What 20 elite media executives reminded me about LinkedIn Profile building
Photo by Romane Gautun Hire on Unsplash
Last month, just before the holiday, I received an invitation I couldn’t pass up — an exclusive industry dinner with some of New York City’s most elite media professionals, hosted by the Media Dinner Club.
These were the kinds of executives whose names you don’t always hear but whose work you’ve definitely seen.
They’ve shaped marketing strategies that have gone (um, MEGA) viral.
Led campaigns that have become part of pop culture.
Steered the creative direction behind some of the biggest brands in the world.
{Thank you to Michelle Volberg of Twill for bringing me in}
As impressive as these women were, many of them were navigating a pivotal moment in their careers.
Some were branching off to launch their own consulting businesses.
Others were preparing for changes or positioning themselves for new opportunities.
My role?
I was asked to meet with each of them 1:1 to review and optimize their LinkedIn profiles.
No biggie.
Now, this is something I love to do — it’s definitely my zone of genius. So I didn’t think much of it at first. But as I sat down with each executive, one by one, I realized just how crazy remarkable they were.
These were powerhouse leaders responsible for shaping entire industries, yet many of their LinkedIn profiles were telling a different story.
As I moved from profile to profile, I started to sound like a broken record.
Patterns were emerging and across the board, all of these brilliant women, despite their achievements, were making the same exact mistakes.
{that so many other business owners make on LinkedIn too}
Mistakes that, in some cases, were costing them visibility, opportunities, and even future clients.
3 LinkedIn Profile Mistakes You Could Be Making Too (And How to Fix Them)
1. Being Too Humble
Many of us (especially women) have been conditioned to believe that our work should “speak for itself.” But here’s the truth: It doesn’t.
Your audience — whether it’s potential clients, recruiters, or industry peers — won’t know what you’ve achieved unless you explicitly tell them. Don’t wait for people to connect the dots. Spell it out.
Start by knowing your numbers and achievements in granular detail. Keep a running list of your accomplishments somewhere, recorded, such as:
Revenue growth you’ve driven for clients & businesses (ex. 14 billion generated as a result of my strategies)
Targets you’ve hit (ex. Surpassed annual sales target by 25%)
Milestones you’ve helped achieve (5 million new email subscribers from my creative direction)
Campaigns you’ve executed and their results (ex. 6.8 billion impressions from campaigns I’ve led)
When it comes to LinkedIn, your results are your credibility. And if you don’t showcase them, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to stand out.
I love including stats like this directly in your LinkedIn headlines (the statement that sits under your profile picture), banner images, and certainly throughout an experience section, too.
2. Not Taking Up Enough Space
LinkedIn gives you multiple opportunities to showcase your expertise and authority throughout a profile. Yet, most people are barely scratching the surface.
It's worth scrolling through your own. Are you fully utilizing the real estate available to you?
Here’s a quick checklist:
Banner: It’s the largest piece of visual real estate on your profile. Is it blank? Or is it showcasing your brand, expertise, or key message?
Headline: This isn’t just your job title. Use it to communicate the value you bring or the problem you solve (see point #1 above ^^^).
Featured Section: Think of this as your personal portfolio. Include important links to your work or how people can get in touch.
About Section: Your elevator pitch. Are you making it clear who you help, what you do, and what someone can expect from working with you?
Experience: Go beyond listing job titles. Highlight achievements, results, and breakdown a transformation you helped achieve.
The takeaway? Use the space given to you. It’s there for a reason.
3. Making It Hard to Get in Touch
You can have the most impressive profile in the world, but if someone can’t figure out how to contact you, you’ve lost them.
Ask yourself:
Do I have clear calls to action throughout my profile?
Are my contact details easy to find?
Have I included links to my website, case studies, or scheduling tool?
Your profile should make it easy for someone to take the next step. Whether it’s booking a consultation, sending you a message, or visiting your website, make that action obvious and frictionless.
If you’re not sure what your call to action should be, I break it down in this video.
Final Thoughts
Sitting down with these executives was a reminder: even the most accomplished professionals can overlook the basics when it comes to optimizing their LinkedIn presence. But small changes can make a big difference.
So, if you haven’t reviewed your LinkedIn profile in a while, consider this your sign.
Are you:
Clearly communicating your value?
Fully utilizing your profile’s real estate?
Making it easy for others to connect with you?
If the answer is no, it might be time to sit down and give it a refresh.
Because your LinkedIn profile isn’t just a digital resume, it’s a powerful tool for building authority, attracting opportunities, and growing your business.
