How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile and Network

When did you last look at your own LinkedIn page? If it has been a while, a few small updates to your photo, headline and About section may be a good place to start.

The job search can be quite competitive, and one way to stand out is to have an impressive and visible LinkedIn profile. If you have one and are looking to get hired, it may be time to update that page.

Personal branding consultant William Arruda says in a Forbes column that “the goal is not to do more on LinkedIn, but to do the right things well.” So here are three areas where you can start, plus what a study says about who you should be connecting with.

1. Refresh Your Profile

First is to check if your profile still reflects today’s version of you. Start with your photo, Arruda says, making sure it’s recent enough for people to recognize you.

You’re also allotted 220 characters for your headline, so make the most of it. Mention what you do and make sure to add searchable keywords. Pique people’s curiosity by sharing why you do your work and what results you’ve achieved.

Your About section is likely to be your first impression; it’s what often shows up in Google results. This section should help you stand out and build trust, Arruda says. This is also a good place to mention how you’re using AI.

Many people leave the Featured section blank, but it’s between the About and Activity section so it’s highly visible and a good way to expand your story. Use a short video to highlight your successes, interests, and accomplishments, even some trivia about you.

2. Be Picky About Your Network

“In 2026, effective networking is about relevance and relationships, not volume,” according to Arruda, so you don’t need thousands of friends, only the people relevant to your community. Reconnect with people you met over the past year, decide how you'll add new contacts, and look for peers who share your interests.

Here's an interesting finding from a study about making connections on LinkedIn. A five-year study published in Science tested LinkedIn's "People You May Know" suggestions on about 20 million users. Researchers from LinkedIn, MIT, Stanford, and Harvard found that acquaintances were, on average, better for job opportunities than close contacts. "Moderately weak ties are the best," says MIT professor Sinan Aral, a co-author. The sweet spot was around 10 mutual connections.

There are limits to the study, which only measured job moves, not personal branding, and the effect was strongest in digital industries. In other fields, stronger ties could matter more.

3. Show Up on a Schedule

Part of being visible is showing up regularly in others’ feeds, and posting once isn’t going to cut it. Arruda suggests a simple guide involving three Cs: Be consistent, constant, and critical.

Stay consistent about your topic, message, and point of view. Set a schedule for posting. You can decide to post daily, weekly, or twice a month, but be consistent. Make sure what you share is valuable to the people reading it.

One way to accomplish the three C’s, according to Arruda, is through a LinkedIn newsletter that you can use to help stay in touch with your followers regularly.

You don’t need a complete overhaul of your LinkedIn account, but you need to keep it current update as your career evolves and stay engaged. Reach out to a few people, and post on a schedule you can live with. Small, regular updates can go a long way.