The LinkedIn Featured Section is a powerful tool designed to allow professionals to showcase their most significant accomplishments, projects, media, or articles directly on their profile. It’s a visually prominent section that gives visitors a quick glance at your key achievements and expertise. If used strategically, this section can help you highlight accomplishments that demonstrate your value, expertise, and credibility in your field, making it an essential part of personal branding on LinkedIn.
Here’s how to effectively use the Featured Section on LinkedIn to highlight key achievements and stand out.
Why Use LinkedIn’s Featured Section?
The Featured Section is more than just a place to display links or media—it serves as a portfolio for your most important professional work. Here’s why it’s beneficial:
- Enhanced Visibility: It places your highlighted achievements at the top of your profile, increasing their visibility to recruiters, clients, or potential business partners.
- Credibility: It’s a great way to showcase tangible evidence of your skills, such as articles, awards, case studies, or notable projects.
- Versatility: You can showcase a wide variety of content, from media files (such as videos, images, and PDFs) to published LinkedIn articles or external links, giving you flexibility in how you present your work.
Steps to Add and Optimize the LinkedIn Featured Section
1. Access the Featured Section
To start using the Featured Section, you’ll need to add it to your profile if you haven’t already:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile.
- Scroll down to the section titled Featured. If you don’t see it, click on the “Add profile section” button located near your profile photo.
- From the dropdown menu, select Featured. This will add the section to your profile, where you can start adding content.
2. Decide What to Feature
Before you start adding content, decide on the key achievements you want to highlight. This will depend on your career goals and the audience you’re trying to attract. Here are some examples of what you can include:
- Professional Awards or Recognition: Highlight any significant awards that prove your expertise and dedication in your field.
- Published Articles or Thought Leadership Pieces: If you’ve published articles (either on LinkedIn or external websites), showcase those that establish you as a thought leader in your niche.
- Project Case Studies: Include project summaries, results, or case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills or success in a specific role.
- Notable Client Testimonials: If you have client reviews or endorsements, especially from high-profile clients or projects, these can help build trust and credibility.
- Product Launches or Business Accomplishments: If you’ve been involved in launching a product or business initiative, use the Featured Section to present your involvement and impact.
- Media Appearances: Include any interviews, podcasts, or news features that have highlighted your professional work.
3. Add Content to the Featured Section
Once you know what you want to feature, it’s time to start adding content. You can add various types of content to the Featured Section:
- Links: Share external links to websites, articles, portfolios, or other relevant content.
- Media: Upload images, documents (like PDFs), presentations, or videos that visually represent your achievements.
- LinkedIn Articles: Feature any articles or posts you’ve written directly on LinkedIn that align with your professional goals.
- Posts: You can also highlight specific LinkedIn posts you’ve previously shared that received strong engagement or reflect a significant achievement.
To add content, click the “Add” button in the Featured Section, select the type of content you want to feature, and follow the prompts to upload your file, link, or article.
4. Showcase the Most Relevant Achievements
Since the Featured Section allows you to pin multiple pieces of content, prioritize the most relevant and recent accomplishments. Here are some tips:
- Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: Showcase your most impressive achievements that are relevant to your career goals or industry. Avoid cluttering the section with too many items.
- Focus on High-Impact Content: Select achievements that clearly demonstrate your expertise, leadership, or unique contributions. For example, if you’re a marketer, a case study showcasing the successful launch of a digital campaign might be more effective than a generic blog post.
- Tailor Content to Your Audience: Depending on your career stage and the audience you’re trying to reach, select content that speaks directly to their needs. For example, if you’re seeking a leadership role, feature examples of team management or strategic initiatives.
5. Update the Featured Section Regularly
To keep your profile fresh and engaging, regularly update the Featured Section with your latest accomplishments. As your career evolves, your key achievements may change. Be sure to:
- Add New Work: Whenever you complete a significant project or publish new content, add it to the Featured Section to ensure your profile reflects your most up-to-date accomplishments.
- Remove Outdated Items: Periodically review the section and remove any outdated or less relevant achievements. Keeping the content current helps maintain a polished and professional profile.
6. Use Visual Media for Maximum Engagement
The Featured Section is a visual tool, so take advantage of this by using high-quality images, videos, and media that capture attention. Studies show that profiles with visual content tend to get more views and engagement.
- Images: Use high-resolution images that represent your projects or achievements. For instance, if you led a conference or event, use images from that occasion.
- Videos: Videos are especially engaging and can highlight product demos, interviews, or your own presentations.
- Infographics: Visual data or infographics that summarize results or insights from a project can effectively convey your impact in a concise manner.
7. Highlight Your Personal Brand
Your Featured Section is a reflection of your personal brand, so make sure it aligns with the message you want to convey about yourself as a professional. Each piece of content should reinforce your unique value proposition and showcase your expertise in your field.
- Consistency: Ensure that your featured items are consistent with the rest of your profile, including your summary, experience, and skills.
- Brand Messaging: Think about the story your Featured Section tells. If you’re positioning yourself as a thought leader, include high-value content that emphasizes your authority and insights in the industry.
8. Promote Your Featured Section
Once you’ve curated your LinkedIn Featured Section, promote it! Here are a few ways to drive traffic to this section:
- Share on LinkedIn: Post updates encouraging your network to check out your latest featured achievements. You can write posts summarizing key takeaways or insights from the featured content.
- Link in External Content: If you run a personal blog, website, or other social media accounts, link back to your LinkedIn profile and mention your Featured Section to attract attention.
- Direct Traffic from Email Signatures: Include a link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature, highlighting the Featured Section as a portfolio of your most notable work.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s Featured Section is a versatile and effective way to highlight key achievements that elevate your professional profile. By showcasing your most impressive work, curating high-impact content, and regularly updating this section, you can attract attention from potential employers, clients, or partners. Whether you’re a freelancer, business owner, or job seeker, leveraging the Featured Section effectively can help strengthen your personal brand and enhance your credibility on LinkedIn.