What SEO really costs in 2026, and what you should get for the money
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Before a prospect replies to your email, before an investor takes the meeting, before a candidate accepts the interview, they look you up. For most senior professionals, that means LinkedIn. The profile they land on is doing the job of a landing page, whether you built it as one or not.
Banner: the headline image
The banner is the widest piece of real estate on the page, and most people leave it blank or use a stock skyline. The recommended size is 1584 by 396 pixels. Use it for one line that states your promise, plus a proof point if you have one. Keep text away from the lower left, where your photo overlaps it.
Headline: who you help and how
You get 220 characters. "CEO at Northline" wastes most of them. A stronger pattern is: who you help, the result, and your role. For example: "Helping mid-market manufacturers cut compliance costs | CEO, Northline". It's specific, searchable and tells a stranger whether they're in the right place.
About: the sales page
The About section allows 2,600 characters, but only the first few lines show before the reader clicks "see more". Those lines decide whether anyone reads on, so lead with the problem your audience has, not your career history. A simple structure:
- The problem your audience faces, in their words.
- What you do about it, and what changes for them.
- Proof: results, clients, credentials, numbers you can back up.
- A clear next step: book a call, download a guide, send a message.
Featured: proof and next steps
Featured sits high on the profile and takes links, posts and documents. Pin three things: your strongest proof (a case study or article), your best-performing post, and your call to action. Visitors who scroll this far are warm; give them somewhere to go.
Activity: the reason to come back
A perfect profile with a last post from months ago looks abandoned. Consistent, useful posts show that you're active and that you know your field. Carousels and data graphics tend to earn saves and shares, which extend your reach beyond your own network.
Test it: send your profile to someone outside your industry and ask what you do and who you do it for. If they can't answer in one sentence, the headline and About need work.