LinkedIn Profile Optimization Checklist
Struggling to get quality connections and stand out on LinkedIn? Let’s fix that.
Watch this 1-hour LinkedIn Profile Optimization Workshop designed for business owners and executive sales leaders who want to increase their connection acceptance rate, attract more inbound connection requests, and position themselves as industry leaders.
In this session you’ll receive:
A step-by-step LinkedIn Profile Optimization Checklist
Live coaching to refine your headline & about section with AI
Insider AI tips on profile images, header graphics & branding
How to increase/automate connection requests & acceptance rates
Proven content/commenting strategies to attract inbound connection requests
Here’s a step-by-step checklist to improve your LinkedIn profile and increase both your connection request acceptance rate and the number of connection requests you receive.
1. SSI Score / Profile Image –
✅ Do you know what your Social Selling Index Score is? (Click here to find out)
✅ Use a high-quality, professional headshot with good lighting. (See www.studioshot.ai for AI tips)
✅ Make sure your face is centered, visible, and smiling (i.e. warm and approachable).
✅ Wear attire appropriate for your industry.
2. Header / Banner Graphic – First Impressions Matter
✅ Dimensions: Use 1584 x 396 pixels for best resolution. (see details)
✅ Elements to Include:
Your company logo, a personal brand logo, a picture of you doing what you do or a clean and professional background image relevant to your industry. (See royalty free images here)
Text overlay with words describing the outcomes you create.
✅ Design Tip: Use Canva.com or Adobe Express for a polished look or outsource to a professional designer.
3. Pronoun Hack, Headline & About Section – The Hook That Converts
Pronoun Hack
✅ Edit your pronoun to a Custom Pronoun that capture who you are. Keep it less than 25 characters (no symbols or emojis).
Copy and paste the following into ChatGPT and personalize:
Prompt:
Help me come up with 10 catchy job titles (less than 25 characters) to define what I do as a (JOB TITLE).
Headline Optimization
✅ Keep it less than 50-60 characters for easy readability (max is 220).
✅ Use emojis to make it visually appealing. (see https://getemoji.com)
✅ Clearly state “what you do” and “who you help”.
✅ Examples:
🚀 B2B Lead Gen Expert to Small Biz Owners 🔥
📈 Growth Coach to Entrepreneurs Scaling to 7+ Figures 🚀
About Section – Copy, Paste & Personalize
✅ Copy and paste the following into ChatGPT and personalize:
Prompt:
Help me (INSERT YOUR FULL NAME HERE) from (COMPANY) at (INSERT YOUR WEBSITE ADDRESS HERE) write a new LinkedIn headline (less than 50-60 characters) starting/ending with an appropriate emoji using this outline (WHAT I DO | MY TARGET AUDIENCE) and then help me write an updated profile using the outline below as a guide to organize content. Include correlating emojis and focus on the qualities that would attract others to reach out to me.
🔑 WHAT I DO:
👨👩👧👦 WHO I WORK WITH:
🌟 WHY WORK WITH ME?
❓ WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT ME?
🛅 SERVICES I OFFER:
📖 MY STORY:
🌐 WHERE YOU'VE SEEN ME:
🗣 TESTIMONIALS:
📝 INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:
💡 MY SPECIALTIES:
🤝 LET'S CONNECT!
📩 Send me a message today, and let’s (Insert Call-to-Action).
4. Experience & Featured Section – Establish Credibility
✅ Add key job roles with achievements and measurable results.
✅ Use media files (videos, PDFs, or links) to FEATURE and showcase your expertise.
✅ Highlight testimonials and major accomplishments.
5. Skills & Endorsements – Showcase Your Expertise
✅ Add at least 5-10 relevant skills (e.g., Sales, Leadership, AI, Marketing).
✅ Go to your top connections and endorse their top 5 skills and ask them if they’d reciprocate.
6. Recommendations – Social Proof Matters
✅ Write recommendations for clients, colleagues, and/or mentors and ask them to reciprocate. Copy and paste the following text into ChatGPT.com:
Help me write a LinkedIn recommendation for (FULL NAME) from (COMPANY NAME) at (WEBSITE) or copy their ABOUT section in their profile and ask ChatGPT.com to use it as a guide.
✅ Writing a sample recommendation about you for others to use often encourages action and reciprocation. (see my example here)
✅ Share the link to your recommendations as social proof. (see sample here)
7. Content Strategy – Grow Your Connections
✅ Post valuable content daily to encourage others to accept your connection requests, appear more in searches and increase engagement.
Copy and paste the following text into ChatGPT.com:
Help me write 10 social media posts on the topic of (INSERT HOT TOPIC) using the below best practices and strategies for headlines to create better engagement and include appropriate emojis and hashtags. Target posts towards (POSITION TITLES)...
Authority: [Expert] shares [X] mistakes...
Exclusivity: This Hidden Gem [item] is..
FOMO: 250 people just [did X] - see why...
Nostalgia: 20 items from the '90s you...
Urgency: 5 [topic] changes to make before...
Curiosity: This one extra [Process] step will...
Contrarian: Forget [common practice] - this x...
Aspiration: How to [do task] like expert
Trust: How to [do task]: 5 evidence-based...
Empowerment: How to [task] even if [obstacle]
Social proof: This is the most popular [X] for...
Novelty: 6 non-obvious [items] to...
8. Grow Your Connections
✅ Use BASIC SEARCH filters (click here to view), groups, and events or upgrade to Sales Navigator for more Premium search filters
✅ Use Premium 3rd party data for more detailed search filters and enrichment (click here to learn more)
✅ Use personalized connection messages instead of generic requests. (see monthly limit info here)
✅ Engage with your prospect's profile (Follow) and content (like/comment on posts and ask a question) if connection requests aren’t accepted and send email intro with a quick intro and a link to your profile.
✅ Accept requests strategically—connect with those in your industry or target audience.
9. Develop a 90 Day Messaging/Email Nurturing Campaign
✅ It is widely recognized that it takes 6-12 touchpoints/interactions with a prospect to create a sale/client/customer
✅ Use the following prompt in ChatGPT:
Help me create a 90 day automated lead generation and nurturing campaign for (YOUR NAME) from (WEBSITE) to new LinkedIn connections. Create an automated sequence that includes LinkedIn actions like view profile, follow profile, Endorse top 5 skills, private messages with easy to answer ice breaker questions, follow up emails and outbound calls in a chronological sequence to build relationships, add value by offering to make connections, share helpful resources and help generate leads. Personalize the campaign at scale to the target market and not personalized to the person specifically receiving the message. Include irresistible offers that increase response rates (i.e. urgency, scarcity, exclusivity, reciprocity, and social proof).
10. Set recurring appointments to review progress
✅ Keep track of actions taken to keep prospects moving through the marketing/sales funnel!
By following this checklist, you’ll have a highly optimized LinkedIn profile that attracts the right connections, builds trust, and helps you grow your influence. 🚀💼