with a reason.
- Behind the scenes: your process, your tools, your week.
- Celebrate others: clients, colleagues, people you learned from.
Write the first line so it earns the click on “see more”. Keep paragraphs to one or two lines. One or two posts a week, every week, is plenty.
Comments count as much as posts
Thoughtful comments on posts by people in your field put your name in front of their audience. Ten useful comments a week often do more for a new profile than another post.
A place of your own
LinkedIn is borrowed ground: your profile looks like everyone else’s and the platform decides who sees it. A website at your own domain, with an email at it, is what people find when they search your name, and it’s what makes you look like a business when you pitch or apply. How to get a website for your personal brand.
Where Bounley fits
Bounley makes your site from your accounts, LinkedIn included, in about two minutes at bounley.me/yourname, with a business card, a QR code and an email signature made from it. Add the site to LinkedIn’s Featured and contact info. With Premium, the site runs on yourname.com with you@yourname.com. Claim your name.
Questions
How often should I post on LinkedIn?
One or two good posts a week is enough to build a reputation, as long as you keep it up for months.
Do I need LinkedIn’s creator features?
LinkedIn has moved most creator features into every profile. Focus on the headline, Featured and posting; they matter more than any setting.
Does a personal brand help when job hunting?
Yes. Recruiters search names; a clear headline, a few posts and a personal site with your work make you easier to choose. A personal brand for job seekers.
Should I post about my company or myself?
Yourself, about your work. People follow people; your company benefits from your reputation.