How to Do Keyword Research for Your LinkedIn Profile

1. Start with Job Descriptions

The easiest place to start your research is by looking at real job postings.

For example, you’re targeting a Project Manager role. Open a few job listings for that position and scan the descriptions carefully.

You’ll quickly see some terms show up again and again, such as:

• “Project Plan”

• “Project Management”

• “Agile Methodology”

Those repeated phrases are your keywords.

They represent what employers value most for that role.

Once you’ve reviewed a few similar listings, you’ll start to see patterns.

Write down the terms that fit your skills and experience best. These are the words you should use naturally in your LinkedIn profile.

2. Use LinkedIn’s Skills Section

LinkedIn allows you to add up to 100 skills, and each one acts like a keyword. To make the most of it:

• Go to your profile and scroll to the Skills section.

• Click the pencil icon and then the plus sign to add new skills.

• LinkedIn will automatically suggest keywords based on your profile.

For example, if “Project Management” comes up, select it. Then LinkedIn will ask you where you used that skill (in which job or educational experience).

Once you save it, LinkedIn will display that keyword next to your relevant experience.

This helps your profile appear in searches for that specific skill.

4. Ask Ai for Targeted Keyword Ideas

You can also use ChatGPT, Gemini, Claud or Perplexity to find relevant LinkedIn keywords tailored to your background. Try a prompt like:

“What are some LinkedIn keywords for a Project Manager with experience in [your industry or tools]?”

AI tools will give you a list of possible keywords.

Don’t use every keyword you find. Pick the ones that match what you saw in job listings.

Start with the keywords that describe what you do now and where you want your career to go.

5. If You Have LinkedIn Premium: Use the Qualification Insights

If you’re already subscribed to LinkedIn Premium, you get access to additional keyword data inside job posts.

When you open a job listing, scroll down to the “Top Skills” or “Qualification Details” sections.

These sections show you exactly what skills the employer is prioritizing.

You’ll see the employer’s top 10 skills for the role. This shows you which skills are most important to add to your profile.

Below that, LinkedIn also shows additional skills commonly listed by other applicants.

You can also view “Skills among applicants” and see a snapshot of what others applying for the same role have listed on their profiles.

These insights help you check your profile and make sure you’re not missing any important industry terms.

6. Explore Candidates’ Profiles

Check how people in your target role describe themselves.

Open profiles of professionals with the job you want, and analyze their Experience sections.

Notice how they describe their responsibilities. What words do they use? If some match your experience, add those to your profile.

7. Analyze Job Boards

You can go further by visiting job boards like Indeed or Glassdoor. Search for the same role and scan the listings.

You may come across new terms or certifications that appear frequently. Add them if they fit your background.

If you use Keywords Everywhere, click on “Organic ranking keywords for this URL” to see which search terms those job postings rank for on Google. You might find new phrases to use.

8. Look Up “Responsibilities” Articles

Type your target role followed by “responsibilities” into Google.

For example, look for “Social Media Manager responsibilities”. The articles will list typical tasks and common skills for the job such as:

• Creating content calendars

• Tracking engagement metrics

• Collaborating with design or marketing teams

• Running paid ad campaigns

• Monitoring trends and competitor activity

Reading a few of these articles helps you spot recurring terms. Those are the skills and tools employers associate with that role.

You can then naturally incorporate those keywords into your About or Experience sections, demonstrating how your profile aligns with job expectations.