How to Optimize a Proposal Writer LinkedIn Profile
Are you looking to optimize your proposal writer Linkedin profile? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
A proposal writer is someone who writes proposals for clients and companies. They are experts in their field and have a lot of experience writing proposals. Proposal writers work for companies that provide services to other businesses. They may also work for non-profit organizations or government agencies.
Proposal writers have a college degree in English, journalism, or communications. However, there are many proposal writers who have not gone to college and have extensive experience in the business world.
LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented social networking service founded on December 14, 2002, and used for professional networking. As of 2022, LinkedIn had more than 830 million members in over 200 countries.
LinkedIn allows members to create profiles and “connections” to each other in an online social network representing real-world professional relationships. Members can invite anyone (whether a site member or not) to become a connection.
Members can also join groups, including special-interest groups covering specific industries or topics as well as any group such as state organizations or local alumni associations. Members can post articles and blog posts on LinkedIn Pulse
To date, more than 35 million people have found jobs through Linkedin, and an estimated 87% of employers use this platform for sourcing top talent. If you are a proposal writer, and do not have a strong Linkedin profile, it is the right time to optimize it and improve your chances of landing a dream job.
A strong Linkedin profile can help you find a job, make connections, and learn about new opportunities. In addition, Linkedin is a great platform for networking and building your professional brand.
Here is our guide on how to create and optimize a proposal writer profile on Linkedin.
Steps to Optimize a Proposal Writer LinkedIn Profile
This detailed guide lists all the necessary steps you need to build a strong personal brand on Linkedin. Having a profile isn’t enough, and hence it is imperative you go through this guide and implement tips on boosting your online visibility.
Recruiters now communicate and source talents from Linkedin more than they do over emails. Instead of sending someone your resume, you can send your Linkedin profile URL, which contains a complete story about your career.
Interested? Let’s get started.
Make a Strong First Impression With Profile Photo
The first thing that employers will notice, is your profile photo. Make sure that it leaves a great first positive impression. And having no profile photo is not an option anymore. Here are some tips on having a great profile photo:
- Use a Professional Headshot – A picture is worth a thousand words. Profile pictures should include your head, neck, and top of your shoulders. That’s because your profile picture will appear as a small thumbnail and having a photo of your entire body will appear quite small.
- Wear Professional Clothing- This applies to everyone. Wear professional clothing that represents your industry. For men, a formal shirt with a coat works best. For women, a blouse, coat, or a formal. The most appropriate colors are black, blue, and green.
- Avoid wearing striped shirts. Striped T-shirts or dresses with vibrant colors may work well for Facebook and other social media platforms, but not Linkedin.
- Choose a Recent Image – Employers, recruiters, and professionals want to see how you look today, not ten years ago. It is important to upload a recent photo so that when someone meets you in person, they are not shocked to see you.
- Keep It Simple – Since this is a professional platform, upload your own photo. Do not upload company logos, photos of pets, words, landscapes or phases. There’s also no need to upload a profile picture with friends or family members. Wear solid colors against a well-lit background. Do not upload a drab driver’s license photo. Have a smile on your face. It sets the tone for the rest of your profile. A smiling photo will project your confidence.
- Be Consistent – Use the same photo across all social media platforms. It becomes easier than ever for employers to find and recognize you.
- Follow the Standard Size – Linkedin, like other platforms, has a standard size of profile pictures. It should not a least 400 x 400 in dimensions, consume 60% of the photo area, and be less than 4 MB in size. Acceptable file formats are GIF, JPEG, and PNG. You can always change your photo at any time.
- Get feedback from peers – It is better to consult your peers such as colleagues and close friends about your profile photo. Their feedback will be helpful in having a well-optimized photo.
Here is an example of a strong and clear profile photo:
Be Smart With Your Profile Headline
Your profile headline comes next after the picture. This 220-character space sums up your entire career and serves a special purpose. For example, a profile headline with the title “Proposal Writer with 5+ Years of Experience of working with NGOs” is better than “Proposal Writer.”
The profile headline will appear in your LinkedIn invites, messages, and activity. Do not make this your job title. Be clear about who you are. Employers will attract to a clear and concise headline.
Here are some tips to optimize your profile headline:
- Add a creative job title
- If you can, mention the years of experience
- Use different keywords with a | separator, such as proposal writer | Worked with NGOs & Governments | Adept at MS Office Apps
- Include titles that focus on your skill set instead of unclear words, such as Superstar. For example, a proposal writer with five years of experience rather than Ninja proposal writer Superstar
Here are some things to avoid with your headline:
- Do not overstuff the headline with all keywords
- Avoid calling yourself Proposal Writing Enthusiast. Such a title does not exist
- Do not use emojis as they are unprofessional
- Do not advertise as “looking for a job”
- Do not mention anything you haven’t done in the past
An example of a good headline is as follows:
Make Getting in Touch With You Easier
It’s not uncommon to have multiple people with the same name on LinkedIn. While this may seem like a daunting task, there are some easy steps you can take to customize your profile and make it stand out from the rest. First, choose a unique profile picture, add a headline, fill out your profile, and generate a custom URL. Here’s how you can do that here.
