LinkedIn Profile Updates: Control What Prospects See When They Visit

Here's a question worth thinking about. When a potential client clicks on your name tonight, what is the first piece of your content they will see?

If you're not sure, you're in good company. Most professionals we work with have never checked. Meanwhile, LinkedIn keeps making changes that give you more control over that first impression.

In this post, we're walking through two LinkedIn profile updates you need to know about. The first is a newer layout for adding sections to your profile. The second is an older feature most people have never touched: a simple setting that decides what content shows up first in your Activity section.

Here's what we'll cover:

• What changed with the Add section button, and where everything lives now.

• Which profile sections are worth adding, and how to decide.

• How to choose the content type visitors see first in your Activity section.

• A simple plan to test what works best for your ideal clients.

   

Why LinkedIn Profile Updates Matter More Than You Think

We often tell clients to treat their LinkedIn profile like a website. It's where people go after they see one of your posts, hear your name from a referral partner, or get a connection request from you.

A lot of people are doing that looking. LinkedIn has more than 1.3 billion members worldwide. Your ideal clients are in there, and when they find you, your profile does the talking before you ever get on a call.

That's why small LinkedIn profile updates deserve your attention. A new layout or an overlooked setting might not sound exciting. Each one is still a chance to make your profile clearer, more credible, and easier for the right person to say yes to.

The New Add Section Layout on Your LinkedIn Profile

At the top of your profile, under your headline, you'll see a row of buttons: Open to, Add section, Enhance profile, and Resources.

Clicking Add section used to open a list grouped into categories, with dropdown menus inside each one. It worked, but it wasn't easy to find what you needed. We heard the same questions over and over:

• Where do I add volunteer experience?

• Where do I find skills?

• How do I update my About section?

• Where do I add a new position?

LinkedIn has made this much simpler. Click the Add section button right next to Open to. Instead of categories, you'll now see the seven sections people add most often:

• Position

• Education

• Projects

• Connected apps

• Services

• Career break

• Skills

Below those is a More area. It's a scrolling window, and you click the plus sign next to any section to add it. Here's what lives under More:

• Featured

• Licenses and certifications

• Courses

• Recommendations

• Volunteer experience

• Publications

• Patents

• Honors and awards

• Test scores

• Languages

• Organizations

• Causes

LinkedIn often rolls out changes gradually, so your screen may look slightly different for a little while.

How to Add a Section, Step by Step

1. Click your profile photo at the top of LinkedIn, then click View profile.

2. Find the Add section button, right next to Open to, under your headline.

3. Choose one of the seven main sections, or scroll down to More.

4. Click the plus sign next to the section you want.

5. Fill in the details and click Save.

What Should You Add?

Our simple rule: add anything that's relevant to you and your ideal client.

• If you've taken courses, add them.

• If you hold licenses or certifications, add them.

• If you've done volunteer work over the years, add it.

For service professionals, this might look like an attorney listing bar admissions under Licenses and certifications. A consultant could add articles they've written under Publications. A coach might list their coaching certifications and the organizations they belong to.

Each relevant section does three things for you:

• It strengthens your profile. More complete information builds trust with the person reading it.

• It improves your visibility. LinkedIn has reported that members who list at least five skills get up to 17 times more profile views.

• It creates connection points. A shared cause, organization, or volunteer role gives a prospect an easy reason to start a conversation with you.

One caution: relevant is the key word. A profile packed with unrelated details is harder to read. Before you add something, ask yourself, "Would my ideal client care about this?"

The Activity Section Setting Most People Have Never Touched

Now for a feature we've honestly never talked about before, and it's been there for a while.

Here's the order of the main areas on your LinkedIn profile:

1. Headline and top section

2. Analytics

3. About

4. Services

5. Featured

6. Activity

Under Activity, you'll see a row of bubbles: Posts, Comments, Videos, Images, Newsletters, and Events. One of those bubbles is highlighted in green.

That green bubble is your featured activity. It's the content type people see first when they scroll to your Activity section.

Most people have never changed it. Which means most people are letting LinkedIn decide what a prospect sees first.

How to Change What Shows First

1. Go to your profile and scroll down to the Activity section.

2. In the top right corner of that section, find the Create a post button.

3. Click the pencil (edit) icon right next to it.

4. A window will ask, "What content do you want to show first?"

5. Choose Posts, Comments, Videos, Images, Newsletters, or Events, then save.

A few things to know:

• Your recent activity only displays content from the past 360 days.

• If you haven't published a certain type of content in the past year, such as articles or documents, LinkedIn will note that in the window.

• Visitors can still click Show all to see everything you've shared.

Which Content Type Should You Feature?

Think about what your ideal client would most want to see. Here's how we'd decide:

• Videos: Choose this if you teach on camera. Prospects get to hear your voice and see how you explain things.

• Images: A great pick if you post carousels, infographics, or behind the scenes photos.

• Newsletters: Choose this if your long form writing best shows how you think.

• Posts: A solid default if you post consistently across formats.

• Events: Useful if you regularly host workshops or webinars.

The best part is that this isn't permanent. You can change it whenever you like.

Pick one content type, write down the date, and watch your analytics for a few weeks. Look at profile views, followers, and newsletter subscribers. Then try another content type and compare.

You'll learn what your ideal clients respond to, and you'll be steering more eyes toward the content you want them to see.

Featured Section vs. Activity Section: What's the Difference?

These two sections sit right next to each other, so they're easy to confuse.

• Featured is the curated area where you pin specific items, such as a post, an article, a link, or media. You choose each item and the order.

• Activity shows your recent content, sorted by type. The setting above controls which type appears first.

Use Featured for your most important resources, like a lead magnet, a booking page, or your best article. Use the Activity setting to highlight the type of content that best shows your value.

A Quick LinkedIn Profile Tune Up

Ready to put these LinkedIn profile updates to work? Block out a short session this week and follow these steps:

1. Open your profile and click Add section.

2. Review the seven main sections and everything under More.

3. Add one or two relevant sections you've been missing.

4. Scroll to Activity and choose the content type your ideal client would most want to see.

5. Set a reminder for 30 days from now to check your analytics.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn profile works for you around the clock. These two updates make it easier to shape what prospects see.

Here's a quick recap:

• The Add section button now shows seven main sections, plus a More area with a plus sign next to each option.

• Add anything relevant: courses, licenses, certifications, volunteer work, and more.

• Under Activity, the green bubble shows which content type visitors see first.

• Click the pencil icon next to Create a post to change it.

• Rotate your featured activity and watch your analytics to see what works.

Small changes, made with your ideal client in mind, add up to a profile that does more of the selling for you.

Ready to Turn Your LinkedIn Profile Into a Real Sales Tool?

A strong profile is a great start. It works even better as part of a system.

Join our free four day live workshop, Your LinkedIn Sales System, Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 23, 12:30 to 1:30 PM ET.

You'll learn how to:

• Position yourself so the right people understand what you do.

• Find and connect with ideal clients and power partners.

• Start conversations without sounding salesy.

• Create a simple LinkedIn routine you can follow consistently.

Can't make it live? Register anyway. Replays are available through Sunday, October 25.

Save your free spot here