Have you checked what your LinkedIn profile looks like on the new LinkedIn mobile app?

iStock_000017395826_SmallIf you haven’t, you may be surprised when you see what information LinkedIn has decided to highlight, truncate or eliminate altogether. With over 50 percent of LinkedIn members now using the mobile app, you could be missing the boat when it comes to promoting your professional brand.
.

How to get your mobile house in order

Here are some of the simple steps you can take to put your best foot forward with mobile users. I will have more helpful hints for you next week.

I suggest making changes to your profile on the LinkedIn site versus on the app–but it is possible to do some editing on the mobile site. However, wherever you choose to make changes, be sure to check how your changes appear on the LinkedIn site and the mobile app.

Photo.  If you don’t have a photo on your profile, most people will wonder if you even use your LinkedIn account. If you want to be taken IMG_0883seriously, use a professional quality photo. And beware–if the resolution is not high enough, your photo won’t fill the circle, and you’ll look like an amateur.

Banner.  The banner image is quite a bit smaller on the mobile app, and only part of your full banner is visible. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Configure your profile banner so it looks impressive on the LinkedIn site as well as the mobile app.

Headline.  This gets truncated to just 58 characters (including spaces) on mobile. Thus, you’ll obviously want those 58 characters to display a clear statement of who you are and what you do.

Education.  Because only your first education entry shows up, it’s important to display your best entry. It’s still smart to put on your profile the one-day specialty training course you attended last year, but that’s not the first thing you want viewers to see.

Summary.  On the mobile app, people will see the first 78 characters (including spaces) from your profile summary. This shows up right below your location, so it’s important to take full advantage of those characters. I’ve seen some sales professionals include their phone number and business email here so viewers don’t have to struggle to IMG_0878find that information.

Posts.  Published posts get high priority on the mobile app. One post is visible until a viewer chooses to view more. Therefore, you’ll want to have at least one post that includes an eye-catching image.

Activity.  The mobile app displays your last two status updates. Don’t miss this opportunity to increase your credibility with the LinkedIn community–especially if your competitors are consistently sharing helpful information.

Spend some time this week getting these areas of your mobile house in order, and next week I’ll show you how you can improve six more areas of your mobile profile.