Course Day 1: Optimize Your Profile

Author

Gracie Ruth
September 4th, 2024

Welcome to my 5-day email course! Over the next few days, you’ll learn how to create LinkedIn content that not only stands out but also drives real business results. By the end of this course, your LinkedIn profile will attract the right connections, generate leads, and support your business growth.

Today, we’re starting with the foundation—optimizing your LinkedIn profile. It’s often your first impression on potential clients, so it’s crucial to get it right. If you have any questions, just reply to this email—I’m here to help.

Your LinkedIn profile is your first impression—let’s make it a strong one.

Day 1 of the course:

  • Profile Picture + Banner

  • Profile Link + CTA

  • Brand Color Scheme

  • Profile Feature Section

Alright, let’s dive in.

I’ve turned my LinkedIn profile into a powerful landing page. In today’s email, I’ll show you the simplified version of how I optimized mine.

Profile Picture:

Your profile picture is the face of your brand; it should represent you professionally and align with your brand identity. A well-chosen picture sets the right tone and makes a strong first impression.

Do's:

  • High Quality

  • Full Face + Upper Body

  • Brand Colors

  • Shadow Effect

  • Good Lighting

Don’ts:

  • Selfies

  • Low Quality

  • Random Colors

  • Full Body Shots

Even though it might be tempting to use a selfie, especially if you're trying to keep costs low, consider investing in a professional photo. Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression—let’s make sure it’s a strong one.

Profile Banner:

Your LinkedIn profile banner is prime real estate, often one of the first things visitors notice. It’s your opportunity to make a strong visual statement and immediately communicate your value proposition.

Here’s how I’ve structured mine for maximum impact:

  • Main Headline: This is the core message of your banner. It should clearly state what you do and the value you bring. For example, my banner reads: "Unlock LinkedIn Success - Monetize Your Expertise & Scale Your Business." This headline tells my audience exactly what to expect from me.

  • Supporting Text: Below the main headline, include a smaller line that reinforces your message. In my case, it reads: "Empowering Gen X Leaders & Professionals to Master LinkedIn for Sustainable Growth & Effortless Client Acquisition." This adds clarity about who I help and how.

  • Call to Action (CTA): Your banner should include a clear CTA that guides your audience on what to do next, such as "Click the link below to join my free LinkedIn course" or "Visit my website for more resources." A strong CTA drives engagement.

  • Design Elements: Use consistent brand colors and fonts to reinforce your branding. Ensure the text is easy to read and that the design is clean and focused. Avoid clutter to keep the message clear.

  • Top Left CTA: If your design allows, consider placing a secondary CTA or key information in the top left corner, like "Check out my Feature section," directing viewers to explore more of your profile.

When all these elements are aligned, your profile banner becomes a powerful tool that not only captures attention but also communicates your value and drives meaningful action.

Headline/Bio:

There are two points for your profile headline:

Keep it simple (one sentence)

Be more specific and showcase social proof ( 2-3 sentences).

Here’s my profile headline:

Empowering Gen X Leaders & Professionals to Master LinkedIn for Sustainable Growth & Effortless Client Acquisition | Top LinkedIn Coach 2023

First, I tell my audience exactly who I help. If you are an entrepreneur, you’re sold.

Next, I showcase what exactly I do to help entrepreneurs. You’re sold once again if you want to start, grow, and monetize your online business.

Lastly, I provide social proof. I was named Top LinkedIn Coach in Los Angeles, in 2023.

Below your headline is an extremely important link: your bio link. This is how you’ll capture 80% of your audience’s emails.

Use a free product (lead magnet) to get your audience interested in seeing your offer. I use a free 5-day email course to capture emails.

My CTA is “Begin Your LinkedIn Journey.” I change this often to test the results every 1-2 months. You can use UTM parameters to do the same.

Feature Section:

Your LinkedIn Feature Section is a prime spot to showcase your top content, resources, and offers. It’s a visual portfolio that immediately grabs attention, so make sure to use it strategically.

I get significant traffic to my landing pages every day just from my LinkedIn featured section. It’s the perfect spot to plug your free and paid offers into your profile.

Key Tips:

  1. Highlight Key Offers: Feature your most valuable resources, like a lead magnet or a top-performing post, to drive traffic and capture leads.

  2. Consistency in Design: Ensure your visuals are consistent with your brand’s colors and styles for a cohesive, professional look.

  3. Prioritize Content: Arrange your featured items so that the most important offers appear first, maximizing visibility and engagement.

  4. Use Eye-Catching Visuals: Choose high-quality images or videos that clearly convey the value of your featured content.

  5. Update Regularly: Keep this section fresh by swapping out older content with new offers to maintain relevance and encourage repeat visits.

A well-curated Feature Section not only enhances your profile’s appeal but also turns visitors into engaged followers and potential clients.

Concentrate on offering a clear solution to the problem you're solving.

The Next Step:

Now that you’ve optimized your LinkedIn profile, it’s time to focus on crafting your offer and delivering a solution to a specific problem your audience faces. Your optimized profile is just the beginning—it sets the stage for everything that follows.

If you’re ready to:

  • Create content that attracts and converts new clients,

  • Grow a strong, engaged following online,

  • Save time while maximizing your LinkedIn efforts,

  • Take full control of your business growth,

Then stay tuned—I’ll be sending you Day 2 of the course tomorrow, where we’ll dive into how to effectively create and share content that resonates with your audience and drives results.

If you have any questions or need further clarification on today’s content, feel free to reply to this email—I’m here to help.

See you tomorrow!


Gracie