Step-by-Step Guide: How to Improve LinkedIn Profile Today

Scrolling through LinkedIn? So are the people who could change your career.

Yet most of us only update our profiles when we’re job hunting, chasing a new client, or making a big career move. 

Your profile is working for you every single day. 

Recruiters, potential clients, and future collaborators are looking right now and what they see could be the difference between getting noticed or getting overlooked.

The good news is, you don’t need a lot to make an impact. 

With a few quick updates, your profile can become stronger, more discoverable, and instantly more appealing. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the simple, step-by-step changes you can make today to give your LinkedIn presence the boost it deserves.

Why improve your LinkedIn profile?  

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 1.2 billion members. Every profile view could be a recruiter, buyer, or decision-maker evaluating whether you’re worth their time.

For marketers and sales professionals, the stakes are even higher. 

According to the company, 40% of B2B marketers rank LinkedIn as their most effective channel for generating high-quality leads, and campaigns on LinkedIn deliver up to 2x higher conversion rates compared to other platforms. 

A complete, well-maintained LinkedIn profile ensures: 

• Visibility: An optimized profile helps you appear in searches for the roles, skills, and solutions you want to be found for. Small changes to headline, job titles, and skills can move you into the right feeds.
• Credibility: A complete, up-to-date profile (photo, headline, summary, and measurable results) signals professionalism and reduces friction for people who want to trust you or work with you.
• Lead generation: When prospects receive cold outreach on LinkedIn, they often check your profile before replying. A polished profile reinforces your outreach, improves reply rates, and shortens the trust curve during multichannel campaigns.

Also read: LinkedIn Lead Generation Made Easy: 8+ Strategies for Success in 2025

How do I start optimizing my linkedin profile?   

The quickest way to start optimizing your LinkedIn profile is by focusing on what people notice first: your photo, headline, and background banner. These three elements set the tone for your entire profile.

Profile photo 

Your profile photo should look professional without being stiff. Choose a clear, high-quality image where you’re facing the camera, well-lit, and easy to recognize. 

P.S. Skip the vacation selfies or cropped group shots!

Headline

Your headline is prime real estate. Don’t leave it as your default job title! Craft a line that highlights what you do and who you help. 

Add a keyword or two related to your industry so you show up in searches, but keep it human. 

E.g., “Content Marketer | Helping SaaS brands turn blogs into sales” is far stronger than just “Marketing Specialist.”

Background banner

Your background banner is a chance to show a bit of personality while reinforcing your professional brand. 

Use it to signal your field: whether that’s a clean design with your company’s colors, a simple graphic that highlights your expertise, or a branded tagline. 

What makes a great LinkedIn summary?   

Your summary is your elevator pitch. The right words can turn profile views into real opportunities. here’s how:

1. Start with a hook: Open with one or two sentences that sum up what you do and who you help. Example: “I help startups turn complex data into clear stories that win investors and customers.”
2. Show your value: Share 2-3 skills or achievements, but frame them as outcomes. Instead of “experienced in sales,” write “grew annual revenue by 35% through consultative selling.”
3. Make it about others: Explain how your work makes a difference, whether that’s solving client problems, leading teams, or delivering results.
4. End with an invite: Add a call to action that encourages people to reach out. For instance: “Let’s connect! I’m always open to chatting about B2B SaaS and content strategy.”

Write like you’re talking to someone you’d actually want to work with. That’s what makes a summary memorable.

How do I showcase my work experience effectively?   

The experience section is your chance to prove the impact you’ve had. Here’s how to make it work for you:

When someone scrolls through your profile, they shouldn’t just see where you’ve worked. They should immediately understand the value you created in each role.

How can I strengthen my skills and endorsements? 

Skills and endorsements add instant credibility. Here’s how to boost them without begging for clicks. 

Tip #1. Choose marketable skills that are high in demand. 

LinkedIn allows up to 50, but most people will only notice the top 10 to 15 skills. Select skills that align with the roles or clients you want today. 

For example, a SaaS marketer should highlight content marketing, SEO, and demand generation, and not generic skills like Microsoft Office.

Tip #2. Ask for targeted endorsements.

