LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 800 million members. As a LinkedIn user, you may be wondering how people can find and connect with you on this massive platform. There are several ways for LinkedIn members to search for and find other users, even if they are not directly connected.
Searching by Name
The most basic way for people to find you on LinkedIn is by searching for your name. When someone enters your full name into the search bar at the top of LinkedIn, it will pull up a list of profiles that match. As long as you have a complete profile with your full name, location, industry, company, job title and other details filled out, you should appear in name searches on LinkedIn.
If you have a common name, searching may pull up multiple people with the same or similar name. In this case, people can use filters like location and company to narrow down the results and find your profile more easily.
Tips for being found in name searches
- Use your full name – first and last – to avoid confusion with others who may share just your first or last name
- Display your name prominently in the headline and contact info sections of your profile
- Make sure your name on LinkedIn matches the name you commonly use professionally
- Include details like your location and current company to help distinguish you from people with similar names
Searching by Title or Company
In addition to your name, people may search for your job title or company name to find you on LinkedIn. For example, someone may search for “Marketing Manager at XYZ Company” or just “XYZ Company” to find profiles of employees there.
To appear in these types of searches, it’s important to fill out the experience section of your profile with your current job title and company as well as any past roles. You can also list your company name in your profile headline or professional headline section.
Tips for being found by title/company
- Include your full job title and company details in your experience section
- Use consistent job titles across different roles
- List abbreviations of company names since people may search those as well
- Mention current company in your profile headline
Searching within Company Pages
In addition to searches, people can navigate to your LinkedIn company page and browse employee profiles listed there. Your profile has a higher chance of being discovered if you are listed as an employee within your company’s LinkedIn page.
To confirm if you’re listed on your company page:
- Go to your company’s LinkedIn page
- Scroll down and click “See all employees on LinkedIn”
- Search for your name within this list
If you aren’t listed, you can request to be added through your company’s HR department or LinkedIn sales representative.
Tips for getting listed on company pages
- Confirm your company has an official, verified LinkedIn page
- Contact your company’s HR team or LinkedIn rep to request being added
- Mark your company as current within your profile’s experience section
- Indicate you are open to career opportunities to signal you want to be listed
Browsing “People Also Viewed”
LinkedIn displays a list of “People Also Viewed” profiles on the right rail of profile pages. People browsing profiles related to yours may click on these recommendations and land on your profile.
LinkedIn’s algorithm determines suggested profiles based on similarities like shared connections, industry, school, employer and profile views. To increase the chance of appearing:
- Connect with those in your niche to share common links
- Join relevant industry groups
- Engage with content from your target audience
Connecting through Shared Groups
Joining LinkedIn Groups related to your professional interests or industry enables you to appear in group member searches. When people find you in groups they are also part of, it provides a natural way to connect.
To leverage groups for being discovered:
- Search for relevant niche groups to join
- Be an active member by engaging in discussions
- List key groups on your profile’s experience section
Advanced Boolean Search
LinkedIn members can use advanced Boolean search strings to find profiles using specific parameters. For example:
- “Marketing Managers” AND “New York City”
- Accountant OR CPA
- “Nonprofit professional” NOT volunteer
These searches allow users to combine keywords, titles, locations and other fields to pinpoint certain members. Having a robust profile that contains relevant keywords and details makes you more findable via Boolean methods.
Tips for getting found through Boolean searches
- Include industry terms, certifications, specializations in your profile
- Optimize profile with keywords people may search to find you
- Highlight skills, education, volunteering relevant to your profession
Browsing Your Connections and Their Connections
Viewing the connections of people in your network provides another way for people to find you on LinkedIn. For example, someone connected to a coworker may stumble upon your profile while browsing their list of connections.
To facilitate discovery through shared connections:
- Proactively connect with colleagues, clients, partners, etc.
- Engage with your connections by liking/commenting on their posts
- Join organizations and alumni groups to expand your network
Connecting Outside of LinkedIn
People may come across you professionally outside of LinkedIn through activities like:
- Conferences and events
- Published articles and content with your LinkedIn URL
- Business cards linking to your profile
- Verbal mentions of your LinkedIn handle during meetings or networking
Promoting your LinkedIn profile on other platforms increases findability when people search for or stumble upon it.
Tips for indirect discovery of your profile
- List your customized LinkedIn URL on your email signature or resume
- Mention your LinkedIn if networking in-person or virtually
- Include a LinkedIn icon with your profile URL on promotional materials
- Publish presentations, articles, thought leadership with a link to your profile
Leveraging LinkedIn’s Search Algorithm
LinkedIn’s search algorithm considers a combination of factors to determine which profiles appear at the top of search results. According to LinkedIn, this includes:
- Profile completeness – having a photo, summary, detailed experience, etc.
- Profile uniqueness – avoiding common titles and incorporating original keywords
- Activity level – regularly engaging on LinkedIn with content and connections
- Relevance – matching the target query based on profile keywords and details
To build a discoverable LinkedIn profile, focus on standing out from the crowd while still signaling relevance for desired searches. Concentrate on regular activity so your fresh content and interactions get surfaced by LinkedIn’s algorithm.
Key Takeaways
Here are the core ways people can find you on LinkedIn:
- Searching for you by name
- Searching your job title or company name
- Finding you within your company’s LinkedIn page
- Browsing “People Also Viewed” recommendations
- Discovering you through shared Groups
- Using Boolean search strings
- Browsing the connections of those in your network
- Stumbling upon your profile URL on other sites
Build out your profile and activity on LinkedIn to take advantage of these findability features. A comprehensive profile with keywords optimized for search paired with regular engagement makes you discoverable on the world’s largest professional network.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if someone viewed my LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn shows you who has viewed your profile within the last 90 days under the “Who’s viewed your profile” section. You can see name, title and company for each viewer. For privacy reasons, LinkedIn will not reveal anonymous viewers.
What is the best way to optimize my LinkedIn profile for discoverability?
Fill out your profile completely, use relevant keywords like your industry and skill set, engage regularly with content and connections, join targeted Groups, connect with those in your niche, and promote your profile link externally. This comprehensive approach makes you visible in LinkedIn searches.
Can I browse LinkedIn profiles completely anonymously?
No, browsing in anonymous or private mode only prevents other members from seeing that you viewed their profile. But LinkedIn still logs the profiles you view while signed in for recommendations and visibility tracking. The only way to be completely anonymous is to browse without being logged in.
Should I include my LinkedIn URL on my resume or business cards?
Yes, adding your customized public profile URL to promotional materials is a great way to drive discovery. It enables people to easily find and connect with you on LinkedIn after coming across it offline.
How do I control who can see my LinkedIn profile?
In Settings & Privacy, you can select your profile visibility, such as: profile visible only to your connections, visible to those logged in to LinkedIn, or fully public. The more open the visibility, the easier it is for new people to find and view your profile on LinkedIn searches.
Conclusion
Maximizing your discoverability on LinkedIn requires both optimizing your profile content itself as well as driving engagement with the right audience. Fill your profile with relevant keywords and details tailored to how you want to be found by your ideal connections. Participate actively across LinkedIn to stay on the radar. Promote your profile off LinkedIn to increase findability. With the right strategy, you can convert LinkedIn’s vast member base into new professional opportunities.