LinkedIn Tips: 10 Steps To A Stronger Profile

After launching a number of updates -- including redesigned Groups and a "How You Rank" tool -- LinkedIn has shifted its focus to paid members, announcing today a handful of new features exclusively for them.

"Whether you're a new graduate or a seasoned professional, how you are viewed professionally matters," LinkedIn product manager Dmitry Shevelenko said in a blog post. "Starting today, we've sweetened the pot for all new and existing premium members with additional functionality to help you stand out from the crowd and drive the right and relevant opportunities to you."

LinkedIn offers a number of paid accounts with varying price points and capabilities for recruiters, job seekers, and sales professionals. All paid account users -- both current and new -- will have access to these new features.

[Improve your LinkedIn profile and position yourself for what's next. Read LinkedIn Tips: 10 Steps To A Stronger Profile.]

In addition to the new features for premium users, the professional social network announced Premium Spotlight, a paid account option geared toward novice users. At $10 per month, Premium Spotlight is LinkedIn's most affordable paid option; other accounts range from $75/month for job seekers to $720/month for corporate recruiters.

Here's a look at the five new features coming to paid LinkedIn members.

1. Upload a cover photo

Following in the footsteps of Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, LinkedIn will launch a profile redesign that features a larger profile photo, an expanded profile header, and a cover photo. If you're a premium LinkedIn user, you'll be able to upload a cover photo before the feature is rolled out to all LinkedIn users. Premium users will also have exclusive access to a gallery of stock cover photo images.

2. Incorporate keyword optimization suggestions

To help premium users appear in the right search results, LinkedIn has added a profile optimization feature. A LinkedIn spokesperson told InformationWeek that this popup will show you personalized suggestions for words and phrases to include in your profile, based on your information and that of similar LinkedIn users. Including these optimized words and phrases in your profile will help you appear in related search results.

3. Bigger placement in search

When premium users appear in search results, LinkedIn will display their profiles twice as large as other results to help them stand out. When you appear in search results, users will also see more information from your profile than from non-premium users, LinkedIn said.

4. Accept messages from anyone with Open Profile
Typically, LinkedIn members can contact you only if they're connected to you or if they have purchased InMail messages. If you're a paid member, this will change. According to a LinkedIn spokesperson, premium users will be automatically opted in to an Open Profile setting, which lets anyone message you for free. If you want to opt out of this feature, visit your Privacy & Settings page to turn it off.

5. Track more views and rankings
Premium LinkedIn users can access a full 90-day list of Who's Viewed Your Profile, along with the top 100 results for How You Rank among connections and coworkers. Free LinkedIn account holders have access only to the last five people who have viewed their profile and the top 10 How You Rank results.

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