In the ever-competitive world of professional networking, your LinkedIn profile is more than just a digital resume – it’s your chance to make a lasting impression and stand out from the crowd. And the Featured section? Well, that’s the secret weapon that can take your profile from good to great.
It allows you to showcase your proudest accomplishments, most impressive projects, and most thought-provoking publications, all in one visually stunning, multimedia display. It’s a prime piece of real estate that can elevate your profile, grab attention, and leave a lasting impression on potential employers, clients, or connections. Let’s learn how to add and further optimize the Featured section to improve your LinkedIn profile.
1. The Featured section on your LinkedIn profile allows you to showcase your best work, projects, and accomplishments.
2. Adding multimedia content like documents, links, videos, and images can make your profile more engaging and impactful.
3. Strategically selecting and arranging your Featured items can highlight your expertise and attract potential employers or clients.
4. Writing compelling descriptions for your Featured content can provide valuable context and intrigue viewers.
What is the LinkedIn Featured Section?
The Featured section on your LinkedIn profile is a powerful tool that allows you to curate and highlight your best work, and showcase your value proposition. It’s a multimedia showcase where you can feature links, documents, images, videos, and more – anything that demonstrates your skills, expertise, and accomplishments.
By strategically curating and featuring your standout pieces, you’re not just telling – you’re showing the world what you’re capable of. It’s a way to provide tangible, visual proof of your talents and experiences, setting you apart from the sea of traditional text-based profiles.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Leveraging the Featured section can also:
- Boost your credibility and establish you as a thought leader in your industry
- Highlight your versatility and range of skills
- Demonstrate your growth and ongoing professional development
- Attract potential employers, clients, or collaborators aligned with your goals
In a nutshell, the Featured section is your opportunity to create a captivating, multimedia portfolio right on your LinkedIn profile – one that can open doors to new opportunities and elevate your personal brand.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Featured Section
Ready to unleash the power of the Featured section? Follow these simple steps:
Desktop:
- Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, then “View Profile“.
- Click the “Add profile section” button in your introduction section.
- Click the “Recommended” dropdown, and click “Add Featured” from the dropdown.
- Click the “+” icon on the upper right of the “Featured” page.
- Select the type of work sample you’d like to feature and follow the prompts.
- Click “Save” or “Done“.
Mobile:
- Tap your profile photo, then “View profile“.
- Tap “Add section“.
- Tap “Recommended” and select “Add featured” from the dropdown.
- Select the type of content you’d like to feature.
- Tap “Save” or “Done“.
For maximum impact, consider featuring a diverse mix of content types that showcase your range of skills and experiences. This could include portfolio pieces, published articles, recorded presentations, infographics, client testimonials, or even awards and accolades.
Optimizing Your Featured Section for Impact
Simply adding content to your Featured section isn’t enough – you need to optimize it for maximum impact and engagement. Here are some expert tips to help you do just that:
Select visually appealing content: In today’s world of short attention spans, visuals are king. Choose items with eye-catching, high-quality images or video thumbnails that will immediately grab viewers’ attention as they scroll through your profile.
Write compelling descriptions: Don’t just list the title of your featured work – craft concise yet intriguing descriptions that tease what the content is about and entice viewers to click. Use relevant keywords to boost visibility in LinkedIn searches, and consider including calls-to-action that encourage engagement.
Strategically arrange your items: The order of your Featured items matters greatly. Place your most impressive, relevant, or recent work at the top, and arrange the rest in a logical flow that tells your professional story and showcases your growth over time.
Keep it fresh: Your Featured section shouldn’t be a static, one-and-done effort. Regularly update it with new, relevant content to demonstrate your ongoing growth, achievements, and commitment to professional development.
By following these optimization tips, you’ll transform your Featured section from a simple content showcase into a powerful, engaging tool that can elevate your personal brand, attract new opportunities and connections, and leave a lasting impression on anyone who views your profile. It is one of the best ways to optimize your LinkedIn profile.
Examples of Great LinkedIn Featured Sections
Need some inspiration? Here are a few examples of professionals who have nailed their Featured sections, along with insights into what makes them so effective:
Example 1: Antonio Gabrić
Antonio has a consistent design style that highlights the value proposition with warm colors, and also offers two items that go hand-in-hand; as one is the educative resource at how to do better email outreach campaigns, and the other is the 1:1 meeting that addresses the strategies where outreach campaigns are valuable.
Example 2: Connor Gillivan
Similarly to Antonio, Connor has his Featured section focused on his value proposition, with the first item being a resource that showcases his SEO blueprint that directly ties in to his call-to-action: hiring him to do the SEO heavy-lifting.
Example 3: Nick Malekos
This Featured section is a bit different from the first two in a way that it focuses more on providing educative resources in the SEO niche–which the SEO enthusiasts will surely enjoy delving into. We have a weekly newsletter here for retention, and two useful articles that tackle some of the common pain points in the SEO industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple items to my Featured section?
Yes, you can add as many items as you’d like to your Featured section. In fact, featuring a diverse range of content types is recommended to showcase your versatility and depth of experience. However, it’s still important to be strategic and curate your selections to align with your goals and personal brand.
Can I remove items from my Featured section?
Absolutely. You have complete control over your Featured section and can remove or rearrange items at any time. This flexibility allows you to keep your profile fresh, relevant, and aligned with your current objectives and target audience.
Does the order of my featured content matter?
Yes, the order of your Featured items matters a great deal. It’s not just a random assortment – the arrangement and flow of your featured work should tell a compelling story about your professional journey, growth, and expertise. Prioritize your most impressive, relevant, or recent content at the top to immediately capture viewers’ interest and leave a lasting impression.
What’s the difference between the Featured section and the Accomplishments section?
The Accomplishments section is meant for listing formal credentials, such as certifications, publications, patents, courses, and honors/awards. While valuable, these items serve more as a traditional resume component.
The Featured section, on the other hand, is a multimedia showcase specifically designed for your actual work samples, projects, and tangible accomplishments – allowing you to show, not just tell, what you’re capable of. It’s a powerful way to bring your skills and experiences to life in a visually compelling way.
How do I know if my Featured section is effective?
In addition to monitoring engagement metrics like views, likes, and comments, pay attention to the quality of interactions and opportunities that arise from your optimized Featured section. If you’re attracting more relevant connections, job inquiries, or project leads aligned with your goals, that’s a strong indicator that your Featured section is resonating with your target audience and effectively showcasing your value.
Conclusion
By taking the time to thoughtfully curate, optimize, and regularly refresh your Featured section, you’ll be well on your way to elevating your personal brand, standing out in a crowded job market, and attracting the right opportunities on LinkedIn. So, what are you waiting for? Start crafting your highlight reel today!
