How Do I Optimize My LinkedIn For Better inMail From Recruiters?
- Alexia Palau
- May 30
- 5 min read
Let me challenge you with a controversial question.
If people land roles today primarily through networking, what would you update or fix first, your LinkedIn profile, or your resume?
If your answer is LinkedIn, then this is for you
Over 50% Of Roles Are Filled Via Networking
And many sources state over 80%.
You may be in one of these positions at the moment:
You have a very strong network, know exactly how to advocate for yourself, have ensured an impeccable track record of Business impact and don't care for LinkedIn.
You have a good network, know how to leverage it but don't have a strong personal brand and still need LinkedIn as a Marketing tool you share when needed.
You believe* you have no network, were never proactive at building it or have just moved and need to start from scratch*. LinkedIn is absolutely essential for you to showcase your experience while networking.
I say *believe* and *from scratch* because you always have a network, what you may need to work on is how to leverage it. If you'd like to work on your networking, DM me.For the purpose of this exercise, let's say you are in the third position. And you decide to improve your LinkedIn and do the basics:
Professional photo: Upload a high-quality, professional-looking headshot with a clean background.
Headline: You write a compelling and keyword-rich headline that highlights your skills and personal brand.
Custom background image: Add a background image that complements your professional brand. Not of the beach in Hawaii please (unless you work a related industry) - think past company logos, business level testimonials, etc. Make the top of your profile count.
Custom URL: Personalize your profile's URL to make it more recognizable and professional.
"I cannot recommend Alexia highly enough as a career coach. When I first started working with her, I felt completely overwhelmed by my job search with no clear direction or strategy. From day one, Alexia helped me define clear career goals, identify target companies, and craft a CV that truly reflected my strengths. She also guided me through optimizing my LinkedIn profile so recruiters would reach out. Her networking advice was exceptional. She taught me how to do cold and warm outreach in a way that felt authentic and was highly effective." - Begoña M.
And as you add more information, you start getting InMail for roles.
But...
70% Of The Roles In Your Inbox Are Irrelevant
You may be receiving roles that are:
Not your industry, and that matters in this job market if that is one of the patterns when you find the people selected for the roles you interviewed for.
Not your specialty. You work in MarTech but are targeted for Engineering roles...
Not your level of seniority: the last 3 roles you received stated 3 years of experience when you have 20+.
And many other discrepancies vs what you believe your profile shows and the roles you are targeting.
This was me a while back too. But I decided to approach it from a Performance perspective (because if we are true Growth Marketers, we just have to fix things):
How to I get more relevant roles in my inbox?
Applying Performance Marketing Principles To LinkedIn Inbox Optimization
1. Diagnose the Problem (The "Why")
Review Goals & KPIs: Define your target role, industry, companies... spend as long as you need on this stage. Without this, this exercise will not work.
