How to Make Your LinkedIn Page Stand Out

Having a LinkedIn page that fades into the background isn't helping your career or your business land its next big opportunity. Transforming your profile from a simple online resume into a dynamic professional hub is about making smart, strategic choices. This guide will walk you through the practical steps to optimize your page, create content that resonates, and build a meaningful network that actually gets you noticed.

First Impressions Count: Nail Your Profile Essentials

Before you post anything, you need to turn your profile into a welcoming and informative destination. This is your personal landing page, and every element should be working together to tell your professional story at a glance. Think of it as setting the stage for every piece of content and every interaction that follows.

Your Headshot and Banner are Your Virtual Handshake

Your profile picture isn't the place for a cropped photo from a wedding or a distant shot of you on a hike. It’s the first thing people see. Get it right.

• Your Headshot: Choose a high-resolution photo where you are looking directly at the camera with a friendly, approachable expression. Your face should take up about 60% of the frame, with a simple, non-distracting background. Let your personality show, but keep it professional.
• Your Banner Image: This space is prime digital real estate, so don't leave it as the default blue banner. Use a tool like Canva to create a custom banner that reflects your brand, communicates your value proposition, or even includes a call to action. You can showcase you speaking at an event, list your core services, or feature your company's motto alongside your website URL.

Craft a Headline That Does More Than State Your Job Title

Your headline appears everywhere your name does on LinkedIn - in search results, newsfeed posts, and connection suggestions. "Marketing Manager at Company X" is accurate, but it's not compelling. A great headline answers the question, "what do you do for people?" Aim for a blend of clarity, keywords, and personality.

Try this simple formula: [What you do] | Helping [Who you help] achieve [Their desired outcome].

Example old headline: Social Media Manager at TechCorp

Example standout headline: Social Media Marketing Strategist | Helping SaaS Startups Build Engaged Communities & Drive Leads Through Organic Content

Tell Your Story in the "About" Section

Your headline grabs their attention, your "About" section holds it. This is your chance to expand on your story in your own voice. Write in the first person ("I," not "John is...") to create a more personal connection. Forget the stuffy, third-person resume language.

A strong "About" section should include:

• An Opening Hook: Start with a statement about what you're passionate about or the problem you love to solve.
• Your "Why": Share what drives you. What experiences led you to do what you do today? People connect with stories, not just lists of skills.
• Proof and Skills: Weave in your core competencies and accomplishments naturally. Instead of just listing "project management," you could say, "I've led cross-functional teams to launch five major product updates ahead of schedule."
• A Clear Call to Action (CTA): End by telling people what you want them to do next. Do you want them to send you a connection request? DM you about collaboration opportunities? Visit your personal website? Make it obvious.

The Content That Stops the Scroll

An optimized profile is just the foundation. To truly stand out, you have to consistently create and share valuable content. Random posts about industry news won't cut it. You need a simple framework that builds your authority and encourages interaction.

Define Your Content Pillars

You don't need to be an expert on everything. Choose 3-5 core topics, or "content pillars," that you can consistently speak about. These pillars should sit at the intersection of your expertise, your passions, and what your target audience cares about.

For a marketing consultant, pillars might be:

• Branding & Storytelling
• Organic Growth Strategies
• Content Marketing ROI
• Leadership & Team Building

Sticking to your pillars helps you build a reputation as the go-to person for those topics. Your network knows what to expect from you, which builds trust and attracts the right followers.

Master a Mix of Post Formats

The LinkedIn algorithm rewards variety. Don't just post the same type of content every day. Mix and match these formats to keep your audience engaged and reach a wider pool of people.

• Text Posts: Simple, story-driven text posts can perform exceptionally well. Start with a strong hook, use short sentences and white space for readability, and tell a personal story about a failure, a lesson learned, or a unique perspective.
• Polls: These are a low-effort way to generate engagement and gather quick feedback from your audience. Keep them simple and relevant to your content pillars.
• Image Carousels (PDFs): Designing a multi-page PDF and uploading it as a "Document" is one of the most effective ways to share in-depth information. Each page becomes a slide in a swipe-able carousel. Use this for step-by-step guides, breaking down complex topics, or sharing key takeaways from an event.
• Native Video: Uploading video directly to LinkedIn gives you an engagement boost. Short, talking-head videos where you share a quick tip or a behind-the-scenes look at your work can build a very personal connection with your audience.
• Image Posts: A strong visual can stop the scroll. Use high-quality photos, simple infographics, or even a quote graphic to complement a text-heavy post.

The Anatomy of a High-Performing Post

Regardless of the format, great posts share a common structure:

1. The Hook (First 1-2 Lines): This is the most important part of your post. If you don't grab their attention here, they'll just keep scrolling. Start with a provocative question, a surprising stat, or the first line of a compelling story.
2. The Value (The Middle): This is the body of your post where you deliver a lesson, tell the story, or share the data. Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Use line breaks to make it easy to scan.
3. The CTA (The End): End your post by prompting engagement. The easiest way is to ask an open-ended question like, "What's an underrated skill you think leaders should have?" or "Have you faced a similar challenge? Share your story below."

Don't Just Post - Build a Community

Posting content is only half the battle. LinkedIn is a professional social network. The real growth comes from consistently engaging with other people. If you log in, post, and then immediately log out, you're missing the biggest opportunity of all.

Adopt the 80/20 Engagement Strategy

For every post you publish, you should be leaving thoughtful comments on multiple other posts. A good rule of thumb is to spend 80% of your time on LinkedIn engaging with others and only 20% on creating your own content.

Why? Because every meaningful comment you leave on another person's post puts your name, photo, and headline directly in front of their entire audience. It's one of the best ways to get discovered by new, relevant people in your industry.

Leave Comments That Add Value

"Great post!" or "Thanks for sharing!" are nice, but they don't start conversations. A value-added comment does one of three things:

• Adds to the discussion: Share a related experience, provide a complementary viewpoint, or offer another piece of data that supports their point.
• Asks a thoughtful question: Ask the original poster a follow-up question to better understand their perspective. This encourages a back-and-forth conversation.
• Tags someone relevant: If the post makes you think of a colleague or connection who would benefit, tag them in the comments with a brief explanation.

Respond to Everyone Who Comments on Your Posts

When people take the time to comment on your content, reward that behavior. Reply to every single comment, even if it's just to say thanks. Better yet, ask them a question in your reply to keep the conversation going. This signals to both the commenters and the algorithm that your post is a hub of valuable discussion, boosting its visibility.

By shifting your focus from simply collecting connections to actively building a community, your influence and reach on the platform will grow exponentially.

Final Thoughts

Creating a LinkedIn page that stands out isn't about finding a single secret hack, it's about consistently applying a smart strategy. By taking the time to optimize your profile, developing a focused content plan, and committing to meaningful engagement, you transform your page from a static online resume into a powerful tool for professional growth.

Of course, consistency is often the hardest part. Speaking from our own experience building a brand, the day-to-day work can be a grind without the right systems. We built Postbase to make our own lives easier scheduling content and staying active on LinkedIn and other platforms. Having a simple visual calendar to plan everything out means you can stay consistent without taking time away from the crucial engagement work that truly helps you grow.