Regular, good housekeeping is vital to a neat image.

A few weeks ago I posed this suggestion: set aside a quarterly prescheduled date on your calendar to remind you to update your LinkedIn profile. Mine just popped up.

So first I read through my profile looking for changes in my focus, philosophies, ideals, goals, etc. to make changes in the narrative I am putting forth. After all, why say something on LinkedIn that you no longer pay much attention? I make notes on what needs sharpening or changes outright.

Next I review my Publications, Honors, Volunteering, Featured, and other sections to be sure they are up to date. Old ones that have long passed make you look like you do not pay attention to the details. Can’t have that of course!

Third I test the links in my sections to be sure they still work. Not suffering embarrassment for a broken link is the goal, and testing once a quarter is a strategy that works for me.

Then I copy-paste section to a Word document, spell-check it, have Work perform the Read Aloud function, and make any changes that I see fit. Once checked and tightened, I re-copy-paste each section back to LinkedIn.

Be aware of character limits which differ by section, if you make substantive changes to be sure you are efficient in updating your profile. Let Microsoft Word count the characters, including spaces.

Finally, you might want to put out a post advising clients and connections that you amended your profile, need their opinions, and welcome their comments. This is a way to show how diligent you are in self-branding. Ask them to refer you to others who need your services. Thank them for being great colleagues as they spend valuable time on your profile critique. PS: The changes I just made are minor so no Post is necessary for my situation this quarter.

So now you have more work to do. Yes, work to better yourself. Take the time and care to be all you can appear to others to be, the one they need to speak to, your amazing-er self!