Have you clicked the Search Appearances feature on your profile? Mobile or desktop, your choice. On your LinkedIn profile, you’ll see the number of searches you appeared in. Clicking gives you some handy insights.
WHAT SEARCH APPEARANCES TELL YOU
I mainly like the second bit of information after clicking on Search Appearances. Where it shows the job-titles of the people. This indicates if you reach the right audience. In my case, the image below shows it is spot on. This wasn’t always the case. I noticed that I showed up in searches by professions outside my target audience. I am happy to say that changing the focus of my profile worked. Keep reading to find out how you can optimise your profile for search.
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO WITH THE INFO
People looking at you might be a great fit. Although you do not know if they actually LOOKED at your profile. Still, look at the companies of the people who found you. If you are looking for work, you can see if there are jobs going. You showed up in the search result of someone at that company; this might mean that you’ve got what it takes.
TIPS TO OPTIMISE YOUR PROFILE FOR SEARCH
Here are some tips with an idea of how they affect your Search Appearances. The quoted figures are from LinkedIn themselves and true in July 2017. In case you read this in the unforeseen future.
- Profile photo. Members with a profile photo receive up to 21x more profile views than faceless people. As well as 9x more connection requests. Mind you, you will not show up more often in the search for a researcher by wearing glasses or a lab coat.
- Experience. Members with current positions show up to 16x more in recruiter searches. If you do not have a current position, make one up. Sabbatical focused on … (you are always learning something right).
- Skills. I mean: skills equals keywords. DUH. We are talking search here! Members with more than 5 skills are 27x more likely to appear in searches by recruiters. Remember you can add 50 skills. Make sure to display them in the right order (find out here how to do that) and review twice a year.
- Location, location, location. Including the city where you are based makes you stand out up to 23x in searches. At times your postcode may show an area on the other side of your home than where you prefer to work. In that case, add the postcode of where you want to operate professionally.
GOOD STUFF TO COME BACK
At the time of writing (July 2017) LinkedIn says: “We’re working to bring you even more insights, such as the keywords that other members are searching to discover your profile.” Now THAT would be a great thing to have back. Remember how we used to be able to see that? [2018 UPDATE: keywords are back!]