You know how people say “just Google me”?
Well, for most of us, “Google me” leads straight to LinkedIn. And that means your profile is doing one of two things:
✅ Building trust and sparking curiosity
❌ Or quietly turning people off before they even get to your content
And sadly, most business owners don’t realise their profile’s working against them.
TIP: Don’t forget about keywords. Not only do they help serve up your profile within LinkedIn search, but they also show up in Google results and even in AI-generated summaries. If you’re not using the right language, you’re making it harder for people (and the algorithm) to find you.
Your headline is a job title, not a hook
Your headline should help you show up in search — so clear is better than clever. But that doesn’t mean boring. Make it outcome-oriented. Let people know what you actually help with.
Example: Instead of “Marketing Consultant,” try “Helping service-based businesses show up and sell with better content + strategy.”
Your About section feels like a stranger wrote it
If it’s full of buzzwords, bullet points, or sounds like it came from a resume template, you’re missing a chance to connect.
Example: Ditch “results-driven leader with 10+ years of experience.” Try “I’m a strategist who helps people turn scattered ideas into clear, useful content that actually gets seen.”
Your featured section is… empty (or random)
You’re not showing people what to read, watch, or click next — which means they might bounce.
Example: Add a lead magnet, a great post that performed well, or a video where you explain what you do and how you help.
Check out my post with more about Featured Items
You’re active, but you’re not converting
You’re posting, but no one’s visiting your profile, clicking through, or enquiring. That’s a sign your profile isn’t supporting your visibility.
Example: You’ve got strong posts — now add a clear CTA to your profile and make it obvious how people can take the next step with you.
Sometimes it’s easier to see the difference. Here are a few real examples of what a profile looked like before — and how we improved it:
Headline Before: “Director | Experienced Professional | Helping Businesses Grow”
After: “I help small businesses turn content chaos into clarity — with smart, simple strategy and standout messaging.”
First line of about section Before: “Results-driven business coach with 15+ years of experience across various industries.”
After: “I coach solo business owners to build momentum, make confident decisions, and get out of their own way — without burning out.”
Before: Featured section = blank
After: Featured a lead magnet, recent client case study, and a speaking showreel— all leading to increased profile views and DMs.
These small shifts create clarity, connection, and trust — and that’s what gets people clicking, following, and reaching out.
If your profile’s more of a placeholder than a pitch, start here:
Clarity over cleverness. Write your headline and About section in plain English. Say what you do, who you help, and the kind of results people can expect.
Outcome-first copy. Frame your services around what they do for people — not just what they are. Think: “I help X achieve Y,” not “I provide solutions in Z.”
Let people know what to do next. Add a call to action — book a call, visit your site, check your featured posts. Don’t make them guess.
Your profile doesn’t need to be fancy — it just needs to work. That means being clear, outcome-focused, and a little bit more of you in there.
If you’re done playing the LinkedIn game and just want to connect with real people, here’s what I recommend:
Say something real. That moment you hesitated before posting because it felt too honest? That’s usually the post that lands.
Use your actual voice. Write like you talk. You don’t need to sound polished or professional all the time — just clear and you.
Treat it like a conversation. Comment like a human, follow up with people, and ditch the “connect and pitch” script. Trust builds traction.
It’s not about posting daily or gaming the algorithm. It’s about being useful, memorable, and a little bit human.
Already posting but worried you’re sounding like a robot?
Check out this post on How to Show Up Without the Cringe — it’s a solid follow-up to this one.
It shouldn’t be left to chance. It’s your personal billboard — the place to sell who you are, what you do, and why you’re the best choice.
If it doesn’t reflect the quality of what you offer, people won’t dig deeper. They’ll just move on.
So… what now?
Because your profile isn’t just a placeholder.
It’s one of your most powerful assets — and it deserves more than a copy-paste from your resume.
Let’s make it work for you, not against you.
Fix it yourself
Join my Free 7-Day LinkedIn Profile Challenge — a simple daily prompt to help you overhaul your profile one bite-sized task at a time. You’ll make real progress in under 15 minutes a day (and it’s actually fun).
👉 Join the free challenge
Let me take a look
My Fix My LinkedIn review service is a tidy little $99 option where I review your profile and give you practical, high-impact advice to make it work harder for you.
👉 Book a profile review
Want it off your plate?
I’ll write your LinkedIn profile for you — rewriting your headline, About, and profile recommendations to reflect your personality and positioning. $550+GST (usually $900+GST).
👉 Mention this blog to get the discount
Is LinkedIn still worth it? Have you noticed LinkedIn has been stingy with its reach lately? I have.Engagement is good, even better. But there are not as many eyeballs on my content as I’d like.
Where has all the creativity and personality gone? Here’s what an expert has to say.
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