With link customization, you can build up your own personal brand. When you generate a custom URL, people can find you on Linkedin. And this tip, in particular, is helpful for people having thousands of profiles with the same name.
You also need to take complete features of Linkedin to make it easier for people to reach out to you.
Add your contact information, and links to your website and portfolio. When you fill in the contact information, the hiring managers will have a positive impression of you. Not everyone has links to their personal websites. But if you have one, you will increase your chances of landing a job interview.
Here’s how to add a link:
- Click the edit icon on the top right of your profile
- Scroll to the bottom and click Add website under the Website section
- Paste the link of your portfolio in the first field and write the text for the link in the text field
Here’s an example:
And here’s what it would look like in the end.
Give Your Sweet and Short Introduction
Having a strong introduction is important because it’s one of the first things people will see when they visit your profile. Think of your introduction as a way to make a good first impression. In addition to summarizing your professional experience, you can also use your introduction to highlight your personal brand and share future goals. By taking the time to craft a thoughtful and engaging introduction, you’ll increase the chances that people will want to learn more about you and what you have to offer.
Many professional proposal writers don’t express themself and leave this space blank. Your stories and insights set a tone for the rest of your profile. Avoid talking about your favorite TV shows and hobbies. Instead, use this 2000-character space to express yourself, build a story and prove how you are valuable to prospective clients.
Here are some tips to write and optimize your introduction:
- Include relevant keywords in your profile such as proposal writing, proposal writer, goal-oriented, and client proposals
- Talk about previous accomplishments, but focus more on future goals and ambitions
- Talk about your USP (unique selling proposition) and what makes you different from other proposal writers on the platform
- Write in short paragraphs and sentences
- Do not use technical jargon
- Describe what value you can add to your clients
- A clear call to action (CTA)
- Mention the impact you’ve had in previous companies by sharing numbers
Following is a nice example of the About section from the profile of a proposal writer at First American Payment Systems, Andrew Morris:
Upload a Customized Resume to Your Profile
Your Linkedin profile and resume go hand in hand. Many times, employers want to see your Linkedin profile, but may also demand a resume from you. Be prepared for this situation and have your resume at hand.
Your Linkedin profile is a story about yourself, whereas your resume is a concise snapshot of your work experience and skills for a particular job post.
Uploading your resume will help employers find out whether you’re the one that they’re looking for. Here’s how you can add your resume to the profile:
- Create a new post
- Click Add a document option at the bottom of the window
- Include relevant hashtags such as #proposalwriter #proposalwriting
Show Your Brief Work History
The work experience section is another critical part of your profile. This is because it allows you to showcase your experience to potential employers. It also allows you to connect with other professionals in your field.
When potential employers search for candidates on LinkedIn, they often start with the work experience section. Therefore, it is important this section is up-to-date and includes relevant information about your professional background. Include relevant keywords that will help you appear in searches. By taking the time to optimize your work experience section, you can improve your chances of landing your dream job.
Here are some important factors to consider into account when filling out this section:
- Add Company Name – For each experience, enter the name of the company you worked for. If LinkedIn has that company name, the company logo will show up in this section
- Enter the Job Title – Mention your job title, and use relevant keywords to help recruiters with advanced search
- Add the Location – Enter the location of your company
- Define the Time Period – Mention the time duration (starting and ending time) you were in that role
- Write Description – Use this section to give an overview of what your job entails. You can use bullet points to describe your duties. Make use of action words like managed, saved, led, etc., when mentioning your responsibilities
- Mention Achievements – For each role, provide information about any awards or notable achievements
- Attach Media – You can also include links to projects, videos, or presentations that have any association with a particular job position. Take advantage of this feature to put focus on your professional development and achievements
Here are a few tips to follow when filling out this section:
- Maintain relevancy for each one of your work experience
- List the most recent work experience at the top in a reverse chronological order
- Exclude jobs not relevant to proposal writing
- Focus on benefits, and the value addition you bring to the table
- Proofread and spellcheck
Do not take the last point for granted. Take the time to proofread your profile before making it public. Proofreading your profile is therefore essential if you want to make a good impression on potential employers. There are a few simple tips you can follow to ensure that your Linkedin profile is error-free.
First, be sure to proofread your profile for grammar and spelling errors. Second, take the time to read over your profile from start to finish. Last but not the least, ask a friend or family member to read over your profile for any mistakes you may have missed.
The Experience section on Andrew Morris’s Linkedin profile looks like this:
Mention Your Education and Skills
One of the great things about LinkedIn is that it provides an opportunity to showcase your professional education and skills. By listing these on your profile, you can give potential employers or clients a better sense of your qualifications.
