Hi dear reader 🤗, welcome to another interesting article on LinkedIn optimisation. If you haven’t read any of our articles on this subject yet, please check them out, they’re all available here 👉 https://tr.ee/z7zFOUPWUc . With that in mind, let’s dive into the subject of today’s article.

In a job market reshaped by AI, hiring slowdowns, and tight competition, standing out means showing who you are—not just what you’ve done. LinkedIn executive Aneesh Raman urges professionals to craft a “Story of Self”—a narrative that weaves lived experience, resilience, and purpose, transforming your profile into a compelling journey, not just a CV. Today, recruiters and collaborators look for depth, personality, and adaptability—qualities that a raw resume can’t convey.

This article conveys its message in four strategic ways:

• What to do

• Why to do it

• An example of what to do

• A checklist to aid how to do

1. FRAME YOUR “ABOUT” SECTION AS A NARRATIVE ARC

Why: Storytelling triggers emotional connection. Aneesh Raman warns that generic profiles won’t cut it in 2025’s human-centered economy .

Example:
> “After leading a fintech team through a shutdown pivot, I realized my passion was enabling underrepresented founders to launch resilient businesses. Now I mentor and connect them to capital.”
Checklist:
•Begin with a compelling hook: a challenge or turning point
•Highlight your core values and mission
•End with an invitation—e.g., “Let’s connect if you want to collaborate on X”

2. BUILD BROADER REACH WITH STRATEGIC “WEAK TIES”

Why: Studies show opportunities often come from those who know you slightly—not your closest friends .

Example:

> A UX designer landing a consulting gig after a second-degree connection sees her in an alumni group conversation—and makes a warm intro.
Checklist:
•Add 5 new second-degree contacts per month in adjacent roles
•Use shared alumni, hashtags, or event history in your message
•Maintain a tracker of new connections and context

3. LEVERAGE CONTENT FORMATS THAT LINKEDIN PRIORITISES

Why: LinkedIn now rewards vertical videos, newsletters, and Creator Mode—and authentic engagement .
Example:

< B2B growth coach Jasmin Alić now records short leadership clips, posts newsletters monthly, and consistently comments—earning her a 300K+ follower base and numerous collaboration requests.

Checklist:
•Set up Creator Mode and choose 2–3 topic hashtags
•Post one short (vertical) video weekly
•Publish a monthly article or newsletter sharing a case study or lesson

4. USE SOCIAL LISTENING TO JOIN CONVERSATIONS EARLY

Why: Early commenters on trending topics gain visibility, trust, and connection points.

Example:

< A climate-tech consultant monitors the “carbon footprint” tag, comments on emerging threads, and within two days books three discovery calls.

Checklist:
•Subscribe to 2 key hashtags weekly
•Flag 3–5 trending posts for engagement
•Craft 3–5 high-value comments each week

5. ADOPT A “GIVE-FIRST” NETWORKING MINDSET

Why: Starting with generosity—feedback, articles, intros—builds goodwill and reciprocity .

Example:

< Someone offering gratis feedback to a new poster receives professional referrals from peers they helped.

Checklist:
•Send 10 value-first outreach notes/month (e.g., resources, feedback)
•Follow up on any responses with clear next steps as advised in the previous articles

Here’s a strategy summary just for you!

Focus Area Upgrade
•Profile narrative: Story of self arc over resume-style facts.
•Network breadth: Engage weak ties, not just close contacts.
•Content format: Post videos/newsletters promoted by LinkedIn.
•Engagement approach: Listening + early, insightful commenting.
•Outreach style: Offer value before asking.

I hope you have been able to gain a valuable thing or two from this article. See you in the other writing of this series 🥰.