5 tips to nail your LinkedIn profile like a boss

5 tips to nail your LinkedIn profile like a boss5 tips to nail your LinkedIn profile like a bossLinkedInhas been around for a loooong time - since 2002, that is.Facebookwelches still a mere fantasy of Harvard underclassman Mark Zuckerberg, and the first iPhone wouldnt be released for another five years, indicating just how far offInstagramandSnapchatwere. But in the years since the releases of the latter three social media sites, they have displaced LinkedIn in setting the precedent for how we act online, which is typically very casually, lightheartedly, and sometimes even intimately.But because LinkedIn serves such a different purpose than its mora social social media counterparts, it comes with its own, potentially unfamiliar set of rules.Anna Wood, a career and lifestyle consultant and female empoweress who foundedBrains Over Blonde, gave us the lowdown on how to best present yourself on LinkedIn.1. Dont accept everyone who adds youTheres a common notion that you must accept ever yone who adds you on LinkedIn in order to expand your network. Wood, who doesnt accept just anyone on her personal account, disagrees, maintaining the same mentality that most people have for Facebook friends. I like to keep my feed clean to the people I know and care about following, she tells us. Plus, you dont know what others reputations are, and your connections are visible to everyone.2. Respond to most recruitersRecruiters and headhunters might reach out to you on the social media site occasionally, especially if youve selected the Let recruiters know youre open option. But this doesnt mean you need to extensively engage with everyone who slides into your DMs. If youre not interested, say so, suggests Wood. Theyll appreciate the response. If youre not particularly intrigued by the offer but youd still like to respond, Wood says this is a prime opportunity to make your interests mora explicitly known. Its also a chance to let them know what youareinterested in or to start a re lationship for when you may be looking in the future.3. Post updates regularlySimilar to Facebooks status updates, LinkedIn offers a less-used article option that allows users to post text, images, and videos. This isnt necessarily the place to dish about the latest celeb gossip (leave that for your FB friends), but Woods is an advocate of the article feature, if used appropriately. Publishing articles on LinkedIn is a great way to gain credibility in your field as a thought leader and build your personal brand.4. Get a professional profile picture takenA crop job simply wont cut it on LinkedIn, Wood cautions, especially if said photo was taken in a social rather than a professional setting. Wood recommends the siteSnapprfor an affordable photoshoot - or even just asking a pal with a nice point-and-shoot to snap some pictures of you in front of a white wall or at your desk. Its so easy and makes a huge diff, she encourages.5. Use searchable terms in your headlineA common mistake mo st LinkedIn rookies make, according to Wood, is listing your official job title and your job title alone in the headline section. Your LinkedIn headline should include searchable terms you want to show up for, Wood explains. Think entrepreneur, thought leader, innovator, social media expert. Your company and position show up to the right of the headline, so including an innovative headline will set you apartandavoid redundancy.This article first appeared on Brit + Co.