Many people, when creating a profile on LinkedIn, leave out certain information because they aren't too sure why the info is needed or unsure on how to utilize the info correctly.

If you are job searching, this can be dangerous, in that what you don't do can hurt your chances of being found. Posting or editing certain aspects of your profile can help you be found more readily to those who are searching both within LinkedIn and those doing Google type searches.  So consider these tips like search engine optimization (SEO) for your LI profile, which in the long run, will make it easier for someone to find you, and hopefully get that next great opportunity.

These five steps will help you navigate through LinkedIn to produce a more complete and importantly, findable profile.

Step 1: Make Your Email Visible To Everyone!

On LinkedIn, if you use the free version, there isn't really a place to have your email for people to contact you except through the "Send a message" link. So your best bet is to post it, especially somewhere everyone can see! Follow these four steps to post your email under your name:

1. Go to "Edit My Profile"
2. Click "Edit" next to your name
3. Under "Last Name," instead of putting your last name, put your email.
4. Wondering where your last name will go? Put it in the first box with your first name or before your email.

You can also include it in your summary, or description, but this puts it right up top and easy to find. 

Step 2: Create an Easy-To-Search Public Profile

When you first create your profile, you are given a crazy long link that is impossible to remember. To update your link into a more easy-to-search link, follow these three steps:

1. Go to "Edit My Profile"
2. On the right side, click "Edit Public Profile Settings"
3. Customize your address; try your first and last name or a value proposition.

Step 3: Add Websites to your profile (with Anchor text)

Have a Website, blog, or RSS feed, etc. and want people to view these sites? Post them onto your profile! Importantly, do not use the generic text they give you ("My Company, My Website, etc)!

This is how you do it:

1. Go to "Edit My Profile"
2. Click "Add Websites"
3. Add any kind of website, whether it is your personal, or company website, your blog, or the website of a workshop you are hosting in a couple of weeks.
4. Be sure to use "other," dropdown at the bottom of the list and insert a custom tag. This will allow those who use Google search to find your website, as well as your LinkedIn profile.
5. Finally, list the complete URL of the website.          

Step 4: Create an Interesting Header (not just a job title)

The header goes under your name (and email) listing your current position, but not everyone's job title matches the actual job description, previous experiences, or personal expertise. To create a custom header:

1. Go to "Edit My Profile"
2. Click "Edit" next to your current position
3. Under "Professional 'Headline'", insert key words of your job description, experiences, value proposition or areas of expertise; anything that will help you to stand out.

(If inserting more than one description, title, experience, or expertise, separate the information with special characters, like,│ or | )

Step 5: Update Your Status, Every Week!!

On of the most important things you can do, while you are job searching, is to update your status on LinkedIn. When you update your status, preferably at the end of the week (this will allow you to be close to the top of the update email sent by LinkedIn), an email will be sent to your contacts.

First of all, people aren't mind readers, they will not know if you need a new opportunity unless you tell them (so keep your profile updated and use this area regularly). Second, today, your best bet to finding a new job is through either networking directly, or through the so-called "hidden job" market.  As an example, before reaching outside the company's walls, most employers will ask current employees if they know someone good for positions, rather than posting it on Monster and getting thousands of responses.

1. Go to "Edit My Profile"
2. Click "What are you working on?"
3. Be honest. If you are looking for a job or going to a job-searching workshop, SAY IT!

*Some examples you can use to your status update include:

• Jennifer is looking for a architecture position. Do you know anyone who's hiring?
• John is interested in some freelance opportunities in finance. Let me know if someone in your network needs help."

These steps will help you create that complete profile, but you mustn't forget that to get a job on LinkedIn or any other social media site, you must of course, utilize it and all it has to offer, however, social media sites will never take the place of face-to-face relationships and connections-just think of LinkedIn as a way to supercharge these and stay top of mind with your network. Remember, neither LinkedIn nor anyone else will find a job for you.  Good Luck!