Reach out to people you have worked closely with and tie your ask to a specific project. For example: “Hi [Name], since we worked together on the product launch, would you be open to endorsing me for project management? I’d love to endorse you for [skill] as well.”

It makes the request personal and you’re more likely to get a response.

Tip #3. Keep your skills up-to-date. 

Reorder your skills so the most relevant ones stay at the top. Remove outdated or irrelevant skills to keep your profile sharp. 

Update this section every few months so it always reflects where you want to go next.

Remember: Endorsements may seem small, but stacked on the right skills, they build quick credibility when someone scans your profile.

Why are recommendations important and how to get them?   

A few genuine recommendations can make your profile feel far more trustworthy to recruiters, clients, or collaborators. I have 2 simple tips that almost always work: 

Ask the right people in the right way

Target colleagues, managers, or customers who know your work well. Don’t just send the default request. Be specific: “Hi [Name], I really enjoyed working with you on [project]. Would you be open to writing a short recommendation about my role in [specific contribution]? I’d be happy to return the favor.”

The clearer your ask, the easier it is for them to write something meaningful.

Write for others to encourage reciprocity

An effective way to get recommendations is to give them first. Write thoughtful, genuine notes for teammates or clients. 

Most people will feel inclined to return the gesture, and the quality of what you write often sets the tone for what you’ll receive back.

How do I build and engage my LinkedIn network?   

The value of your LinkedIn network doesn’t come from how many people you add but from how intentional you are about who’s in it. 

• Start by looking for people who align with your goals: prospects you’d like to work with, peers in your industry, or leaders whose ideas you want to learn from. LinkedIn’s filters (job title, company, location, industry) make it easy to focus your search.
• When you send a connection request, avoid the default message. A short, genuine note makes a big difference: mention what you admire about their work, highlight a common interest, or refer to a post they’ve shared. It’s a small step that shows effort and usually leads to better response rates. You could also skip the note and simply send a request to connect. 
• Once your network starts to grow, don’t disappear. Engagement is what turns connections into relationships. Comment thoughtfully on posts, share useful resources, and like content that resonates with you. Even a few minutes a day keeps you visible and positions you as someone worth following.

The formula is simple = Connect with purpose + personalize your requests + stay active

Over time, those small habits compound into a strong, engaged network that opens real opportunities!

How can I use LinkedIn with Reply.io to boost sales outreach?

Once your profile is polished and your network is growing, you’re ready to set up LinkedIn automation and start your outreach (if that’s your goal). And for that, you’ll need a tool like Reply.

Reply lets you weave LinkedIn outreach into broader and smarter outreach flows. Combined with AI and analytics, Reply makes your approach scalable and personalized. Let’s see how:

1. Integrate LinkedIn outreach with multichannel sequences

Use Reply.io’s multichannel Conditional Sequences to include LinkedIn (connection requests, messages, InMails, profile views etc) as a step alongside email, SMS, and calls. 

Based on what contact data you have and how the prospect responds, you can move them through different branches.

Reply’s Chrome Extension Findy helps you find verified emails on LinkedIn or Sales Navigator. You can enrich them with verified contact data and drop them into your multichannel sequences. 

With Reply, you’ll also get assistance with pre-outreach engagement. You can warm up leads by engaging with their profiles before you send messages to boost familiarity and increase response rates.

2. Get help from Jason AI SDR for personalized engagement

Jason AI SDR (Reply’s AI sales agent) helps you define your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) using real-time data and builds sequences tailored for each lead. 

Every message (LinkedIn or otherwise) can be personalized based on company, role, recent activity, and other parameters. 

Jason AI also handles replies, follow ups, and books meetings on your behalf, minus the endless to-and-fro. 

Which means, after the prospect interacts, Jason can take over routine follow-ups or draft responses, and you can scale outreach without dropping quality.

3. Track responses and adjust messaging based on data insights

Reply.io provides detailed analytics on LinkedIn outreach: connection acceptance rates, message open/reply rates, and sequence-level performance so you can see which messages in a sequence are working or lagging.

You can download the data/reports into CSV format to analyze offline or share with your team.

What else can I do to improve profile discoverability?  

Want more people to actually find your profile? Small tweaks in visibility and activity can make a big difference.