Listing your skills can also help you to connect with other professionals who have similar skill sets. By networking with these individuals, you can learn more about your field, develop new skills, and find new opportunities. Therefore, taking the time to list your education and skills on your LinkedIn profile is a worthwhile investment that pays off in both the short and long term.
Other than your work experience, skills and education also play a vital role in landing your dream job. Limited education will have a negative impact on your profile.
There are three different sections on Linkedin to add to your education:
- General education
- Certifications
- Courses
Mention your institute name, the years attended, and the relevant projects you completed. Don’t forget to mention awards and certificates if you received them.
Here is what the Education section on LinkedIn should look like:
One way to demonstrate you have the skills that employers are looking for is to list your certifications on your LinkedIn profile. Listing your certifications can help you to stand out from other candidates who may not have the same level of qualifications.
While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for becoming a successful proposal writer, there are some important certifications that can help. Here is a proposal writing certification that we offer at Technical Writing HQ.
The American Association of Proposal Management Professionals also offers several certifications for proposal writing that you can check on their website.
Linkedin allows you to add certifications in an easy manner, allowing you to gain a competitive edge. For example, if a recruiter is looking for someone with experience in proposal writing, you can stand out by showing your certificate instead of listing Proposal Writing as one of your skills.
The following list of licenses and certifications gives a good impression of the proposal writer:
Ellen Jayne has 13 licenses and certifications. This is impressive for a proposal writer to create a solid first impression on employers.
Volunteer experience cements your reputation as a proposal writer who gives back to the community. Other than this, you can ask peers in your network to endorse you.
Here is a great example of listing volunteer experiences:
Broadcast Your Location
Listing your location on LinkedIn is beneficial, especially if you are looking to build connections with others in your area. By including your city and state, you can connect with other professionals interested in collaborating. Many employers use a location filter and if your location is inaccurate, the system will not shortlist you.
If you are seeking opportunities in a specific region, including your location on LinkedIn can help to ensure that you appear in search results for those looking for candidates in that area.
List yourself in or close to the city where you would like to work, even if you reside somewhere else. Clarify your location during the interview process.
Request Recommendations From Connections
Linkedin recommendations work like voting. The more votes you have, the better the chances of landing a job. When people vouch for you, it signals to the hiring managers that you’re a reliable professional.
Linkedin recommendations are professional testimonials of previous employers, clients, and colleagues sharing their experiences of working with you.
Following is a great example of recommendations from the proposal writer at C-HIT, Leon F. Bracey II’s LinkedIn profile:
Send a message, an email, or reach out via phone to people on Linkedin to ask for their recommendations.
Use the Creator Mode
We all know the immense potential in content creation when it comes to developing your personal brand. And we know content creators from Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. But did you know that a growing number of professionals are now turning to Linkedin for content creation?
So what type of content can you create on Linkedin? Here are some:
- Articles and blog posts for Linkedin Pulse
- Videos
- New posts
- Creative comments on other posts
The best way to grow your professional audience is through content creation on Linkedin. It cements your authority and reputation in a particular field. For proposal writers, you can create content on some of the following topics:
- How to create job-winning, project-winning proposals?
- What are the top certifications for a proposal writer?
- What are the career outlook and average salary of a proposal writer?
Here is what this feature does:
- This feature changes the Connect button on your profile to Follow
- It lists the number of followers on your profile, along with topics (hashtags) you post about the most
- It highlights the posts to help you prioritize your content over work experience
- You get access to the LinkedIn Live feature, which helps build and nurture a community of followers
- You get the newsletter feature, which means whenever you publish a LinkedIn article, subscribers receive push and email notifications
You can see the changes mentioned above in the profile in the following example:
Showcase Your CTAs and Portfolio in the Featured Section
As in the screenshot of Neena’s profile above, you can add a featured section to showcase your portfolio links such as a sample UX microcopy, resume, a consultation link, and other resources to help you stand out. To add a link or work samples in the Featured section on your profile.
- Tap your profile photo from the homepage, then View Profile
- Tap Add section
- Tap Recommended and select Add featured from the dropdown
- Select the type of work sample you’d like to feature
- Tap Save or Done
On my LinkedIn profile, I went ahead and added several of the certifications that Technical Writer HQ provides. This way if someone clicks on any of these featured links, they get taken right to the certification pages on Technical Writer HQ to sign up for the course.
Narrow down the persona who you need to get in touch with and provide the links here that will make that happen by showcasing your value.
Closing Thoughts
Your LinkedIn profile is one of the first places potential clients will look to learn more about you and your proposal writing services. Therefore, it’s important to take the time to create a profile that is professional and highlights your skills and experience. Even if you’re a small operation, having a well-optimized LinkedIn profile can give you an edge over other candidates.
LinkedIn is a great platform for networking with other proposal writers and sharing industry news and tips. By having an active presence on LinkedIn, you can show potential clients that you’re to staying up-to-date on the latest trends in proposal writing.
Now that you’ve gone through this guide, it is time to start optimizing your Linkedin profile and applying to proposal writing jobs. Good luck.