Customize your LinkedIn URL

Instead of sticking with LinkedIn’s default string of numbers, edit your profile link to something simple and professional, like linkedin.com/in/name. 

It looks polished on resumes, portfolios, and email signatures, and makes you easier to find.

Use keywords strategically

LinkedIn works like a search engine. Sprinkle relevant keywords in your headline, summary, and experience section so the algorithm knows what you do. For example:

❌ Weak: Marketing Specialist

✅ Strong: B2B SaaS Marketing Specialist | Content Strategy & Demand Generation

The second version sounds more specific and also matches what people actually search for.

Join and contribute in groups

Groups put you in front of people outside your immediate network. 

Choose communities where your peers or prospects hang out, then engage by asking questions, sharing insights, or commenting on discussions. 

The more active you are, the more often your profile will get discovered.

Make use of the Featured section and Creator Mode

Use the Featured section to showcase your best work, whether that’s an article, presentation, or case study. 

Turning on Creator Mode also allows you to highlight content topics (hashtags) you want to be found for, making it easier for people to discover your profile through LinkedIn search and content feeds.

How to maintain and update your profile regularly?   

A LinkedIn profile is never “done.” Keeping it up-to-date makes sure opportunities find you at the right time. I’ve put together a simple routine you can follow monthly, quarterly, and yearly. 

What’s the first step to improving your LinkedIn profile today?

You don’t need hours to overhaul your LinkedIn profile. Just follow this quick checklist:

• [   ] Upload a clear, professional headshot with good lighting and a neutral background
  [   ] Replace your default job title with a value-driven headline (what you do + who you help)
• [   ] Rewrite your About/Summary: start with a hook, highlight 2–3 key results, and end with a call-to-action
• [   ] Add 2-3 bullet points with numbers under your latest role (e.g., “Increased qualified leads by 35% in 4 months”)
• [   ] Showcase 1-2 pieces of proof in the Featured section (article, case study, or presentation)
• [   ] Reorder your Skills so the most relevant appear in your top 10
• [   ] Customize your LinkedIn URL (linkedin.com/in/yourname) and add it to your resume/email signature

Even if you just complete two or three of these steps today, it can take your profile from good enough to the one people remember. 

Don’t wait until you’re job hunting or pitching a client. Open LinkedIn right now, tick off the first update, and let opportunities start finding you!

FAQs

1. How to improve LinkedIn profile if I’m not actively job hunting?

Even if you’re not looking for a new job, keeping your own profile updated is important. Hiring managers, recruiters, and potential clients often check your LinkedIn profile to understand your professional brand, interests, and professional experiences.

Make small changes like refining your headline, adding a strong profile photo, and highlighting recent professional achievements, and you’ll build ongoing credibility and keep doors open for unexpected opportunities.

2. What should I focus on in the experience section of my LinkedIn profile?

In the experience section, avoid long paragraphs that look like a copied resume. Instead, use clear bullet points to show measurable results and relevant outcomes. Think of each role as a chance to present your professional life in a way that reflects your skills, your impact on the company, and your growth in your career.

For example, instead of only listing a job title, you might create entries that also highlight specific professional development wins or relevant skills you mastered along the way.

3. How do visuals like background images and profile pictures affect my profile?

Your profile picture is the first impression you make. A clear, approachable photo builds instant trust. Pair it with a background image that reflects your personal brand or professional brand, whether that’s your company’s colors, a tagline, or a simple design that reinforces your expertise.

4. What should I write in the About section?

Your About section is prime space to show who you are beyond your job title. Keep it skimmable: use short sentences instead of long paragraphs. Lead with your personality and passion, highlight your capabilities and professional achievements, and show how your work creates value in your industry.

Mention your focus on continuous learning to signal growth, then finish with a clear CTA, like an invitation to connect, your contact details, or a link to your business website.

5. How does LinkedIn help with social selling and networking?

LinkedIn is beyond a digital resume. It’s a platform for social selling, professional development, and relationship-building. Sharing thoughtful posts, highlighting professional achievements, and engaging with your network positions you as a credible voice in your industry. The visibility attracts both fellow professionals and recruiters.

When used consistently, your profile becomes a living asset that showcases your track record and your future potential.